The Bowes Museum Blog

I moved to Barnard Castle ten years ago after a lifetime, well more than forty years, in education. My husband and I joined The Friends of Bowes Museum shortly after we arrived; then, in August 2020, with the Museum grounds looking less than pristine (exacerbated by the Covid lockdown) a group from The Friends organised a ‘Walk in the Park’ to assess what was doable with a group of willing volunteers.

I am still not altogether sure how I ended up organising these volunteer gardeners for The Friends, other than I love the Museum grounds, being in the fresh air and mixing with a great bunch of people. Our fortnightly, Friday morning sessions, attended by up to a dozen volunteers are an enjoyable way to exercise, whilst also improving our local environment. However, the real bonus is meeting friendly, like-minded people who happily support the work of the professional gardeners.

Group photograph of five Gardening Volunteers in the grounds of the Museum.

The sort of tasks we undertake are many and varied; they include: –

• Overgrown paths – edges located and cleared; detritus removed.
• Windblown branches removed.
• Avenue of limes – dressed annually, with basal growth branches being removed.
• Trees – crown lifting to improve vistas and removal of basal growth.
• Ongoing removal of ivy from the perimeter walls and tree trunks.
• Trimming the beech hedge.
• Bulb planting, etc. etc.

Although when working it is difficult to see any major differences resulting from our labours, since our inception four years ago we have helped to maintain and enhance a valuable social asset as reflected in our comprehensive photographic record! All in all the time we have spent together has proved most productive and enjoyable.

Written by Gillian Pryce-Taylor, May 2024