The Garden Gate

Join us to celebrate the May bank holiday and the launch of our 2026 summer season! FREE activities for all ages centred around our wonderful Bolton Gate Community Garden and the creation of a brand new community poem! 

The Garden Gate combines gardening, recycled arts and crafts, poetry, painting and live music in a celebration of summer, community and regeneration!

Event Schedule Overview

Garden Crafts - Drop-in, family-friendly, activities - 10am to 3pm

Wellbeing walk - 10.30am & 1.30pm

Summer Introduction - 3.30pm

Activities wind down, finishing touches and photos - 3pm to 5pm

Gigz@theGardenGate - 4pm to 8pm

Event Closing Speech - 8.15pm

Let us know if you will be attending, by booking your FREE admission ticket. 

Full Details 

Garden Crafts - Drop-in 10am to 3pm

Get messy with our gardening expert Tatiana, and use recycled materials to create your very own mini masterpieces that the flowers, bugs and birds will LOVE. We’ve got 10 minute crafts or if you fancy staying a little longer why not try creating a bug hotel or garden hanger. All crafts can either be taken home for your own gardens or left as part of ours.

• Plant & Paint

• Rock Decorating

• Garden Hangers

• Make your own bug hotel

Creative Writing Poetry Workshop - Drop-in 10am to 3pm

Join writer, poet and theatre maker Sarah Bootherstone and learn the art of crafting your own poems. Contribute to our community poem which will be implemented into our wellbeing garden.

Park Hall Exploration & Wellbeing Walk - 10.30am and 1.30pm

Join us for a wellbeing walk around Park Hall Country Park as we collect inspiration for our garden and gather objects to use in art works. Or if you simply fancy a quiet walk in good company, this is the one for you.

Only 20 spaces available per walk. Please book your space in advance by registering for a FREE ticket.

Paint the Kiln - Drop-in 10am to 3pm

Got a passion for painting? Help design and paint our bottle kiln statue, the centrepiece for the entrance to the Manège Outdoor Arts Space.

Educational planting sessions with the Community Gardening Club - Drop-in 10am-3pm

Learn the basics of planting and contribute to our growing community garden by planting flowers and vegetables. We need all hands in the soil, to plant our beautiful garden space which guests will be able to enjoy all year round.

Join the Community Gardening Club

Hungry for horticulture? Our community gardening group meets every Wednesday through the summer caring for and growing our community garden space. Get yourself active, outside and join our friendly and welcoming community of passionate gardeners.

Staffordshire Wildlife Trust Self-Led Nature Trail - Drop-in 10am - 3pm

Pick up your trail check list / quiz from the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust stall and get hunting for all the animals and facts hidden around the Manege Outdoor Arts Space and Community Garden. 

Bolton Gate Box Office

Find out all about our summer events and purchase your tickets. Sign in sheets for activities. Evaluation/feedback forms.

Summer Season Introduction - 3.30pm

Come and find out more about all of our upcoming shows, events and opportunities for 2026 with Creative Directors Joe & Emma.

Gigz@theGardenGate - 4pm - 8pm

Revel in the beautiful farm sunset with a special acoustic open mic night starring some of our regulars from Gigz@theGate to see in the summer season.

Sign-up for our open mic session

Email arts@boltongatefarm.co.uk if you would like to perform at this event.

Sunset - 8.38pm

Sit and enjoy the tranquility of the Manege as the sun sets over the beautiful Moorland Hills.

Event Close - 9pm

This project is supported by OUTSIDE's Creative Community Commissions and funding from The Community Foundation: North Staffordshire Environment Fund