Opened in October 2016, the award winning walled garden was brought back to life as part of the Museum in the Park after 20 years of neglect. With support from Stroud District Council, Museum Friends, the local community and funding bodies this revived space now offers visitors and community groups a beautiful garden to come and enjoy.
What is in the Walled Garden?
Like a traditional walled garden there are four quarters, divided by a cross section of paths or inferred paths with a dipping pond at the centre. Using this basic outline, the garden is designed to be accessible and offer a range of learning and events connected with the museum and collections. The first quarter creates a sense of discovery as the visitor goes past the flower beds following the ramped pathway to the top terrace; the second quarter contains a high quality contemporary building (the Learning Pavilion) and terracing with further flower beds; the third quarter contains an orchard of Gloucestershire apple and pear trees and a meadow area; the fourth quarter is a culinary learning garden with a lawned open space for events and activities. All this is set within the peace and quiet of the garden protected by the walls.
Read our Short Guide to the Walled Garden
Garden news
Read the latest news from the Walled Garden in our Volunteers Blog.
Visit our dedicated Walled Garden Instagram account.
Read about the fascinating story of Stroud’s own Giant Snowdrop Company.
Take a look at our Walled Garden from the best seat in the Garden, May 2020…..
Key funders of the Walled Garden Project
Stroud District Council
Friends of the Museum
Arts Council England
The Gloucestershire Environmental Trust
The Summerfield Charitable Trust
The Garfield Weston Foundation
The David Thomas Charitable Trust
Dame Margaret Weston
Many individual supporters of the project
The Architects and Main Contractor
In 2012 Land Use Consultants were commissioned to produce a master plan for the Walled Garden. This led to us commissioning Knox Bhavan Architects to create an outline design for a new learning space, the ‘Pavilion’.
In 2013 a Nailsworth-based architect practice, David Austin & Associates (now Austin Design Works), was appointed to lead the capital works of the Pavilion and Entranceway taking the concept through detailed design and construction. The original master plan has needed slight alteration due to discoveries made on site, but still remains true to the original concept. In particular, we have revised the Entranceway which is now a fully accessible pathway - a winding trail, gently rising though planted slopes, with terraced seating looking back towards the Museum.
In 2014 the main contractor was appointed for the capital work, this is DJP Construction.
