THE NEXT ALDHAM OPEN GARDENS DAY IS

SUNDAY, 12 JUNE 2011

REPORT ON OPEN GARDENS DAY, 13 JUNE 2010

(from Grapevine, June 2010)

The hundreds (500 this year) who flock to admire Aldham’s gardens are rightly impressed by what they see. There is so much variety in the size and design of the gardens and the visitors, many returning year after year, enjoy meeting with friendly gardeners eager to share their expertise. This year there were18 gardens open, and we would like to say a huge ‘thank you’ to all those gardeners.

However behind the scenes before the day there are a hundred and one jobs which go on, largely unheralded, but without which the event would simply not happen. 

Two planning sessions, one in March and the second as a follow-up in July, produce constructive ideas to be followed up. The publicity material is designed, printed and adverts placed, and around 4000 leaflets are distributed by dozens of folk. For months people are cultivating plants or nurturing cuttings for the various plant stalls. Incidentally, there was a magnificent response to the appeal for plants, cakes and preserves. The day’s musical ‘entertainment’ has to be rehearsed – dancers, instrumentalists and choir for evensong. The floral and art displays have to be planned, flowers chosen and pictures painted.

And so on the day itself everything is ready to slot into place. Again, the success, social and financial, of the event is due to an army of willing folk. They put up signs, organise parking, drive the minibus, sit at garden gates with programmes, sell cakes, plants, ices, locally-made chocolate and the renowned elderflower cordial, At the same time folk are setting up lunch and tea venues prior to dispensing countless cups of tea, coffee, and slices of cake, not forgetting the washers-up and clearers-up.

The £4,300 raised on 13 June will go a long way to undertaking essential work on the base of the church spire, a landmark for miles around that earns Aldham Church the star in its Grade II* listed category. So once again we say thank you to you for your part in making the 2010 Open Gardens Day a great success in every respect.

Jennifer MacCallum on behalf of Aldham PCC