Blooming beautiful gardens open to raise vital funds in Hospiscare’s 40th year

The local hospice charity for Exeter, Mid and East Devon is inviting people to visit its Open Garden to support end-of-life care.

From 9 April, gardeners across the heart of Devon will welcome members of the community to enjoy their beautiful green spaces in support of Hospiscare.

The local hospice charity cares for over 2,500 patients and their families every year. As the charity receives just 18% of its funding from the NHS, events like Open Gardens are vital to keep Hospiscare’s specialist service running and ensure its care is provided at no cost to patients and their loved ones.

From country cottage gardens to city patches, 45 gardens across the heart of Devon will share their green beauty with visitors. Many of the gardens will offer refreshments and there will be opportunities to purchase plants and seedlings at several of the openings.

As well as taking a tour of the wonderful flora and fauna on offer, many of this year’s gardens have additional entertainment in store. Beacon Downe in Pinhoe will open for the first time with a fantastic collection of classic cars, including a steam car from 1910. The Old Rectory in Awliscombe offers the chance to explore their sensory garden, orchard and herb garden, as well as an amazing sustainable agroforest – an edible woodland. Prospect House in Axminster features a hidden secret garden and will host performances from jazz band, Plum Jam.

Judy Mead from Exeter has supported Hospiscare by opening her garden for the past five years and explains, “At Matford Open Gardens, we have five or six gardens opening together to support Hospiscare. This attracts a lot of interest as people like to see the variety the gardens have to offer as they are all very different.

“Many of us have connections with Hospiscare through the care it has provided to our friends and relatives and we support the charity as it’s such a worthy local cause.”

Gill Bricknell has opened her garden in Woodbury Salterton for three years and says, “Opening my garden gives the opportunity for a social gathering, which is what we all want in the local area, particularly in light of the last couple of years.

“You never know when you or your family will need Hospiscare. By opening my garden, I’m helping to maintain and sustain a valuable charity in our local area.”

Otter Garden Centres are sponsoring Hospiscare’s Open Gardens’ campaign for the fourth year and Managing Director, Jaqui Taylor, says “Otter Garden Centre has supported Hospiscare in many ways over the years and we recognise the outstanding work of their nurses in our East Devon community, as well as across Exeter and Mid Devon.

“Hospiscare’s Open Gardens provides a great opportunity to visit a variety of wonderful gardens in the area, enjoy beautiful plants, and perhaps get inspiration for your own garden. We are delighted to be supporting this in 2022.”

Gardens across Exeter, Mid and East Devon will be opening from the beginning of April until the end of October to raise vital funds for Hospiscare. To view the full selection of gardens, along with their opening dates and details, please visit www.hospiscare.co.uk/opengardens or pick up an Open Gardens booklet from your local garden centre or tourist information centre. Booklets are also available to order by calling 01392 688020.