THE soggy start to spring is playing havoc with Worcestershire gardens due to open for charity this month.

Two local private gardens, which are part of the National Garden Scheme (NGS) where the owners open the gates to the public on set days to raise funds for charity, have already cancelled their dates this month.

White Cottage, at Stock Green, near Inkberrow, whose owners Mel and Jan Bates are about to awarded an engraved sundial by the NGS to recognise 30 years of opening, was due to open this Sunday April 8 but has been cancelled. The grounds are so saturated that the owners felt it was not safe to allow visitor to walk around.

However, the NGS says the property is set to be opened three times in May on Sunday May 6, Sunday May 27 and Monday May 28 as scheduled. Visits can also be made by arrangement from April through to September. For more information ring 01386 792414; email smandjbates@aol.com; or visit https://www.ngs.org.uk/find-a-garden/garden/10226/ or http://whitecottage.garden/

Lovell’s Vineyard at Welland near Malvern, owned by Cathie Rolinson, was due to open the garden area for the first time for the NGS on Monday April 23. She has decided to cancel as currently there is a lake where there is normally a lawn and the paddock, which was planned to be used as a car park, is far too wet for parking.

The NGS said that although a period of drier weather might enable them to get into the garden in a week or so, the damage caused and the lack of time to do any restocking and clearing up just isn't sufficient.

Worcester NGS County Organiser David Morgan said: “We sometimes have a one-off cancellation due to weather conditions and occasionally, but thankfully rarely, due to the garden owner being ill, but this year has been particularly bad with the volume of snow, the continual rain and the lateness of spring flowering.

“So much so that we have added a section to our Worcestershire Facebook page detailing those gardens where the openings planned have changed and we would encourage potential visitors to check that and the NGS website to see any last minute alterations.”

The Facebook page can be found at: www.facebook.com/WorcestershireNGS/ and the NGS website is www.ngs.org.uk

  • Madresfield Court, near Malvern, also had to cancel its traditional Daffodil Sunday this year on March 18 as the field used for car parking was waterlogged.