Office Training Trip 2022
Last Friday, the HPA team took a trip to Manchester for their annual training day. The day consisted of two parts, firstly was a visit to RHS Bridgewater – the newest of the Royal Horticultural Society’s sites which opened its gates to the public for the first time in May 2021. The 154-acre garden in Salford, Greater Manchester, is the biggest hands-on horticultural project undertaken in Europe since planning permission was granted in 2017. The magnificent gardens once belonged to the estate of Worsley New Hall before the original building was demolished in the 1940s.
The contemporary Welcome Building, cladded in Larch was an impressive entrance to the site and also provided a captivating spot for the group to have lunch overlooking the beautiful 1.4 acre lake, Moon Bridge Water. Rounded off with the obligatory scout around the capacious gift shop and garden centre, all housed within the spectacular timber framed structure.
Having spent the morning touring the vast grounds of Bridgewater, HPA then travelled into central Manchester to visit the Manchester Jewish Museum, following its award-winning revamp. Like RHS Bridgewater, the site also re-opened in 2021 following an extensive £6million redevelopment and extension of the museum. The two year project saw a restoration of the 19th century synagogue in Cheetham Hill, Manchester as well as the construction of a Corten-steel clad extension, creating a striking new entrance as well as a community hub, café and additional gallery space. Joining seamlessly with the original former Spanish & Portuguese synagogue via a contemporary glazed link, the new addition compliments the original ornate building whilst using contrasting materials to mirror its urban surroundings.
It was a fascinating afternoon spent exploring the history of Manchester’s Jewish community as well as getting to explore architecture past and present.
