Accessible greenhouse at Holehird Gardens opens for visitors

The Lakeland Horticultural Society in Windermere welcomes more than 25,000 visitors every year to enjoy the society’s Holehird 12-acre garden, all exceptionally maintained by volunteers.

The charitable society’s main objectives are to promote the science, practice and art of horticulture however, until now, it has not had any plants within its greenhouses.

With generous project donations, the Lakeland Horticultural Society looked in to having a new display in their walled garden to replace an old propagating greenhouse.  After thorough research into Victorian style greenhouses, the society chose a creation from bespoke makers Griffin Glasshouses.  A Griffin greenhouse was chosen due to the company’s expertise in design.  The finished article features ventilation, detailed construction and off-white colour which compliments the allocated walled garden.

“We wanted a greenhouse that our visitors can enjoy while exploring the garden.  We are delighted with our new lean to structure with porch, it allows some plants to be directly planted in the soil to climb up the Grade II listed back wall.  We plan to place static plants in containers on the beautiful Victorian display benches to the sides of the glasshouse.  A centre bench will feature ever changing examples of the plants being grown elsewhere in garden beds,” said John Ashley at The Lakeland Horticultural Society.

“Central to our thinking has also been the accessibility for disabled or wheelchair visitors to also enjoy our new venture.  Since the display house has been built, which is presently being planted up, there have been no end of very favourable comments as to its suitability and design from volunteers and visitors alike.  The society really does see this new addition as a worthy enhancement to the gardens.”

Griffin Glasshouses are thoroughly 21^st century in design and boast traditional Victorian style architectural features including steep-pitched roofs.  They are produced from the highest quality, maintenance-free aluminium.