ST Margaret’s Hospice is hoping to enlist keen gardeners to open their gardens or allotments in aid of the charity during 2018.

The open gardens season runs from May to September, however some of the participating gardens are open year round.

All funds raised through the scheme will go towards helping patients and their families facing a life-limiting illness across Somerset. 

Last summer’s open gardens campaign was a huge success, raising £9,741.82.

Susan Bickle, the scheme’s co-ordinator, said: “Here at the hospice we know how important our own gardens are to the health and wellbeing of our patients and their families, providing places of relaxation as well as reflection.

“As a keen gardener myself, I know how satisfying it is to design a garden and raise my own plants, and hope that Somerset residents will support this scheme by either offering to open their own garden, or by taking the opportunity to visit some of the amazing variety of gardens we will have on offer this summer.”

To be included in open gardens publicity materials, garden owners are asked to sign up before the end of February.

To launch this year’s open gardens, Lady Skelmersdale will be giving a lecture entitled ‘Where Does Your Garden Grow? or Round the World in 80 Plants’ at St Margaret’s Hospice in Yeovil on Tuesday, March 27.

For information about opening a garden, or about the lecture, contact Susan Bickle, fundraising volunteer co-ordinator, on 01935 709182/07736 886145 or emailsusan.bickle @st-margarets-hospice.org.uk.

More details can be found on the St Margaret’s Hospice website.