Culcheth Open Gardens event welcomes village residents

Usually kept behind closed gates and fences, 10 households in the village will allow residents and visitors to explore their gardens for the Culcheth Open Gardens event on July 13 and 14.

Not only will the gardens be open, but their owners will be putting on a variety of community activities, such as a plant stall, tombola and refreshments.

Morag and Bob's garden

An exhibition of artwork by resident Morag Burton will also be on display and available to buy at Culcheth Methodist Church on July 13.

Morag and her husband Bob are some of the residents showing off their gardening skills on Culcheth Hall Drive.

They chose and planted shrubs and trees more than 60 years ago and have since created an oasis for wildlife thanks to wildflowers.

John and Jean Riley, of Chatsworth Avenue, are also involved and their garden has been transformed over the years from a conventional lawn with surrounding borders, to large island beds.

John explained: "Jean is the garden planner and designer and I do the plant maintenance and renewals.

Jean and John's garden

"A greenhouse is the source of large numbers of plants raised from seed and cuttings, and a haven for over-wintering stock.

"The aim is to provide interest throughout the year and we have a good show of snowdrops and hellebores in late winter, and fuchsias and other plantings until the first frosts.

"There is no kitchen garden. I used to have an allotment but I now have the energy for only the garden."

The Culcheth gardens open to the public will be found in:

• Cawley Avenue
• Culcheth Hall Drive
• Chatsworth Avenue

• Severn Road

• Beechmill Drive

• Langcliffe Close

• Wadeson Way Croft

The event begins at 1pm on July 13 and tickets are £5 in advance when purchased from Poyntons Florist in Lodge Drive and £6 if bought on the day.

Children under 16 can enter for free.

All money raised will be equally divided between St Rocco's Hospice and Culcheth Methodist Church.