Scarth Gardens

Morley is the largest suburban town, not directly connected to in the inner-city areas, in Leeds. Historically, the town played a central role in the Heavy Woollen District.

Explore the Gardens

The enclosed sections of the gardens at street level are a great place to stroll around, away from the traffic on Queen Street. If you want to take a seat and soak up the scenery there is plenty of walled seating in the paved sections of the garden.

The raised flower beds are carefully nurtured all year round and make for a beautifully bright display in the spring and summer months. Spending a minimum of 20-minutes in nature like this can significantly lower your stress levels.

Views over Morley

Scarth Gardens has been built on a hill that overlooks the town centre. Once you’ve climbed the steps to the top, you can take a spot on the bench, and take it all in. The views of the centre of Morley are some of the best in the area.

Picnic

With a choice of flower beds or views of the town you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to picking a picnic spot in Scarth Gardens.

What’s more is you’re likely to find a quiet spot to yourself in one of the more secluded areas.

We have put together this list of other great picnic places in Leeds, if you are undecided!

Scarth Gardens takes its name from Vera Scarth-Johnson, world famous botanist and botanical illustrator who was born in Morley in 1912. In particular, Vera focused on teaching people about the impacts of human activity on the Australian environment.

In 2021 1,600 individuals from Morley responded to a Leeds City Council endorsed survey on local needs and priorities. The biggest priority to come out of this was for more invest in parks and open green spaces. As a result, in 2022 Scarth Gardens received levelling up government money to improve the green space. You can expect to see some structural improvements in the near future.

The nearest public toilet to Scarth Gardens is on the edge of Scatcherd Park in Morley Leisure Centre.

There are dog and rubbish waste bins in the park.

Sit down and unwind with a moment of reflection on one of the many benches in the garden.

In the immediate area of Scarth Gardens, on Queen Street, there are five choices to eat and drink.

One of the most popular is Lime Tree, a fusion of Italian and Turkish cuisine.

Park for free in the layby parking spots on Queensway (Google Map Directions) – the bottom entrance of the gardens will be in front of you.

There are several sets of steps going up from ground floor of the garden to the top.

This makes part of Scarth Garden’s inaccessible for a wheelchair user.