Mellor Open Gardens - over 20 Gardens open to the public 17th June 2012
The village of Mellor in Stockport enthusiastically shared its lovely views, its varied gardens and its renowned hospitality when it staged the fifth Mellor Open Gardens on Sunday May 25th. 2008. This community based event involved 16 individual private gardens opening their gates to the public to raise money for two charities, one national and one local.
Mellor Open Gardens started in 1992 and was subsequently held in 1995, 2000 and 2004 with the success of the event increasing on each occasion. 2008 was no exception and a sum of £11,820 has been shared equally between Cancer Research UK and Mellor Parish Centre.
The event, which was run by a small local committee representing both charities, has grown into a cherished special occasion that generates great interest throughout Stockport, High Peak, Tameside, Cheshire and beyond. Its scale was demonstrated, again, in 2008, when some 150 local residents volunteered to assist on the day and almost 1500 copies of the programme were sold.
2012 Open Gardens in Mellor on 17th June 2012
Sue Beesley, winner of the BBC Gardener of the Year competition in 2006, who generously shared our last open day in 2008 and will again join us in 2012, said:
“It takes a great deal of courage and effort for a gardener to open their garden to the wider world, even for one day. But every gardener loves visiting other people’s gardens – there is always something to learn or to be inspired by. So thank you to the gardeners of Mellor for sharing your gardens with us in support of a worthy cause.”
In her blog. Bluebell Cottage Gardens , Sue wrote:
Mellor lies to the south of Manchester, on the edge of the Peak District. To passers-by, it is one of many lovely Peak-fringe communities, stretched out along an old coaching road with its fine pubs, select shops and lovely houses. But Mellor is special. Every four years, many of its finest private gardens open their gates to raise money for Cancer Research and the superb Parish Centre. It is both a feat of horticulture, hospitality and logistics of which the community is rightly very proud.
I had a fantastic day out, visited all 16 gardens and chatted to most of the garden owners. All the owners have put in weeks of gardening and event planning and the results are truly inspirational.
So, congratulations Mellor for a superb event, for showing what modern communities can achieve, for opening your gardens and for some seriously impressive fundraising. And thank you for the invitation to come and share it with you.