A village’s green-fingered residents opened up their gardens to visitors for the first time in over a decade, raising more than £1,000.
For the first time in 13 years Laxton held an Open Gardens event on June 9, which attracted more than 200 people who walked up and down the village street to see the seven gardens.
The church opened as well, and two villagers set displays with vintage tractors — so there was a lot for visitors to see.
The numbered gardens started at the bottom of the village in pretty cottage-style garden with attractive borders, a water feature and imaginative planting and containers.
Next was a garden created by a couple who, 13 years ago, inherited some mature trees, a lot of lawn and a sloping site when they came to Laxton.
Their garden is a result of a terrific imagination and a lot of hard work, with different areas, lots of seating and a picturesque stream running down the carefully curated planting and sensitively created contours throughout the main garden.
Across the road was a more open garden on a very sloping site with borders were full of traditional country flowers, which were at their best on the day.
Visitors took their time walking round and examining all the many different plants and admiring the pretty courtyard with its interesting planters.
The owners of the fourth garden have only lived in their home for a couple of years, and have been working on their house as well as the garden. They had created a welcoming and peaceful space with some attractive ornaments and planting for visitors to enjoy.
A bonus garden at the top of the hill was showing a mature herbaceous border, typical of one of the village farm houses, and next door a vintage tractor was surrounded by a display of plants in a variety of containers stood in front of the garden wall. A planted pair of jeans was a particular triumph, which visitors and villagers alike loved.
A second bonus garden featured vegetables and an interesting display of old tools, and finally, at the top of the village was a garden with a healthy greenhouse of tomato plants.
Those who visited at the end of the afternoon got a chance to see the alpacas and llamas who live behind the garden coming right down to back the fence to be admired.
There was also more tractors and a plant sale, while the village hall offered a chance to sit down with a cuppa and cake and a raffle which also proved a huge success at the event.
The gardening enthusiasts who had welcomed the visitors had a get together in the preceding week to enjoy each garden and shared a fish supper at the end of the fantastic Open Garden day.
The event raised around £1,700 for the village hall.
