WALSHAM LE WILLOWS OPEN GARDENS WEEKEND Miscellaneous

Walsham Open Gardens Weekend has been a feature of Suffolks August Bank Holiday for over 40 years.

THE 41st WALSHAM LE WILLOWS OPEN GARDENS WEEKEND 27th AND 28th OF AUGUST 2023 www.walsham-le-willows.org/annual-events/open-gardens/
- THE ORIGINAL OPEN GARDENS EVENT..It all started in Walsham and we still believe we give the best value and we give the best day out of them all
- The Walsham le Willows Open Gardens Weekend will celebrate its 41st year on the August Bank Holiday Sunday and Monday this year and can certainly claim to be one of the best, longest-running and most successful Open Garden events in East England and probably the rest of the country as well
- We will open 35 plus gardens and spaces this year and that certainly represents true value for money for the visitorThey range from large to minuscule and a lovely traffic island planted to celebrate the 40th yearEach one makes a unique contribution to this wonderful event
- The charge this year is £8 per person and if you cant get around it all on the first day then you can come back on the second day for freeWe will negotiate a lower cost for groups and of course children under 16 years old can come in for free
- The organization is so well established in the Walsham Year that we have established it as a Charitable Trust and we now have the catchy title of The Walsham Le Willows Open Gardens Trust with the charity number 147893
- The idea for the Open Gardens was first suggested by the then vicar of St Mary's, the RevJohn Rutherford but credit for the ongoing development of the event should go to the late Hilary Russel and her husband Dr Alec Russell who has also passed awayHis role as Honorary President has now been taken by his daughter Penelope Robins
- The weekend relies on the hard work of lots of people and this year again there will be over 250 local people involved in some way or another; the garden owners, the people who bake, the catering teams around the village, the car parking teams and many more
- Funds raised at the Open Gardens are for village causes and most importantly for the maintenance of the fabric of our lovely ChurchSo far over £270,000 (index-linked) has been raised for St Mary's the Virgin and it remains a magnificent example of a typical 15th Century East Anglian Church and worth a visit in its own right
- Visitors don't only come for the gardens, however lovelyThey appreciate the calm and serenity of our lovely village and listen to music- this year from the Breckland Brass Band and the Gislingham Silver Band at the Memorial Village Hall
- We have a Village Market in the yard of Clarkes of Walsham where people can enjoy and sample the fruit and crafts of the Suffolk countryside
- There is an Arts Sale and Floral Art in our lovely church with musical entertainment from Angels Delight amongst others
- Particular mention must be made of the refreshments available at the Memorial Village Hall and the Priory Room, where wonderful light snacks, lunches, teas and cakes (especially meringues) are provided by the good folk of the village
- There is a BBQ and Pizza experience in Garden no9 together with a licensed bar and also a display of vintage and classic cars on both days
- A good time is guaranteed for all
- Contact: JOHN STEBBING 07831 325610 [email protected]

Category: Community | Gardening / Horticultural

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