Bumper turnout for ‘beautiful’ garden party

A COUPLE enjoyed a bumper turnout when they opened their beautiful garden to the public for charity.

The gesture by Pat and Martin McMillan at their garden in Ridgehill, Sutton, was part of the National Gardens Scheme (NGS) which supports various local and national charities.

They raised an impressive £5,323.

Pat was awarded a trowel and certificate from the NGS, presented by Macclesfield MP David Rutley to mark the 10th anniversary of first opening the garden.

Pat, chairman of the Cheshire Ladies Philanthropy Club, is a keen gardener and works hard on the four acre garden, which has views over the Cheshire Plain, herbaceous borders, an old rose garden, a shrubbery, water features, topiary and a Victorian greenhouse.

She said: “Despite it being a dull and cold day and also Father’s Day there were a lot of new faces and we had a record number of visitors.

“We were delighted to raise a staggering £5,323.”

Martin this year became chairman of the NGS, which raised more than £2.6m last year for organisations including Marie Curie Cancer Care, Macmillan Cancer Support, Help The Hospice and Carers Trust.