Beautiful gardens unveiled to public (From Stroud News and Journal)

Beautiful gardens unveiled to public

SPRING has definitely sprung in Eastcombe, Bussage and Brownshill - as the SNJ discovered when taking this sneak preview of the gardens which will be open to the public over the May Bank Holiday.

More than a thousand garden lovers are expected to flock to the event, weather permitting, which is run under the umbrella of the National Gardens Scheme (NGS).

"The thing we are especially proud of is the amount of money we have raised since we started," said the event's publicist Pip Dade.

"Over the last four years alone, the total stands at a staggering £18,000, mainly from the sale of hundreds of plants."

Visitors this year will be supporting Cotswold Care Hospice, the Cheltenham Cobalt Unit and Victim Support Gloucestershire, in addition to the national nursing, caring and gardening charities backed by the NGS.

"Our star is undoubtedly Dave Collins, who has raised a fantastic amount for charity," said Mr Dade.

"This one guy has raised more than £38,000 since 1995 - can you believe that?"

Mr Collins, of Bussage, is renowned for his cultivation of unusual and double hellebores, which he sells to enthusiasts.

Meanwhile in Brownshill, Roger and Jenny Salt's garden is a step back to Edwardian times with outhouses, a traditional vegetable garden and an ancient vine in the conservatory.

And for those with more contemporary tastes, there is Five One Two, also at Brownshill, the brainchild of garden designer Pamela Woods.

With its unique timber features and Mediterranean pool, this haven of tranquillity featured on the BBCs Heaven and Earth programme, presented by Chris Beardshaw, in 2004.

In addition to the old favourites, three of the nine gardens are new additions to the event.

Many of the gardeners in the area are members of the Hilltop Gardening Club (www.hilltopgardeningclub.org.uk), which helps organise the event.

The gardens will be open between 2pm and 6pm on Sunday, May 1 and Monday, May 2.

Combined admission to all the gardens is £3.50 (children free), payable at the first garden, where visitors will be given a map.

Tea and home-made cakes will be available at Eastcombe Village Hall, where there will also be an exhibition of botanical art by Sally Birch and hand-painted silk scarves by Jean French, both of Bussage.