Join us this evening for a walk looking at tropical trees and plants around the Gardens.

Learn more about this magnificent property and its history before the trust. Wentworth Woodhouse is a Grade I listed country house in the village of Wentworth. The building has more than 300 rooms, with 250,000 square feet (23,000 m2) of floorspace, including 124,600 square feet (11,580 m2) of living area, and was – until it ceased to be privately owned – often listed as the largest private residence in the United Kingdom.

This talk explores how a small group of local residents, emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic, created a long-term vision for the site and developed it almost entirely through volunteering, partnership working and grant funding. It charts the garden's evolution from its first flower beds and willow structures through to becoming a registered charity with a 99-year lease, expanding educational facilities and an increasingly diverse programme of activities.

The presentation reflects on what has worked, the challenges of managing a shared community space, balancing people and nature, and the opportunities that lie ahead as the garden seeks to become an important local centre for environmental education, biodiversity enhancement and community wellbeing within Sheffield.

Join us as we walk around to see how art is inspired by beautiful summer flowers.

Ollie Pike will discuss his experiences working on historic landscapes and gardens across the country, emphasizing their importance to communities and the environment - as well as the need to preserve these precious sites. Ollie will highlight his work at Broomhill Community Library in Sheffield, where he is working alongside Broomhill Community Trust to revitalise the historically significant Percy Cane designed garden into a new public library space.