It’s lovely and rainy outside today, but with luck the weather will be better on the weekend on 19-20 June when Bovey Tracey gardeners will open eight gardens, including Ashwell, for the National Garden Scheme. As you may know, this helps to raise funds for health charities such as Parkinsons, Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie, Carers Trust, Hospice UK and the Queen’s Nursing Institute. The Bovey group of gardens normally raises several thousand pounds, by selling plants, wine, jam etc as well as tickets.

Only three of the larger Bovey gardens were able to open last year, shortly after the first lockdown ended. That worked well with timed tickets and all involved enjoyed the experience of one big, sunny, relaxed (but socially distanced) garden party.

This year, timed tickets will again be in operation, but tickets will probably also be sold at the gate. Tickets will be available on the NGS website https://ngs.org.uk  from two weeks before the opening.