It’s that time of year again when 3,500 private gardens nationwide open their gates for the National Garden Scheme and its charities – and our garden at Astley Old Vicarage will be one of them for the second year running.
We’ll be open from 10am to 4pm this weekend, Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd June. There’s a small admission fee of £4 for adults and it’s free for children and pets with cream teas available. Scrumptious! There’s also a plant sale. The money collected goes to the charities supported by the National Garden Scheme and our nominated one, Bloodwise.
Most of the garden is flat with some gravel paths, so it’s quite easy to walk around and is accessible in a wheelchair.
A Worthwhile cause
Many of the National Garden Scheme causes are nursing and caring charities and the Scheme donates a fantastic 80p in every £ collected. In its first year in 1927, it raised £8,191 and last year it broke its record, donating £3.1 million. This year the National Garden Scheme is, obviously, hoping to try and do as well, if not better. Since its formation, the National Garden Scheme has donated over £55 million which, is an incredible achievement and it’s now the largest single funder of nursing and caring charities in the UK.
Come along and say hello
Susan, I, and Wilf our dog, will be here to chat – Wilf is a good natured, black haired goldendoodle! We’re looking forward to meeting friends, old and new again, and showing them the work we’ve done on the garden over the last 12 months. This includes a new National Trust Greenhouse – and, I’ll happily share the back breaking saga of its building, planning permission, floating foundations and all with anyone who cares to listen… I may have to pay you to listen!
Needless to say, preparing the garden, plants, trees, shrubs, flowers and lawns for our guests comes with a certain degree of trepidation. This year is no different as the weather plays such a large role in the way everything looks. Fingers crossed, everything is on track….. and it looks like it’ll be warm this weekend too.
Come along and join the fun. We look forward to seeing you
Hi Neil, so lovely to see the old vicarage restored. I had my confirmation lessons there and I remember it well. Good on you. I’ve lived in NZ for 30 odd years and have gone back to visit the old haunts. I have lovely memories of the area, school (which I attended) and the church. So lovely to see what you, your wife and friends have accomplished.