Special opening for Walled Garden
THE Bailiwick’s first year of having gardens opened as part of the National Garden Scheme came to an end at the weekend when Saumarez Park’s Victorian Walled Garden and Le Grand Dixcart in Sark staged special openings for islanders.
These were fundraising events for nursing and health charities but because the walled garden in Guernsey is usually open free of charge, there were other attractions for those who went along.
As well as songs from the State of Harmony choir, there were demonstrations of local crafts, home made cakes on sale, and talks.
Getting the island involved with the NGS came about as a result of efforts by local members of the Queen’s Nursing Institute, of whom there are seven in the Bailiwick. Patricia McDermott and Alison Carney are now NGS area organiser and assistant area organiser respectively and they were on-hand on Saturday to welcome visitors to the walled garden.
‘Raymond Evison helped support us and gave us ideas which gardens to approach,’ said Miss McDermott.
Castle Carey was the other garden open this year as part of the two weekends and about 300 people had visited, while about 170 were received at Le Grand Dixcart. Miss Carney said it was hoped that more gardens would get involved next year.
