Nestled in the heart of Northumberland, lies an enchanting modern garden complete with elevated woodland walkways, its very own toxic plant collection and soaring delphiniums.

During springtime, Alnwick Garden bursts with a canopy of exquisite cherry blossom – and children can glide beneath the petals on charming timber swings built for two.

The Japanese Cherry Orchard springs to life with all of its magnificent 326 Taihaku cherry trees. Yet, the spectacle continues throughout the chillier seasons.

Come October, the same trees’ foliage transforms into a gorgeous deep bronze shade, according to Visit Northumberland.

The garden, brimming with vibrant displays, was conceived through the Duchess of Northumberland’s ambitious vision for a breathtaking landscape complete with hands-on water installations and an extraordinary miniature fortress for youngsters, reports Chronicle Live.

Crafted by Jacques and Peter Wirtz, the Grand Cascade forms the garden’s centrepiece with water cascading through the stepped fountains.

Nevertheless, venturing into the garden’s hidden corners reveals additional treasures, such as the Rose Garden, the Serpent Garden and the Poisonous Garden.

For those undaunted by altitude – there’s also a 200-metre lengthy, raised timber pathway weaving through a grove of lime trees. As part of one of the globe’s largest wooden treehouses, the construction boasts unstable bridges and rope crossings.

Behind wrought iron locked gates sits the garden housing over 100 hazardous plants including poisonous and narcotic varieties. The garden only opens during private guided tours – which inform visitors about the sinister side of horticulture.

A brief stroll from the main garden leads to Lilidorei – an immersive enchanted village offering numerous activities for children including Elf story time, according to Lilidorei’s website.

The 26-metre play structure features bridges, ladders, swings and towers plus six different slides – sufficient to occupy youngsters for hours.

Kelly B said on Trip Advisor: ” What made the visit still worth it was Lilidorei (I’ve written a separate review for that) and the Poison Garden.

“The Poison Garden is completely fenced in and you can only go inside during a guided tour (free with garden admission).

“I timed it just right and was able to join a tour shortly after they started. I’m not sure what her name was, but we had an excellent guide. We got to see the plants and hear about how they were poisonous.

“The guide had pictures to show us of what they look like blooming. A few of the plants were even in cages for safety reasons. We got to hear some stories of murderers who used the poisons to kill their victims, some fairly recently. It was a fascinating tour.”