BLESSED with good weather over the bank holiday Pebworth welcomed nearly 1000 visitors to the village’s annual NGS Open Gardens event. After 20 years Gill Thomas the organiser has retired and handed over the reins to Pebworth in Bloom and this year as well as 11 gardens being open, the public was encouraged to view St Peter’s churchyard, a finalist in the Best Kept Worcs Churchyard competition, to amuse themselves by spotting the many scarecrows, to buy plants and books and to relax in the village hall for afternoon tea.

The gardens are always a delight and provide inspiration for keen gardeners, whether it be brand-new ones created this year, small ones crammed with plants and hidden secrets, larger ones with manicured lawns and mature trees or cottage gardens with arches of roses and clematis. Thanks to the many, many volunteers who manned car parks, baked cakes, served teas and sold tickets the National Garden Scheme charities will receive over £5,000 while village organisations will also benefit from awards for projects which support the RHS In Bloom campaign of conservation and regeneration through horticulture.

J McLEISH