The 2017 Open Gardens for St Mary’s should be a very interesting event as there will be 19, very different gardens open this year on Saturday, June 24th and Sunday, June 25th. Eight of the gardens will be new to the event and include two in New Street.

The end of June is one of the best times to see the rich variety of gardens that are on offer – from the historic garden at John Kyrle’s Summer House, to the garden at Greeba in Archenfield Road. This has been the home of Dennis and Alison Roberts for nearly 40 years. They are celebrating their Golden Wedding this year and the garden is full of plants with tales to tell of their family.

The gardens range from large and mature to small, historic or manicured, and the gardeners are all working to ensure there is plenty to see and enjoy in them all.

The brochure, detailing all the gardens, will be on sale at Ross Market on Thursday and Saturday this week. The brochure costs £7.50 and is the ticket which gives entry to all the gardens over the two days. They will also be available during the weekend at St Joseph’s School car park, which will be open to visitors, St Mary’s Church Hall, which will be open for refreshments, The Blake Garden in Wye Street and Ross Court Care Home.

There will also be a licensed bar selling beer, cider and Pimms at Green Court on the Avenue and afternoon tea will be served at Ross Court or you can stop for a cuppa at Warrendale Dental Surgery.

Phil and Sarah Angus at Morcombe Lodge, where playwright and author, Dennis Potter used to live, in Archenfield Road will be doing full blown tea and cakes with all the trimmings. And St Mary’s Church Hall will also be open for filled rolls at lunchtime or afternoon teas.

The gardens will all be open from 12 noon until 5pm on both days. Most of the gardens are within short walking distance of the town centre, or St Joseph’s Primary School where there will be a free car park.