Visitors well equipped for the weather in Rectory Farm gardens
Despite the cool windy conditions and the threat of heavy rain, from 2.00 pm on Sunday 30th June a steady stream of visitors enjoyed some of the village’s very best gardens. A total of £2062 was raised for the National Gardens Scheme, which supports a range of nursing, caring and gardening charities, with more than £2.5 million donated to these causes each year.
Ingram Lloyed reports that the number of visitors was 322, representing the fifth highest visitor numbers in the ten Sulgrave Open Garden days, the takings being the second highest on the day. The cakes were baked and donated by many excellent bakers from the village and beyond. Together with teas, the sale of these items raised £504. Many thanks are due to the car parkers (a very un-celebrated band but absolutely vital to the organisation), and also to the tea pourers, cake cutters and washer uppers as scrumptious cake and tea is vital – some visitors arrive and make straight for the tea!
Michael Heaton, Treasurer and Publicity, NGS Northamptonshire, emailed as follows: “…this was my first visit to the gardens and I have to say that I was MOST impressed with the standard of these and all the organisation that was involved. This is one of the county’s finest group openings in the pleasant surroundings of Sulgrave….”
More pictures of the gardens on the next page.
FERNS, HELMDON ROAD
Wildflowers decorate the verges as the visitors move on to the next garden…..
THREEWAYS
…..where mine host awaits, well fortified against the cold, wet day!
SUNNYMEAD
CHURCH COTTAGE
Visitors in Stockwell Lane, leading to…..
…..the Watermill Wildflower Meadows and Ponds….
and MILL HOLLOW BARN
THE WATERMILL
Tea is served……
…..and the long threatened rain begins to fall in torrents….
……threatening imminent collapse of the tea tent!
SULGRAVE MANOR
RECTORY FARM
A sorry sight of abandoned umbrellas….
….but mine host remains resolutely at his post!
Read more about the National Gardens Scheme.
Photo galleries are available for the following gardens which have taken part in this scheme:
Church Cottage, Church Street (Hywel and Ingram Lloyd)
Ferns, Helmdon Road (George and Julie Metcalfe)
Mill Hollow Barn (David Thompson)
The Old Stocks (Mr and Mrs Robin Prior)
Sulgrave Manor Herb Garden (The Herb Society as Sulgrave Manor)
The Old Farmhouse (Peter and Moo Mordaunt)
Threeways (Dr and Mrs D Lewis)
Greenfields (Mrs S Harding)
Click on any of these to see photos of the gardens.