City gardens open for the Sussex Beacon

Dates for the annual Brighton & Hove Open Gardens in aid of the Sussex Beacon have been announced.This year’s event, taking place during the weekend of June 29-30, is to be in celebration of the Beacon’s 21st anniversary, with all money raised going to the charity.

More than 70 private gardens and community spaces will be letting you through their rose-covered gates to have a nose at their begonias, and there are some exciting new editions to the repertoire this year.

The Grace Eyre Foundation garden in Montpelier is a therapeutic disabled-friendly garden which is maintained by the service users, or at Moulsecoomb Primary School you can pretend to be at a Saxon moot as they have some roundhouses on the menu.

There are two small community gardens to explore near London Road Station where you’ll find a mini orchard full of pears and old Sussex varieties of apples grown on cordons. The volunteers will be available for a chat over the weekend.

The Sussex Beacon’s own beautiful hill-top garden is included of course, as is a large and productive garden in Wilbury Gardens, Hove which includes a croquet lawn, raised beds, and a wrought iron gazebo.

Many of the gardens will be serving tea and cakes, and you’ll also find the odd art exhibition and beehive as you make your way around.

Gardens Coordinator Bridgette Saunders, says:

“Almost 18 years ago the seed for this event was sown with a small number of local gardens opening to raise funds for the Sussex Beacon. It’s blossomed into one of the largest open gardens scheme in Sussex.”

To plan your visit online: CLICK HERE:  and it’s worth popping back there every now and again as new gardens are being added all the time.

Event: Brighton & Hove open gardens

Where: All around Brighton & Hove and as far away as Newhaven
When: Saturday, June 29 and Sunday, June 30
Tickets: £10 in advance and £12 during the weekend. Under 12s go free

To buy tickets, CLICK HERE: