An Open Gardens event

I'm a garden lover, but no expert when it comes to gardening so it's always good to have the opportunity to see other residential gardens and talk to the owners and learn from other enthusiasts.  The UK Open Gardens Directory is a resource for anyone wanting to visit private gardens as it gives all the information of dates and times for each county. It's also useful for a gardening group to advertise an event. Many small garden owners generously take part usually in connection with a village or town event and raise funds for some local project at the same time. When the weather is changeable and there are heavy rain showers it's disappointing for the organisers of any open air Summer event.  Sunday was the better day of this weekend so we decided to see at least some of the open gardens in one of the villages on the outskirts of north Sheffield. The Ecclesfield 'Open Garden Event' had been organised by the parish church and the tickets for a small amount were available there so that's where we went first and stopped for refreshments before starting a tour of as many gardens as we could manage since they were in different parts of the village.

Some kneelers in the church and below a garden themed display

A memorial stained glass window has a series of panels depicting the parables of Nature.

                                                             

                                                             

The area around the church has a large grassy and leafy area.  Above is an elaborate former drinking fountain planted out now with bedding plants.

The village stocks

Ecclesfield Priory and the adjoining Ecclesfield Hall - click for more information

We walked to the gardens nearest the church first as the clouds looked as if they were about to bring some more rain our way.  Farmland surrounds much of the village and I imagine it's a pleasant place to live.

I've been on the lookout at the garden centres for a white climbing rose.  Isn't this one a beautiful sight climbing up and over this tree trunk?

All the village gardens looked good even if they weren't open to the public.

Below are some corners of gardens we visited. They were all very different in size and style, but we appreciated each one and the fact that we could visit them.

However, we were also interested in the Community Garden which has been transformed by volunteers from a derelict site adjoining the park, opened in 2012 and now 'enables local people of any age or ability to grow plants in an informal, social and safe environment'. (Information taken from the Community Garden leaflet).

There are raised beds made from treated railway sleepers and filled with local reclaimed soil and organic compost. All plants are grown organically. Produce is sold to local residents and at events to be reinvested in the next season's planting.  Many other plants and equipment have been donated to the project.  There's an outdoor classroom pavilion made by a local firm using local material. Wildflowers have been planted on the membrane roof and rainwater is collected in water butts.

In the orchard area fruit trees were planted in 2013/14 by the Community Group, Forestry Ranger and local children. Here there's a wild flower meadow. Poppies have been planted to commemorate the First World War. On the edge of this area are soft fruit bushes.

Local school children and youth groups have been working on some of the raised beds and containers such as this one (above).

The herb garden was planted up this year.

The garden is self sufficient in providing compost for the Community Garden produced from garden and from household waste brought in by residents, horse manure and leaves from the adjoining park.  It all looks very organised and well worth the visit and chat with some of the volunteers.

Open Arts, Open Gardens

With a love of the visual arts and gardening we were able to combine both interests during the recent May Bank Holiday weekend when the annual Derbyshire Open Arts event was taking place across the county and some private village gardens, whose owners participate in the Open Gardens Scheme, were open to the public to enjoy and support good causes.

Usually we visit our daughter-in-law's art studio in Derbyshire during that weekend, but as she exhibits in many venues we have other opportunities to spend time with her in some beautiful and interesting locations.

Instead, we went to Grindleford, which is a pretty village.  A couple had opened up their home so that we could enjoy wandering around the garden and view/ buy the husband's art work from his studio. The proceeds of the weekend will help towards fund raising so that the lady can join a medical team in Uganda where she will work as a volunteer for two weeks later in the year.  The husband also supports other charities through the sale of his paintings and printmaking.

Considering that the weather the days before that weekend had brought rain, wind and even hailstones, the flowers had perked up and it was sunny for the open day with refreshments taken in the garden and a plant sale included. (We bought some young lily plants. I've never grown them before).

These tulips were so pretty and they were my favourite flowers in the garden.  My husband was interested in the espaliered fruit trees by the fencing.  The lady has an allotment (vegetable garden plot) in the meadows near the river and sheltered by the grit stone escarpment that runs along the valleys in this area.  In this area the escarpment is Froggatt Edge. Some of the jutting smooth rocks have vertical long drops that challenge dedicated climbers.  On top of the escarpment are the heather moors that are enjoyed by hill walkers.

There are many picturesque villages still retaining a sense of history and old customs in the area.  Soon it will be the well dressing season when there are village festivals and villagers dress their historic wells with flowers and pictures made from flowers. Hopefully we shall be returning to at least one of these events in the month of June.