St Elizabeth Hospice is celebrating a record number of gardens joining its 2019 Great Garden Trail as the charity celebrates its 30th anniversary year.
The trail sponsored, by Bedfords, runs from spring to autumn 2019 across Suffolk and promises a great variety of gardens for the public to explore in return for a donation to St Elizabeth Hospice.
A total of 44 garden events will open from March to September, up from 41 last year, offering a unique opportunity to discover and admire the gardens of others, with many favourites returning once again this year to showcase their outdoor space.
The Great Garden Trail extensive list includes 13 open village events from Aldeburgh to Stowmarket as well as 31 individual gardens, including the colourful Blakenham Woodland Gardens, the beautiful village estate at Playford Hall and the cottage style garden at 618 Foxhall Road, which is just a stone’s throw from the hospice.
Fiona Ginn, community fundraiser at St Elizabeth Hospice, said: “We would like to say a huge thank you to all the gardeners who have joined us for 2019. Thanks to you, you’re helping us make this year’s trail our biggest and longest yet!
“The trail formally begins this month and promises opportunities for people to visit unusual gardens and see behind the scenes of some of those hidden gems from spring to autumn, right across the county.
“We’re also really pleased to see that our trail will feature a number of open village events this year, making it even easier for people to visit a number of gardens in one day or afternoon. This really demonstrates the fantastic community spirit the trail creates in support of St Elizabeth Hospice.
“In 2018 the Great Garden Trail raised over £31,000 for the hospice, which is an amazing achievement for all of those involved. We hope that this year we can build on that achievement and make our 30th anniversary trail, our biggest yet.”
The trail kicks off with the first open garden event at Columbine Hall for their Plant Heritage event in Stowupland on Sunday 17 March from 1 – 4pm.
Great Garden Trail maps are available to download online and can also be found in all St Elizabeth Hospice shops as well as selected garden centres and nurseries around the county.
