Reckless Gardener - Cragside Cascades Open after Restoration

Cragside Cascades - Photograph by NTPL/Graeme Peacock

The cascades at Cragside, Rothbury have now been officially opened by Lady Emma Tennant, former Chair of NT Garden panel and Fiona Reynolds, Director General. The cascades - flowing for the first time in nearly 90 years - have been restored as part of an ongoing £6 million-regeneration project.

The original cascades, designed by Lord Armstrong were originally created in the 1870s and 1880s for the rock garden at the front of house where Armstrong indulged his passion for gardening. Little is known of the history of the cascades which were last operated sometime in the 1920's and were regarded as one of the most dramatic water features of the 19th century.

John O'Brien Property Manager says: "Cragside already offers visitors so much to enjoy but the present restoration programme is designed to provide even more. We are very excited about the cascades, which is the latest project to be completed. It has been a unique and enthralling experience for the whole project team which included landscape architects, engineers and archaeologists as well as Trust staff. An experience that none of us is likely to repeat."

Andrew Sawyer, Head Gardener says: "In the garden of a great water engineer there had to be water. When we turn the cascades on for the first time it will be an Armstrong moment. There will be a series of different waterfalls and pools, and the sound of tumbling water - a feast for the eyes."

Armstrong's original intention was for the boulders and water in the rock garden, one of the largest in Europe, to replicate a Himalayan landscape. Over the years the garden has disappeared beneath a variety of shrubs including the now famous "Cragside rhododendrons". In recent years over 4.5 acres of land has been cleared and over 500 boulders have been used to recreate the cascades.

The cascades use 7 litres per second which is recirculated around the system fed by water from Nelly's Moss Lake at the top of the estate. Over the next year a variety of foilage will be planted around the cascades including ferns and azaleas. They will run every Friday and Saturday between 2pm and 4pm (but this will depend on the amount of water in the lakes).

Cragside is situated on the B6341 half a mile north east of Rothbury - for opening times and details log onto www.nationaltrust.org.uk