Beautiful gardens open for St Luke's

Some of the most beautiful gardens in Devon and Cornwall are about to open their gates in support of St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth.

The St Luke’s Open Garden Scheme will run from April to October and feature a diverse selection of 25 gardens, many of which are not normally open to the public and so offer a unique and private insight into garden planning and planting schemes.

The scheme has now been running for 4 years and last year alone raised over £31,000 for St Luke’s.

New individual gardens this year will feature in Launceston, Modbury and Holbeton. Popular village walkabouts in Calstock, Gunnislake, Trehunist, Colebrook and Yelverton offer the opportunity for the larger garden community to come together, listen to expert advice from owners, buy plants and enjoy delicious cakes. The largest of the walkabouts will take place in Kingsbridge where over 20 gardens will be on offer, centered around the popular Kingsbridge Community Garden.

St Luke’s are also very proud to feature Trematon Castle, Saltash as part of the programme. Taking place on 1 June, St Luke’s will have the exclusive first viewing of the garden which has not been open to the general public for a number of years.

Home of RHS Chelsea Flower Show Gold Medal winners Isabel and Julian Bannerman, Trematon Castle features a small Norman stone keep, and a grand Georgian house. The steeply wooded grounds have narrow paths and are a delight to explore. The gardens have been recently rejuvenated with deep luxurious borders and new exciting planting schemes. Refreshments will be served by the swimming pool allowing you the chance to sit back and enjoy spectacular views across the Tamar.

The first Open Garden of the season will take place next Sunday, 6 April at Gnaton Hall near Yealmpton between 2pm and 5pm. Admission is £5. Gnaton Hall is a Grade II Listed Building with extensive and well established gardens containing many fine examples of magnolia trees and rhododendrons. Explore over 5 acres of grounds which include woodland walks, terraced lawns, water and bog gardens, wild flower banks and a sheltered private walled garden area. This popular venue in the St Luke's Open Garden Scheme also offers teas and cakes served on the terrace. Parking is free on the day. There will be a selection of plants for sale and well behaved dogs, on leads, are welcome.

Owner of Gnaton Hall, Sarah Lopes said: “Opening our garden in aid of St Luke's Hospice is a most enjoyable way of raising funds for such a worthwhile charity. It gives us pleasure to meet like-minded people and discuss the garden with them, some of whom come every year. It concentrates the mind trying to get it looking good for that particular day, which lasts for sometime afterwards, although I like to think that the visitors don't mind seeing a few weeds about! The Hospice staff and volunteers make it all so easy by doing most of the organisation before, and help out on the day.

St Luke’s Community Fundraiser, Wayne Marshall said: “We are very excited about this year’s Open Gardens and have carefully crafted the programme to ensure our supporters get a chance to see some of the most beautiful gardens in our area. This year we are proud to feature more gardens in Cornwall than ever before.

"Every garden that opens for St Luke’s becomes a real community event involving not just the garden owners but support from their friends, families, local residents, garden centres and local businesses. It’s great for the local economy too, with visitors exploring the surrounding areas and visiting local shops, pubs and restaurants.

"You can be a keen gardener or just looking for a way to spend a relaxing weekend afternoon with your family, whatever your reason for visiting these gardens, we must not forget that it all raises vital money to provide free care for local people who need us most in the last months, weeks and days of life.

"Thank you to everyone who supported us last year and helped raise over £31,000, here’s to 2014!”.

St Luke’s are looking for volunteers to spare a few hours to help out at each garden. If you can offer your support, please call 01752 246594.

Want to find out where your nearest St Luke’s Open Garden is? Ask your local garden centre for a brochure, pop into your local St Luke’s charity shop or view it online at www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk/opengardens

To see the online brochure click here