The Annesley Walled Garden, set at the heart of the internationally renowned arboretum in Castlewellan Forest Park, will reopen to the public on Saturday 7 March 2026, following nearly two years of restoration work and storm damage repairs.
The restoration has been funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, as part of a £5.5 million Castlewellan Historic Demesne heritage project.
The 12-acre walled garden, dating back to the 1850s, is one of the finest examples of a grand Victorian formal garden with collections of rare and exotic trees, shrubs and plants. The surrounding arboretum is also home to one of the most significant collection of trees and shrubs on the island of Ireland.
Opening from 10am on Saturday, during the opening weekends (7-8 and 14-15 March), visitors can pre-book daily guided walks of the garden, with an accompanying programme of children’s activities running between 11am and 3pm. See: visitmournegullionstrangford.com/castlewellan-historic-demesne
Highlights of the Annesley Walled Garden restoration include:
- The three Victorian glasshouses on the Terrace, ranging in size from 63m2 to 145m2. They are in the process of becoming a home once again to heat-loving and tender plants and will be completely planted up with new plants by early summer.
- The Mermaid and Heron fountains, which are playing again after eight years of silence.
- The double herbaceous borders, the longest in Northern Ireland, flanked by cobble stones. Long-established plants include Crinum x powellii ‘Album’, Rodgersia sp. Nova ‘Castlewellan’ and Persicaria amplexicaulis.
- The reopened paths within the Rhododendron Wood, which had been ‘lost’ for decades under fallen trees and dense undergrowth. The project cleared the dead trees and undergrowth before restoring the paths. The area has also been planted with new varieties of rhododendron, set to be a highlight when in bloom during April.
- Over 600 new trees, which were planted within the garden and the surrounding area, including the endangered Glyptostrobus pensilis (Chinese swamp cypress) and Taxodium distichum (Swamp cypress), new to the collection.
The project has also funded two successful apprenticeships. Aidan Murphy (26), from Rostrevor and Marc Johansen (35), from Maghera, Co. Down, have benefited from the expertise of onsite Head Gardener Alwyn Sinnamon and Gardener Kevin Dolaghan. Following the completion of their training, Aidan and Marc’s work with Council has continued, taking the lead on labelling the collection and leading the volunteer work parties.
The Annesley Walled Garden restoration is the first step in the overall Castlewellan Historic Demesne project. The Grange and courtyards at the heart of the park are also in the process of being transformed into a new visitor hub, which will open this summer.
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Philip Campbell said, “We are grateful to the skilled craftspeople, talented gardening team and passionate volunteers for their hard work and dedication in restoring the Annesley Walled Garden to its former glory. I was especially struck by the team’s resilience in the aftermath of Storm Éowyn just over a year ago, when 120 trees from our collection were sadly lost.
“A big thank you to The National Lottery Heritage Fund for believing in our vision and to the Forest Service for their invaluable support. The garden opening on 7 March coincides with the blooming of the magnolia trees which provide the Walled Garden’s first real burst of colour. I hope that residents and visitors alike will take this opportunity to rediscover the Annesley Walled Garden and fall in love with it all over again.”
Frances McNally, Investment Manager, The National Lottery Heritage Fund said, “The opening of the Annesley Walled Garden is a great milestone in the delivery of the Castlewellan Historic Demesne project that benefits local people and visitors to the area.
The extensive work in the Walled Garden and Arboretum has preserved its natural environment and built heritage ensuring it can be enjoyed across the seasons for years to come. Thanks to National Lottery players, we’ve been able to support this work and provide training opportunities for trainee gardeners and volunteers. We would encourage people to visit, take in the sea and mountain views and experience its history and cultural heritage on a guided walk. We also look forward to the forthcoming completion of works at The Grange.”
John Joe O’Boyle, Chief Executive of Forest Service, said, “We welcome the reopening of the historic and prestigious gardens here at Castlewellan Forest Park following substantial investment and refurbishment. The gardens are host to many tree and plant specimens of significant national and international importance. We are delighted to be the stewards for the public of such a special and significant place and have supported the Council’s funding bid to The National Lottery Heritage Fund which has enabled the works to be completed. I would encourage visitors to Castlewellan Forest Park and this wider Mournes landscape to take in this special garden experience as part of their time spent in this area.”
The family focused entertainment during the opening two weekends at The Annesley Walled Garden will run between 11am and 3pm on 7-8 March and 14-15 March, including storytelling, circus skills, face painting and crafts. Pre-booking is required for the daily guided walks on these dates. During that time, a free shuttle service will also be available running between the car park and Walled Garden, to assist those with limited mobility or small children to access the Walled Garden, during these weekends only. Full details can be found on:
visitmournegullionstrangford.com/castlewellan-historic-demesne
Notes to editor
The garden was started by the 4th Earl, William Richard Annesley and brought to international renown by his brother the 5th Earl Hugh Annesley and his Head Gardener Thomas Ryan between 1874 and 1908. It has played a significant role in horticultural history by adapting overseas plants to the Irish climate. The garden also featured in a ground-breaking publication in 1903, called ‘Beautiful and Rare Trees and Plants by Earl Annesley’, which used photography to show portraits of plants for the first time. For further information see: visitmournegullionstrangford.com/castlewellan-historic-demesne
Following a £1.3 million transformation, Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Cllr Philip Campbell; The National Lottery Heritage Fund Investment Manager, Frances McNally; Head Gardener, Alwyn Sinnamon (left) and Forest Service Chief Executive Officer, John Joe O’Boyle officially reopen the historic Annesley Walled Garden at its restored wrought-iron Butterfly Gates. The Annesley Walled Garden, set at the heart of the internationally renowned arboretum in Castlewellan Forest Park, will reopen to the public on Saturday 7 March 2026, following nearly two years of restoration work and storm damage repairs. For details of opening hours and activities in the opening weekends see: visitmournegullionstrangford.com/castlewellan-historic-demesne
By the restored Heron Fountain, Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Cllr Philip Campbell; The National Lottery Heritage Fund Investment Manager, Frances McNally (front row right;, Head Gardener Alwyn Sinnamon (second row right) and Forest Service Chief Executive Officer John Joe O’Boyle (second row centre) celebrate the opening of the Annesley Walled Garden joined by project staff and some of the garden’s dedicated volunteers. Included is one of the garden apprentices, Aidan Murphy (back row). The team looks forward to welcoming the public back to the Annesley Walled Garden from 10am on Saturday 7 March. The first two opening weekends (ending Sunday 15 March) will feature guided tours of the garden and children’s activities.
By the rhododendron bush pointing to the first signs of spring at the newly restored Annesley Walled Garden are (front row from left) Head Gardener, Alwyn Sinnamon; The National Lottery Heritage Fund Investment Manager Frances McNally; Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Cllr Philip Campbell and Forest Service Chief Executive Officer, John Joe O’Boyle with staff and volunteers.
The restored wrought-iron Butterfly gates are open once again to welcome visitors to the Annesley Walled Garden from Saturday 7 March. The 12-acre walled garden at Castlewellan Forest Park dating back to the 1850s, is one of the finest examples of a grand Victorian formal garden with collections of rare and exotic trees, shrubs and plants. The surrounding arboretum is also home to one of the most significant collection of trees and shrubs on the island of Ireland.
The Mermaid Fountain, singing again after eight years of silence, at the restored Annesley Walled Garden. Set at the heart of the internationally renowned arboretum in Castlewellan Forest Park, the garden will reopen to the public on Saturday 7 March. The restoration has been funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, as part of a £5.5 million Castlewellan Historic Demesne heritage project.
Come and rediscover the Annesley Walled Garden at Castlewellan Forest Park. Created and developed by generations of Annesleys, this internationally renowned Walled Garden has been restored as part of the Castlewellan Historic Demesne project co-funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Newry, Mourne and Down District Council.
Castlewellan Forest Park is located on Forest Park View, Castlewellan, County Down, in a dramatic setting of mountains and sea. Castlewellan Forest Park has one of the most outstanding tree and shrub collections in Europe. The beauty, vigour and perfect shape of the trees in the National Arboretum attract tree enthusiasts from around the world.
The Castlewellan Annesley Garden Tree Trail leads visitors through the most historic and botanically significant parts of the garden, highlighting 26 notable trees and shrubs. These trees offer seasonal interest, vibrant colours, and botanical diversity throughout the year. Many of the specimens featured are champion trees, the tallest or broadest of their kind in the British Isles.
The Castlewellan Arboretum and Annesley Walled Garden is situated north of the foothills of the Mourne Mountains in County Down, Northern Ireland.
