St Elizabeth Hospice’s much-loved Great Garden Trail is returning for the tenth year this summer.
From Woodbridge to Stowupland through to Felixstowe and Halesworth, a number of gardens across the region are opening for the public to visit and enjoy this summer in aid of St Elizabeth Hospice as part of its annual Great Garden Trail.
The 2024 Great Garden Trail is being held from April to September, featuring a great variety of gardens supported by whole villages as well as beautiful hidden gems for the public to explore in return for a donation to St Elizabeth Hospice.
Kelly Nekrews, Community Fundraiser at St Elizabeth Hospice, said: “We are delighted to have reached our 10th anniversary for the Great Garden Trail. Over the last decade so many fantastic gardeners have generously supported the trail, which has been enjoyed by supporters and enthusiasts across the region.
“Every year it is a real privilege to see the fantastic green fingered skills of gardeners throughout the county and we are so thankful for their support.
“So do make sure to visit our website to see a full list of gardens taking part in this year’s trail and to find out more about how you can support your local hospice.”
Over 25 gardens will feature in this year’s trail, from individual gardens to communities opening together for the public to explore this summer, including Rydal Mount (near Halesworth), Otley Hall, Stowupland and Columbine Hall.
Columbine Hall will be hosting an open garden on 21st April, featuring a number of stalls, refreshments and live music. While Columbine Hall’s head gardener, Kate Elliott, will also be holding an exclusive talk on 16th August – A Garden Love Affair – which tells her story from working at Columbine Hall since the age of 16-years-old and how the garden has developed over the last 27 years, while she has been working there.
Kate Elliott said: “St Elizabeth Hospice’s services are so important because they provide support to people who really need it and improves lives for people living with life-limiting illness. St Elizabeth Hospice is a cause very close to my heart. It touched me and my family in so many ways with everyone’s compassionate care.
“Columbine Hall is very proud to take part in the Great Garden Trail and to help raise money for such a worthy cause. Each garden taking part is wonderful and so different – to visit one you come back with new ideas and inspiration for your own garden.
“We open for the Great Garden Trail on Sunday 21st April. There are five acres of gardens to explore here at Columbine Hall including a large walled garden, formal parterre, bog garden, woodland, wild flower meadow, hundreds of tulips, vistas and eye-catchers.”
A full list of locations and dates of the gardens taking part in the trail can be found by visiting www.stelizabethhospice.org.uk/great-garden-trail/, as can details regarding entry and tickets.
A season pass, which allows you to visit all the open gardens for just £25 this summer, can be purchased here – https://register.enthuse.com/ps/event/GREATGARDENTRAIL2024
For details on the A Garden Love Affair talk with Kate Elliott, on 16th August, which will be a ticketed event, please also visit https://register.enthuse.com/ps/event/GREATGARDENTRAIL2024