Growers throw open garden gates to the public
THIS summer, more than 20 private gardens will open to the public for a limited time across the North East.
Each year, the National Open Garden Scheme sees usually private gardens open to everyone, charging an admission fee which is then donated to charity.
In 2023, £3.4m was raised from the opening of more than 3,500 private gardens across the whole of the UK.
The donations were split between beneficiaries including Marie Curie, Macmillan Cancer Support and Hospice UK.
In 2023, six Northumberland gardens opened in aid of Hospice-Care North Northumberland, including Hedgeley Hall in Powburn, Blagdon House, and the Friary at Alnmouth - with around 3,000 people visiting each one.
It raised £31,700 which will fund a full-time hospice nurse for a year.
A spokesperson for Hospice-Care North Northumberland said that people from all over the North East visit their open gardens events.
They added: “The money raised goes to support the running costs of our clinical services for people in North Northumberland living with a life-limiting illness.
“All our services are free at the point of delivery so we rely on events like this to fund the services.”
All the North East gardens open this year in the National Open Garden Scheme:
Blagdon, Seaton Burn, Northumberland, April 28
Whalton Manor Gardens, Morpeth, Northumberland, May 18 Ferndene House, Ryton, Tyne and Wear, May 19
Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens, Northumberland, May 20
Thornton Hall Gardens, Darlington, County Durham, June 5
Hill House, Haydon Bridge Northumberland, June 6 and September 5
Crook Hall and Gardens, Durham, June 6
Lorbottle Hall, Whittingham, Alnwick, Northumberland, June 9
Oliver Ford Garden, Consett, County Durham, June 9
Bichfield Tower, Belsay, Northumberland, June 15
Halton Castle, Corbridge, Northumberland, June 16
Hawkhill House, Lesbury, Alnwick, Northumberland, June 22
The Stables, Bowburn, Durham, June 23
Rose Cottage, Durham, June 23
Old Quarrington Gardens, Durham, June 23
13 Heugh Hall Row, Durham, June 23
Orchard Cottage, Durham, June 23
Marie Curie House, Newcastle, June 23
Mindrum House Garden, Northumberland, June 23
Kirky Cottage, Northumberland, June 23
Fallodon Hall, Alnwick, Northumberland, June 29
Stanton Fence, Morpeth, Northumberland, June 30
Cresswell Pele Tower Walled Garden, Northumberland, June 30
Capheaton Hall, Northumberland, July 6 and 7
St Margaret’s Allotments, Durham, July 14
Brancepeth Village Gardens, Durham, July 20
St Cuthbert’s Hospice, Durham, July 28
Middleton Hall Retirement Village, Darlington, August 17
Ravensford Farm, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, September 22