A North East community garden rescued from decades of dereliction is celebrating its 20th anniversary as an award-winning attraction.
Dedicated volunteers and supporters have turned Whickham Hermitage Community Garden into a much-loved green space.
Once part of an 18th-century private estate, the garden fell into disrepair before the late Dave Peacock MBE and the wider community brought it back to life.
The late Dave Peacock in the early days of the garden (Image: Whickham Hermitage Community Garden)
Former farmer Mr Peacock called a public meeting, then formed a committee to secure planning permission, raise funds and restore the garden.
Mr Peacock said at the time: "It is a place for people to come and sit quietly and enjoy."
His daughter, Gillian Telfer, said after his passing in 2021: "The garden was everything to him.
"It was absolutely derelict when he started but now you could not believe it is the same place.
The early days (Image: Whickham Hermitage Community Garden)
"It is amazing now.
"For the last 20 years it was what he loved doing."
The restored garden features a wildlife pond, boathouse, bridge, pagoda and timber watchtower, surrounded by trees, flowers and sculptures by local artists.
It also has a children’s playhouse and has won several awards.
The late Dave Peacock MBE (Image: Whickham Hermitage Community Garden)
The garden’s history dates back to Hermitage House, built in 1790 by Matthew Taylor, whose family ran wherries and keels on the Tyne and opened a brewery in Swalwell in 1765.
The original Hermitage Garden was a lavish early 19th-century landscape with a lake, boathouse, pagoda, tennis court and two-storey brick watchtower.
Mr Peacock died in 2021, a week after his 77th birthday.
His daughter Sharon, who helped run the garden café, died in early 2020.
The garden is home to a tea room. (Image: Orangery Cafe)
Zoe Armstrong and her team run The Orangery Cafe, serving breakfast, lunch, cakes and drinks with views of the grounds through its large windows.
The café gives visitors a warm, dry place to enjoy the garden all year round.
Whickham Hermitage Community Garden is free to enter and open to everyone.
The garden has wheelchair-accessible paths, and dogs are welcome on leads.
(Image: Whickham Hermitage Community Garden)
The garden is on Hermitage Lane behind Whickham Community Centre, just off Front Street, and attracts visitors of all ages.
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Find information about the garden, café and volunteering opportunities on its website.
The garden was recognised as the voluntary project winner in the 2009 Northumbria in Bloom awards.
Mr Peacock was awarded an MBE in 2009 for voluntary service to Whickham Community Garden.