It may be cold outside, but local charity Phyllis Tuckwell is looking ahead to the summer months, when flowers are blooming, bees are buzzing, and its Open Gardens event throws wide its gates!

Phyllis Tuckwell’s Open Gardens invites the green-fingered among us to open their garden gates and welcome in members of the public to browse around and admire their gardens, for a small fee which would be donated to Phyllis Tuckwell. Gardens of any size or design can be part of this event, and Phyllis Tuckwell is particularly looking for unique and interesting gardens which will attract lots of visitors. You might have a courtyard filled with terracotta pots bursting with blooms, or a few countryside acres with woods and a pond. Many of the gardeners who have taken part in the past have also sold refreshments and plants to boost the money raised for this local charity, which provides supportive and end of life care for local patients and families who are living with an advanced or terminal illness, such as cancer.

The Open Gardens event includes gardens across West Surrey and North-East Hampshire, and will take place between May and August 2023.

Every day, Phyllis Tuckwell supports over 250 patients, relatives and carers – in their own homes, in the community, at the Hospice in Farnham and at the Beacon Centre in Guildford, but as the NHS/Government usually only covers 20% of its costs, it has to raise over £25,000 a day to do this, and therefore relies heavily on fundraising events such as this. If you’d like to share your love of gardening and inspire others this summer, Phyllis Tuckwell would love it if you would open your garden gate and help them to raise vital money to help fund their care. To find out more or sign up for the Open Gardens event, please contact Phyllis Tuckwell’s Fundraising team on 01252 729446 or email [email protected]