Green build project to benefit from Richmond walled garden open day

Mr Yorke’s Walled Garden will be open on Sunday, August 30, from 1pm to 5.30pm, and all money raised will go towards Just the Job Environmental Services’s Big Green Build scheme.

Just the Job is a social enterprise supporting adults with a range of abilities in practical, work orientated therapeutic activities. Having grown out of current accommodation, it is now proposed to build a new facility all on one site, supported by Zetland Estates, on land adjacent to Gallowfields Trading Estate.

A pioneering construction project incorporating solar panels, green roof, reed bed water filtration, timber frame construction and straw bale insulation, the building will incorporate specialist rooms for activities, toilets, multi-use outdoor areas and a horticultural project.

Mr Yorke’s Walled Garden, Richmond

Just the Job needs to raise £600,000 to move into the new facility. Owners of Mr Yorke’s, Dennis and Marcia McLuckie, said they were happy to support the project through the garden open day.

Mrs McLuckie said: “Just the Job is an amazing charity doing an incredible job. They have worked from four different sites for the last 15 years and really need this new building to be able to give its users an even better experience and increase the numbers of people who can benefit from what they offer. Dennis and I are glad that we are able to open our garden to raise funds towards their new building.”

Mr Yorke’s Walled Garden was built by John Yorke II, who lived with his wife, Anne, in a 17th Century mansion, which stood near the Green by the banks of the River Swale.

The Yorke family’s mansion was demolished in the early 19th Century, and the Walled Garden was later used as a market garden. In the 1980s, it was planted with a variety of interesting saplings that were to be grown on for sale, but many were left and are now mature.

Mr and Mrs McLuckie have worked hard over the last eight or so years to restore the garden.

New this year is a stream that bubbles between a new middle pond and the bottom ponds, a reminder of the underground streams that flow from beneath Westfields down and under the garden.

Just the Job is one of this year’s chosen charities for Richmond and the Dales Soroptimists, who will be serving teas, coffee and cake in the garden.

Admission for adults is £5. Children under 16 are admitted free. A one way in and out route is in operation and people are asked to observe social distancing. No booking required, but if there are too many people in the garden you may be asked to wait until others leave. Just the Job will be selling plants and crafts.

There is no parking or drop-off at the garden. Main grass paths are accessible with a wheelchair, but they are quite steep. Due to Covid-19 there will be no toilet facilities this year.