Gardens of delight in Great Bardfield

ONCE again Great Bardfield garden owners will be opening their gates to the viewing public on Sunday June 28 as part of a national open gardens scheme. The village will be awash with colour and scent as visitors are invited to wander around taking in the

ONCE again Great Bardfield garden owners will be opening their gates to the viewing public on Sunday June 28 as part of a national open gardens scheme.

The village will be awash with colour and scent as visitors are invited to wander around taking in the floral beauty.

The National Garden Scheme selects hundreds of residential gardens every year to be opened for public viewings. Last year visitors raised more than �3m for charities including Marie Curie Cancer Care, Macmillan Cancer Support, Help the Hospices and Crossroads.

In Essex alone, 12,000 visitors raised over �67,000. Organisers are hoping to raise �75,000 this year.

The 14 open gardens in Great Bardfield will be displaying a variety of flora styles from mature cottage garden through to more modern courtyard. Several will also display water features.

Visitors arriving by car should head for the Bardfield Centre where car parking, entry tickets and garden programmes will be available.

The day runs from 1pm to 6pm. For those visitors who build up a thirst then four of the gardens will be serving tea and cake.

Tickets are �3 per person with children under 14 free. No dogs allowed.