The Garden House, Marple

The Garden House, a registered charity and community farm based in Marple, near Stockport, is dedicated to offering families, groups, and organizations – particularly those supporting children and young adults with complex needs – a safe and welcoming space in the Cheshire countryside.

Blue plaque

History

The original Garden House building, now in ruins, was part of Samuel Oldknow’s industrial estate at nearby Mellor Mill. First built by Oldknow in 1801, it served as a small arable farm dedicated to producing food for the workers of his mill. A blue plaque marks the site.

The present Garden House started as a community project in 2015. With increasing support from the local community, its work with other organizations and charities gained wider recognition, leading to the attainment of charitable status in January 2019.

© The Garden House; both community farm and charitable organization

Facilities

The family-friendly centre is home to a variety of animals. These include the popular alpacas, donkeys, a goat, guinea pigs, pigs, rabbits, and Shetland Ponies. In addition, there is also a sensory garden and riverside walk.

For refreshments try the Riverside Cafe and pop up Icy Bar for ice creams in the summer months. The Riverside Cafe is open 11 am to 3 pm Tuesday to Sunday. Run by volunteers, some of whom have learning difficulties or additional needs. It offers a variety of yummy snacks and outdoor seating.

The popular alpacas and goat

Access – Getting There

Lakes Road
Marple
SK6 7DH
Tel: 0161 427 8712
www: thegardenhousemarple.com

All group visits of six or more people (including adults and children) must be pre-booked.

The Garden House has free entry, but as donations sustain the center and its work, a suggested donation is £3 per person.

Hours

Open 10 am to 4 pm Tuesday to Sunday; closed Mondays, including Bank Holiday Mondays.

Marple is within easy reach of both Manchester and Stockport by car.

There are several buses connections from Stockport Interchange bus station near Stockport Station to Marple. Buses 358, 383 and 384 are all convenient. The bus is quicker and more convenient than the train.

If you are arriving by train, however, the nearest railway stations are Marple and Rose Hill. Marple, on the Hope Valley Line, has trains from Manchester Piccadilly and New Mills Central. Rose Hill is a branch of the Hope Valley Line to Sheffield and connections are infrequent.

Donkeys © The Garden House

Nearby

Marple Junction, the meeting point of the Peak Forest and Macclesfield canals, Mellor Mill and Roman Lakes, now a wedding and events venue, are all close by.

Nearby Roman Lakes

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