Things to see and do

Ripon Walled Garden, once the Bishops Palace Kitchen Garden, is a visitor attraction unlike any other, in beautiful, peaceful and serene surroundings. A home to all of Ripon Community Link’s services for people with Learning disabilities, and open to the public to visit.

Stroll through our Victorian Orchard, where heritage Yorkshire apple and pear trees stand proudly, amidst the peaceful meadow with wildflowers, and alongside productive fruit beds. With each step you will be immersed in nature in the picturesque landscape. Enjoy the vibrant colours and blooms within our Walled Garden, with the tranquility of our Woodland. Transformed across the seasons, no two days are ever the same.

For gardening enthusiasts, our garden nursery and shop is well stocked with plants, garden essentials and gifts. Our popular café aims for ”Plot to Plate” meals, making a delicious menu of homemade treats with many ingredients produced on site.

We have plenty of adventures for explorers, from den building to our stunning story telling circle with bug houses to bird watchers in the Woodland. Our smaller explorer will enjoy our play house and ride on toys in the safety of the walls of the Walled Garden. We have a wide range of children’s activities and trails throughout the year, please visit our events page for more information.

The Walled Garden

Walled Gardens, originating from the 16th century were enclosed spaces, typically surrounded by brick walls. Initially designed for growing fruit and vegetables, the walls create a microclimate and protection from pests. During the Victorian Era, these gardens flourished in English estates. Our Walled Garden dates from 1838 and is typical in design and if you look closely, you will find original chimneys used to warm the walls to ripen fruits. There were originally espalier fruit trees growing on the west and east sides of the east wall. The walled garden had boilers on the north wall that heated the original vinery.  The walled garden was always divided into 2 plots with rows across east-west. Records show, nothing exotic was grown, but all the basic vegetables.  When there were excess crops, they were recycled back into the ground. The produce from the garden only went to the Spring Hill school kitchens adjacent to the site.

There was a donkey which arrived from a Barnardo’s school in 1976.  It was known as “Honkey” and lived in the barn on the north side of the Walled Garden until it died c2000.

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Between 2017 when the property was purchased by Ripon Community Link, having been rented since 2002, there has been significant investment at the site. The installation of a bore hole in 2019 was pivotal in it’s History, as for the first time, a reliable and plentiful water supply was established, meaning that plants, and amenities could be fully supplied.

The Woodland had been untended for many years and a programme to develop this has started. The initial phase between 2017- 2024 has been around tending trees and bushes and making it a safe environment. Longer term, our aim is to return the Woodland to home fully native species, gradually removing non-native species. Simultaneously, we will develop the Woodland, always retaining its peaceful environment, making it more accessible for the whole community to enjoy.

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The Orchard again sadly was untended. Since 2017, with the help of knowledgeable and skilful volunteers we have worked hard to tend to ancient trees, pruning and allowing wild and tended areas for wildlife. We have also begun a tree planting replenishment scheme, with Yorkshire weather tolerant varieties ensuring that the Orchard will be productive for another century.  Furthermore, restoration of the fruit beds, which perhaps reflect the original fruit beds of the bygone Victorian Era have been planted.

Within the walls there is a fine a balance of maintaining the original Walled Garden and being a home for Ripon Community Links services for people with a learning disability. The garden is finely balanced with a kitchen garden, show garden and in 2017, a wonderful shop and café opened with a “plot to plate” ethos. We look forward to welcoming you to enjoy our beautiful site.

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