Ringstead open gardens event showcases 15 village gardens with free minibus, tombola, plant stalls and more
Ringstead Open Gardens is taking place on Sunday with a blaze of colour, cakes and community spirit on offer.
Two new hosts will be opening their gardens for the first time bringing the total to 15 gardens for the public to explore, with proceeds going to St Andrew’s Church.
It has been a tradition spanning nearly 50 years and the event is popular with visitors, many of whom return each year.
Visitors can spend a day touring the gardens and homemade lunches and teas, all designed to reflect the epitome of a wonderful British summer day out.
Gardens offer traditional beauty with deep herbaceous borders, large manicured lawns to smaller cottage gardens each with their own special allure, spectacle and creative ideas.
The gardens will be in full bloom in June with a wonderful range of roses, delphiniums and alliums and host gardeners are working to ensure their displays are at their best.
Bridget Crowfoot, a gardener who is now in her 80s, remembers first opening her garden to raise money for St Andrew’s Church 30 years ago.
She has developed the large garden behind her house with displays of herbaceous borders full of colour and inspiration to many visitors.
Bridget is passionate about gardening and also runs a plant stall with plants grown from seeds or cuttings from her garden.
Ever the enthusiast, Bridget is always on hand to welcome visitors.
Village garden hosts have joined the tradition to raise money for the village church, but also putting their culinary skills to good use preparing the added popular attraction of homemade lunches of cold meats, a variety of salads, quiches, tarts and bakes.
Visitors can take a stroll round the gardens and choose from an array of homemade cakes on offer for afternoon tea.
For the cooks and their team of helpers, it is a special day in the village calendar which everyone looks forward to.
Ringstead garden co-host, Sara Stocks has been involved with the event for more than 23 years and is the culinary brains behind the menu each year.
She said: “It brings the whole village together and makes you feel proud to be part of it.”
Melanie Hutchinson, organiser, has 23 years of being involved with the event with her husband David.
Bo and Chris Tyler are garden hosts and helpers who came to Ringstead with their young family 20 years ago.
Bo said: “For me, it is all about being part of the Ringstead community.
“I really love our village and the people in it so it is always good to get together, and open gardens gives us that opportunity.
“The day is always fun with so much goodwill from helpers and visitors alike, many we now know well from coming to see all our gardens year on year.”
Jane and Chris Whiteford settled in the village six years ago and developed their garden, complete with a petanque court.
Jane said: “We love Ringstead and joining the open gardens team was a great way to meet people and share a common interest. It also makes you focus on ensuring your garden looks good for at least one day of the year.”
The homemade lunches and teas will be available in the village hall and car park with live music accompaniment.
From June 17-19 10am-5pm, there will be an art exhibition and flower festival.
There will be a tombola and raffle stalls, a chance to play petanque and walk round Courtyard Farm and Ringstead Downs.
There is an additional parking location this year at the top of the village and a free minibus will take visitors around the village and for more information follow Facebook and Instagram @ringsteadopengardens
The gardens open from 11am and tickets cost £5 which admits to all locations.
To book lunches served from 12-2pm £15 a head, call 01485 525494 or 01485 525384 and teas are served from 12-5pm.
