Walkden Gardens

If you're looking for a hidden gem of a garden in Sale, Walkden Gardens is a beautifully designed park of interconnected garden 'rooms', a Grade II listed dovecote, a Japanese garden and a unique outdoor theatre lawn — all tucked behind high beech hedges in the heart of Trafford.

Walkden Gardens | Parks and Gardens in Sale

What to expect at Walkden Gardens

• Series of interconnected garden 'rooms' modelled on Hidcote, Gloucestershire

• Theatre Lawn — a hedge-enclosed performance space seating up to 500 people

• Japanese Garden divided into three distinctive areas with archways and bamboo screens

• Wisteria arch over seventy feet long — spectacular in May

• Fuchsia garden, conifer garden and beech circle

• Cherry Walk — a colourful highlight in spring

• Grade II listed Dovecote, relocated from Sale Old Hall

• Drystone walling with integrated seating

• Free on-site car park on Derbyshire Road

• Green Flag Award holder

Walkden Gardens in Sale

Walkden Gardens is a free public park in Sale, Greater Manchester, covering just over five acres at the junction of Derbyshire Road and Marsland Road. Known locally as 'The Maze' or 'The Secret Garden', the gardens are one of the area's most distinctive and lovingly maintained green spaces, and have held the prestigious Green Flag Award for many years.

History and heritage

The gardens take their name from Harry Walkden, who owned and ran Moorside Nurseries on the site. On his death in 1949, the land passed to Sale Borough Council with his wish that it be used for the public good — ideally as a park, pleasure ground or botanical garden. Today the gardens are owned by Trafford Council and actively supported by the Friends of Walkden Gardens, who help maintain and develop the site. Work to lay out the gardens began in 1970 and has continued to evolve ever since.

Garden rooms and features

Walkden Gardens is modelled on the famous Hidcote garden in Gloucestershire, with long allées offering views through the landscape and a series of smaller enclosed garden 'rooms' separated by high beech hedges. Each space has its own distinct character, from the fuchsia garden and beech circle to the conifer garden and a small arboretum that has replaced the former rose garden. The Cherry Walk makes for a particularly colourful visit in springtime.

The Theatre Lawn and events

A highlight of any visit is the uniquely proportioned Theatre Lawn — a large, hedge-enclosed outdoor space comprising an auditorium, a raised mound and a baffle hedge, capable of seating up to 500 people. The lawn is used regularly for musical and theatrical performances throughout the year, and the gardens host a programme of seasonal events that make use of the wider site.

The Japanese Garden

The tranquil Japanese Garden is divided into three areas, each with its own distinctive character. Archways and see-through bamboo screens separate the spaces, creating the sense of moving from one world to the next. The design draws on traditional Japanese garden principles to create a genuinely calming and immersive environment within the wider gardens.

The Dovecote

The Grade II listed Dovecote at Walkden Gardens was originally located within the grounds of Sale Old Hall, which was demolished in the 1920s. Relocated and reconstructed on its current site, where it reopened in 2004, it has since been used for arts workshops and as an exhibition space.

Important information

• Opening times: Daily | Winter 9am–4pm; Summer 9am–7.30pm. 

• Address: Walkden Gardens, Derbyshire Road, Sale, M33 3EL

• Admission: Free (charge may apply for some events)

• Parking: Free car park accessed from Derbyshire Road

• Facilities: No toilets or refreshments on site except during events

• Transport: Bus stops on Marsland Road (routes 99 and 266); approximately 15 minutes' walk from Brooklands Metrolink station

Find out more: Friends of Walkden Gardens

Photo credit: www.cheshirenow.co.uk