The world’s biggest container garden on my doorstep (spoiler alert – it didn’t happen)!
Gateshead Quays could become the site of the world’s biggest container garden, tentatively named the Urban Garden, designed by RHS Chelsea gold medallist Diarmuid Gavin.
The Urban Garden is expected to be open for several years. It will be built with up to 90 40ft and 20ft shipping containers. Stretching from the Swing Bridge to HMS Calliope, the 192-metre-long site is on Hillgate Quay. This is the former site of the Tuxedo Princess and Royale party boats near the Tyne Bridge.
The garden could be open in time for The Great Exhibition of the North, which begins on June 22, 2018. It will be an attraction for the NewcastleGateshead World Transplant Games in 2019.
Gateshead Urban Garden – ‘Majestic and unique’
RHS Chelsea gold medal-winning designer Diarmuid, known for his boundary-pushing designs, has described the plans as “majestic and unique”. Open areas of trees and mixed planting will grow alongside the shipping containers, which will house retail and catering units, art exhibitors and start-up businesses.
Of the site’s two main areas, The Plaza Garden will have 30 containers marking out open walkways and enclosed spaces. The Main Urban Garden will have 60 stacked containers to represent a walled garden. Container roofs hold trees, fruit and vegetables which will supply the catering outlets. Wooden crates grow food, including wheat, corn, and hops.
‘Proud history and visionary future’
Diarmuid said: “I want to create a remarkable garden at the heart of Tyneside with a majestic and unique design. I want it to be an attraction that builds on the heritage of the last great North East Coast Exhibition, which sets out a story of a proud history and a visionary future.”
Gateshead Council Leader Martin Gannon said: “These are very exciting proposals which would certainly further energise Gateshead Quays. It attracts more visitors to Gateshead and, indeed, the region. Entrepreneurs, social enterprises, and local people can be involved in a unique horticultural project.”
Gateshead Urban Garden – National Trust and volunteers
The attraction aims to attract more than 200,000 visitors a year. Up to 100 people could work at the site. The National Trust gardeners and volunteers would keep it looking ship-shape. The scheme relies on private investment.
Gateshead Quays is already part of a massive regeneration plan, which includes the relocation of the 12,500-seat regional arena from the Newcastle side of the Tyne, plus a conference and exhibition centre, hotel, bars, and restaurants.
UPDATE: The only things that did materialise were a bar/restaurant and pop-up food stalls in shipping containers. The model of the Tyne Bridge from Gateshead Council’s RHS display appeared here from Saltwell Park. Sadly, there is now no mention of the garden proposals on the Gateshead Council website.
