ALAN RICHARDS

FOR a 30th anniversary it is traditional to celebrate it with pearl. So they could have chosen: hydrangea ‘magical pearl,’ rose ‘pearl anniversary,’ camellia ‘Nuccio’s pearl,’ polianthes ‘the pearl,’ euphorbia ‘black pearl,’ philadelphus ‘pearls of perfume,’ achillea ‘the pearl,’ streptocarpus ‘pearl’ or even hellebore ‘hello pearl,’ but no, they said goodbye to all of that.

Surprising really, a gardening magazine like that. However they have come up with something much better, that requires no knowledge of horticulture or nomenclature.

It will simply be sufficient enough for non gardeners to wander around with their spouse, partner or friend and mutter “Hmmn, nice”, then ask “Is it time for tea yet?”, because most of these places will have a cafe with homemade scones, clotted cream and local jam.

So how do you fancy celebrating this anniversary, as everyone is invited? There is a catch though, it will cost you £9.50, but they throw in packets of seeds: cosmos, parsley, rocket and zinnia and the best bit: a reusable card valid until April 2, 2025, offering you 2-for-1 entry to these local gardens, saving you a packet – probably the price of dozens of packets. Marwood Hill Gardens, save £10, Tapeley Park & Gardens, save £8.50, seniors £6.50, Castle Hill Garden, save £8, single £5 and Hartland Abbey Garden, save £13, single £9. There is more: National Trust Gardens, 72 in England and 26 in Scotland, plus 12 English Heritage Gardens, like Hestercombe near Taunton are also onboard. So two people can save £15 at Arlington Court, House & Garden, with similar offers and savings at National Trust Devon’s Knightshayes, Castle Drogo, Coleton Fishacre, Greenway and Antony properties. Further afield there is Tiverton Castle, NT Tyntesfield, NT Glendurgan, Falmouth, NT Hidcote, Gloucestershire, Stourhead, Wiltshire and University of Bristol Botanic Garden. This offer is valid for a total of 407 gardens all over England, Wales and Scotland and includes an illustrated guide in May’s issue of BBC Gardeners’ World magazine. There, Carol Klein will be proud of me.

IT has been so wet, I am way behind with my seed sowing, so I went over to BJ’s Value House and bought some Bunyards Exhibition broad bean seeds and Chard White Silver 2, the former price band A at £1.29 and the latter B at 99p. I will sow them outdoors and should be picking fresh, tasty veg from August onwards.

Scaffolding around the old Specsavers building in High Street has been up for getting on for two years, and the grand Bridge Buildings, once the old council offices, has similarly been enclosed