Open Gardens weekend set to return to Sudbury in aid of St Nicholas Hospice Care

A long-running celebration of the flora and horticulture of Sudbury is ready for its return this weekend, with dozens of homes opening up their gardens to the public to raise money for charity.

The popular annual Sudbury Open Gardens event, which has been running for around 30 years, will see approximately 28 locations participate between Saturday, June 8, and Sunday, June 9.

Featuring bric-a-brac sales, exhibitions and refreshments, the open gardens are once again supporting St Nicholas Hospice Care, a charity which supports people with long-term illnesses.

The two-day fundraiser is organised by Travel and Leisure Group managing director Maria Mills.

Her husband Peter said: “It is always well-regarded and well-supported as a community event. We normally get a response of 500 to 600 people coming through the gardens over the weekend.

“We are happy to support St Nicholas Hospice Care, which has always been in need of money.”

One of the people set to be involved for the first time is the Rev Chris Ramsey, the vicar at St Andrew’s Church in Great Cornard, who said the event had inspired him and his wife to work more on their garden.

“I think it’s very important to have events like this, because they encourage socialisation in what is normally a private space,” he told the Free Press.

“They are green spaces that don’t have to be amazing for you to be able to enjoy them.

“By inviting the public in, you are getting an opportunity to meet new people and get to know one another.”

Sudbury Open Gardens will run from 1pm to 5pm on June 8, and then again from 11.30am to 5pm on June 9.

Entry to the gardens is permitted with the purchase of the event programme, which has details of each participating location.

The programme is priced at £4 and will be available from a dedicated stall at the Sudbury market on Market Hill this Saturday, on Thursday, and the following Saturday, on the day the event begins.

Programmes can also be bought from the Sudbury tourist information centre or the town’s St Nicholas Hospice Care shop, with all proceeds from the sales going directly to the charity.

For further information about the event, contact organisers Travel and Leisure on 01787 881111.