Open Gardens 2005 Old Dalby
On a hot summers day on Sunday 19th
June 2005 over 700 people gathered in Old Dalby to enjoy an impressive
collection of 19 wonderful gardens which were open for visitors
for around seven hours.
Local celebrity Anne Davies officially opened the day at 12.00
on the village green.
There was great variety amongst the gardens with all the owners
having worked tremendously hard over previous months to get them
ready for the great day.
There were both newly designed gardens and ones which have been
established for many years. All tastes were catered for.
Themed gardens were very popular with delights such as Strawberries
& Sparkling Wine and Pimms & Smoked Salmon available in
two gardens whilst Cold beer and Stilton, and Cider and Local
Pork Pie proved to be a welcome relief from the hot weather in
others!
The catering team in the village hall worked hard all day and
provided marvellous homemade cakes and drinks.
Plants, preserves and paintings were also for sale in gardens
and there was a very interesting demonstration of Wooden Trug
and flower making.
All proceeds for the day went towards the Church Restoration Fund.
We hope all who
came enjoyed the day and do hope that you will join us again
in two years time!
A look back at the 2003 Open Gardens held in
Old Dalby.
An Open Gardens Day in Old Dalby was held
on Sunday 29th June 2003.
All entrance proceeds were donated to the restoration fund of
St John the Baptist Church, Old Dalby.
The day incorporated the annual church summer fete at the old
rectory.
It is hoped that the day built on the success of the previous
year's event when twenty-five gardens in the village were open
to the public. (Because this Open Gardens Day was such a success,
the 2005 event will be open from 11am until 7pm.)
There were a number of gardens selling plants. Some included specialist
plants like 'tender exotics'.
In 2002, we had an active crafts exhibition in church. In 2003,
there was a wedding dress display and an exhibition explaining
the history of Old Dalby village by Anne Mckenna.
There were refreshments, plant sales, musical entertainment, cakes
and produce for sale.
We went for a relaxing 'Summer Drink in a Garden Theme' with four
gardens hosting 'Pimms', 'beer and local stilton', 'cider and
local pork pies', 'champagne and strawberries'.
Special lunches were served in the village hall.
To mark the second year of 'Old Dalby Open Gardens' we had purchased
a number of commemorative T shirts and aprons which were on sale
at a fraction over the cost price. The original designs on the
garments were created by Kirsty Radbourne, a well respected local
artist. These sold very well!!!
Here's a note from Liz
Stenson about the day.....
Congratulations!
Due to your supreme efforts we have raised £3,000 towards
the church restoration fund. We all enjoyed a wonderful day, and
the feedback from our visitors was very complimentary.
It could have been so different if the weather
had been like the following day! (It chucked it down). John Hooley
must have had a word in the right ear to arrange such a beautiful
day. At last, the sunny weather has returned and we can enjoy
our gardens to relax in and not worry about cutting the grass,
digging up weeds and getting ready for Open Gardens Day.
Well done to Maz Vanham and Rhiannon Bennett
for winning the garden vouchers (for plant sales from their gardens).
Although I hope you are now enjoying a well
earned rest, I also hope you will still be considering opening
your garden once again in 2005! We are already forming ideas for
the next OGD and have our eyes on a few new gardens that have
not opened before.
Thank you again for participating this year,
and for all your efforts in raising extra revenue with the themed
gardens, plant sales etc. Your comments have been very useful
and we will try to incorporate them next time to make an even
better fundraising event.
Liz Stenson...
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