Winchelsea opens Secret Gardens

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Gardening is a serious business in Winchelsea and the climax of the year comes every June when hundreds of visitors stream in from far and wide. Long ago they were christened “Secret Gardens” because it is impossible to tell what shape and size you will find behind the picturesque frontages of the town’s grid-pattern streets.

Cleveland Place

Eleven gardens opened on Saturday June 15 for the National Garden Scheme and again on Sunday 16 to raise funds for the Friends of the Hospital at Rye. In all there were over 1,000 visitors and almost £7,500 was raised for charity.

With that number of visitors, most of the Winchelsea community was on call, baking cakes, serving teas, staffing the car park, selling tickets and, of course, getting the gardens to their usual high standard.

Friary Gardeners’ Plant Stall

It’s good to report that 2019 has equalled 2018 in raising £13,500 from various garden openings for different charities since the spring. The National Garden Scheme benefits mostly cancer and nursing charities and, closer to home, beneficiaries have included St Michael’s Hospice and the Friends of the Conquest Hospital.

Friary Gardeners, a project that works with adults with learning difficulties, were on hand with their plant stall. They started in Winchelsea and are now based on The Ridge in Hastings.

Image Credits: David Page .

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