Open Gardens

The Year of the Garden

Open Gardens are taking place throughout the spring, summer and autumn of 2010, offering access to both popular and some rarely opened beautiful grounds, all in aid of St Michael's Hospice.

"Spending time outside in a garden has been shown to positively affect a person's emotions and improve their sense of well-being. Access to nature balances circadian rhythms, lowers blood pressure, reduces stress and increases absorption of Vitamin D... We are all connected to nature and it is important to maintain this vital connection for our health and well-being."
'The Biophylia Hypothesis', Kellert & Wilson.

The first one to open was Putley Court on Mothering Sunday in March; grounds that are rarely opened to the public and cared for solely by the residents. Subsequent garden opening dates are available on the Events page listing of this website.

If you would like to open your garden for St Michael's Hospice this year (or next) please download the checklist here (PDF) and contact Denise Bishop (Fundraising Admin Assistant) in the first instance on 01432 851000 or email info@st-michaels-hospice.org.uk.

"Gardens have a huge impact on how people feel, especially in the difficult circumstances of illness and loss which the hospice deals with every day. Quality of life is the watchword of the hospice movement abd a view of a beautiful garden from a lovely bedroom is another form of therapy for the patient, their visitors and also the staff who spend more time there than anyone else... These spaces are not grand sweeping landscapes to be created at vast expense but intimate, useful, beautiful places, in scale with the people who can enjoy them."
Olivia Kirk, Landscape & Garden Design, KKE Architects.

You may need to use the following link to download Adobe Reader for free to view PDF files: http://www.adobe.com/products/reader/.

Photograph courtesy of Ros Bissell, Moors Meadow.