Grand opening of The Courts Garden’s new bridge in Holt

A new bridge over the historic dye pool at Holt’s Courts Garden was unveiled on 16th March, with the help of children from Holt Primary School.

The idea was initially a response to the challenge of creating a handrail for a wooden boardwalk that enabled visitors to the garden to walk all the way around the dye pool pond. A secure fixing point for the hand rail was difficult to ensure, so the idea was hatched of providing an arched bridge in this area that would not only make the route safer for the younger visitors especially, but would also provide a badly-needed focal point and viewing point for this dark corner of the garden.

Head gardener, Paul Alexander said, “It has taken the last two years to secure the funding, necessary permissions and to find a bridge builder that could deliver the vision that was for so long just an image in my head. Richard Coulson and his father Julian of Coulson’s Bridges in Halesworth, Suffolk, were the incredible team that delivered that vision in early 2018.”

The team at The Courts said, “The project also proved a wonderful opportunity to run an art competition with students from the local primary school to find a winner who could cut the ribbon at our grand opening in March.

“For a number of years children from Holt Primary School have enjoyed the opportunity to work at the National Trust Courts Garden in the village as part of the ‘green guardianship programme.’ They have experienced Forest School activities, farming-related projects, wildlife education and a number of art and science-based activities.”

Hannah Jones, National Trust regional consultant, agreed saying, “Our places are part of the local community and it’s lovely when we can work in partnership to create something that brings joy to us and the local people who enjoy The Courts.’

“Partnerships like the longstanding work between the team at The Courts and Holt Primary School is something we are really proud of and seek to develop wherever we can.”

The team at The Courts are still continuing to create better access and planting around the bridge, but say they hope all their visitors will be as thrilled by the new addition to the much-loved garden as they are.