Poison Garden

Not to be taken internally

The first garden at Alnwick Castle was created in 1750 by Capability Brown for Hugh Percy, First Duke of Northumberland.This garden was then dug over to grow much-needed fruit and veg during World War II. After the war, financial restrictions saw the garden slowly decay into disrepair.

The new Alnwick Garden was the brainchild of Jane Percy, Duchess of Northumberland. Work began on its development in 1997, with the first phase completed in October 2001. The garden was then opened to the public and proved to be a hit. There are many singular attractions at Alnwick Garden, including the largest wooden treehouse in the world. However, arguably the most interesting feature – definitely the most deadly – is the Poison Garden, found behind a locked gate in its own walled-off space.

The Poison Garden is filled with roughly 100 different plant species, all of which are either toxic, narcotic or both. To avoid unnecessary death, the Poison Garden can only be visited under supervision on a guided tour. Touching, eating or even smelling the plants is a no-no for obvious reasons. In fact, so toxic are some of the plants that the gardeners need to wear protective clothing when tending to them.

Surprisingly, not all of the plants are particularly exotic. Many can be found growing in gardens across the UK. Take aconitum for example. It’s an ornamental perennial with purple-blue flowers that resemble the cowls of monks, hence its common name of monkshood. Every part of the plant contains aconitine, an alkaloid that causes vomiting, diarrhoea or even cardiac arrest if swallowed. Agatha Christie used aconitum to despatch victims in two of her books: 4.50 from Paddington and They Do It with Mirrors. Which is why you shouldn’t argue with your nearest and dearest before making a visit to the Poison Garden…

Address Denwick Lane, Alnwick, Northumberland, NE66 1YU, +44 (0)1665 511350, www.alnwickgarden.com | Getting there Bus 418 or X 18 MAX to Allerburn Lea; paid parking at Alnwick Garden | Hours Apr – Oct daily 10am – 5pm during term time, Apr – Oct daily 9am – 6pm during Northumberland school holidays, reduced opening hours Nov – Mar (see website for details) | Tip Brizlee Tower is a wonderfully eccentric folly in Alnwick’s Hulne Park, built in 1781 for Hugh Percy.