Mellor Open Gardens - 22 Gardens open to the public 17th June 2012
This year's Mellor Open Gardens, the twentieth anniversary of the first event, will feature 22 gardens including 9 gardens that are opening for the first time. This promises to be a great day out for both new and seasoned visitors to our gardens.
Tickets for the day will cost £7.50 on the day or £6.00 in advance from a number of local outlets ( see full details here ) and will go on sale from the 14th May 2012.
In addition to the usual Plant sales and Raffle, for the first time we are holding a "Silent Auction " of 5 unique and fantastic prizes that money could not normally buy. We would urge you to go to our auction page here to read about the chance to win one of these experiences or prizes.
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.