Ballynahinch Castle

Ballynahinch is a beautiful castle set amongst 700 acres of woodland with a backdrop of Twelve Bens Mountain Range. Head Gardener Cian Cuncliffe has been fundamental to the estate’s restoration. Steeped in years of history, what remained were the bones of a walled garden, with an old rotting timber greenhouse that did not reflect its’ surrounding landscape.

As such an important feature of the grounds, the original greenhouse needed to be replicated in the new structure. After researching various companies Cian, along with Garden Designer Rachel Lamb, chose Alitex to take on this particular project. A low maintenance and durable structure with beautiful aesthetics was crucial. Using aluminium was the obvious solution, considering the wet weather in Northern Ireland meant that timber would rot very quickly.

The new Alitex glasshouse sits beautifully within the walled garden at Ballynahinch Castle. The structure has provided the optimum growing environment for salad plants and vegetables. Separated by a partition sits several tropical plants that prefer a warmer climate. Additional to the greenhouse structure are the cold frames, allowing for necessary extra space and bright flowers that require a little shelter.

The greenhouse has become a focal part of the estate and enjoyed by many members of the public. The hotel will be hosting summer weddings and requests to include the beautiful greenhouse have already been noted.