Two Tyrone gardens open in support of Woodland Trust

by Gráinne Connolly

Two gardens in Tyrone opened their gates on Saturday. 

The Henderson Garden in Newtonstewart opened after 40 years in the making. 

Mr Henderson is the owner of two acres, filled with over 70 types of rhododendrons.

There's masses of azaleas, magnolias and bluebells, accompanied by a stream and tiny waterfalls. 

(Mr Henderson with his dog Josie in his Newtonstewart garden)

The second garden opened is The Salisbury Garden in Omagh. 

Sir Bob and Lady Salisbury transformed 17 acres of empty landscape into a refuge for wildlife. 

They've created two formal gardens, wildlife friendly gardens, an orchard and small lakes. 

The garden filled with some 5,000 trees, paths, and steps is home to 57 species of birds, insects and mammals including the Irish hare and otter. 

(Salisbury Park - Omagh)

Janette Wickens, the Woodland Trust's regional development officer says "Both gardens, while quite different, are equally stunning and the only challenge will be deciding which one to visit!

"Thankfully they're fairly close to one another, so you can easily make a day of it.

"From perfectly manicured lawns to wildlife-friendly landscapes, this is a chance to enjoy a breath of fresh air in the most peaceful and enviable of settings. We're so grateful to the owners for making this special day possible."

Proceeds of the gardens went to the work of conservation charity the Woodland Trust. 

They have three key aims: 

• To protect ancient woodland, which is rare, unique and irreplaceable
• To restore damaged and ancient woodland, bringing precious pieces of natural history back to life
• To plant native trees and woods with the aim of creating resilient landscapes for people and wildlife. 

The trust now has over 1,000 sites in its care covering over 22,500 hectares.