HUNDREDS of plant lovers descended on Alcester town centre on Sunday (June 22) for the annual garden walkabout.
Organised by Alcester and District Friends of Cancer Research UK, the much-loved event offered members of the public a chance to explore picturesque green spaces behind many of the town’s historic homes.
A total of 17 properties showed off their varied gardens, which ranged from a bonsai-themed courtyard attached to a modern home to a traditional Georgian townhouse with a walled garden and herbaceous borders that ran down to the River Arrow.
Cream teas and homemade cakes served at the Baptist Church gardens made a welcome stopover with visitors tucking in to the sound of live entertainment by Alcester pianist and composer John Bond Evans on keyboard.
The sale of a variety of plants donated by local nurseries helped to swell the coffers.
Event founder and organiser Sue Blackburn, who has been involved in running the event every year since 1991 said: “The day went very well indeed and thankfully the weather was cooler so it didn’t deter our 572 visitors.
“We made more than £5,000, a similar result to last year so we are very pleased. This means that the total money raised from the gardens in the 33 years comes to over £91,000.”
Visitors also got to see the award-winning Malt Mill Lane development and enjoy the serene surroundings of the sensory garden at St Nicholas’ Church.
