The summer may nearly be over, but it holds some wonderful memories for those who visited Phyllis Tuckwell’s Open Gardens this year. Over 40 gardens opened their gates to the public, who enjoyed browsing around these beautiful outdoor spaces, all to raise money for local hospice care.
The gardens were located across Phyllis Tuckwell’s catchment area of West Surrey and North-East Hampshire. Some were open as individual gardens, while others opened in groups, including 14 in the Dinorben Estate in Fleet, which were on show in May, and another group in Bramley. The gardens ranged from small spaces bursting with blooms, to larger plots with trees, flower meadows and ponds. Many of the gardens also kindly offered refreshments and plants for sale, adding to the funds raised for Phyllis Tuckwell.
Over £17,000 was raised, all of which will go directly towards helping fund the supportive and end of life care which Phyllis Tuckwell provides for patients and families who are living with an advanced or terminal illness, such as cancer. Every day it supports over 250 patients, relatives and carers – on its In-Patient Unit, in patients’ own homes, in the community and at the Beacon Centre in Guildford – offering medical and nursing care, therapies, counselling, social work advice and practical support. £17,000 is enough to pay for one of its Hospice Care at Home nurses for nearly five months, caring for patients who are spending their last days in the comfort of their own homes, and supporting their loved ones at this difficult time.
“We would like to say a huge thank you to all of the garden owners who opened their beautiful gardens in support of us this year, and also to Kebur Garden Materials, our headline sponsor,” said Jenny Newman, Community Fundraiser at Phyllis Tuckwell.
If you are a keen gardener and would like to open up your garden to visitors in aid of hospice care, Phyllis Tuckwell would love to hear from you. Its team is once again on the search for unique and interesting gardens to swing open their garden gates to friends, family and the local community next spring and summer, in its 2024 Open Gardens event. Gardens of any size are welcome, and you can open yours in a group if you would like to, with neighbours or friends who live close by. To find out more, please call Phyllis Tuckwell’s Fundraising team on 01252 729446, email [email protected] or visit www.pth.org.uk/open-gardens