16 March 2004

Longparish launches its first Gardens Festival with fourteen open gardens in June

Fourteen gardens will be open to visitors when Longparish - a village five miles east of Andover in Hampshire, on the crystal-clear River Test - celebrates its first Gardens Festival weekend on 19 and 20 June.

The weekend offers those who enjoy gardening - or who just enjoy admiring others' gardens - a chance to feast their eyes on a wide range of gardens and plants. Between 11.00 am and 5.00 pm on Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 June visitors will be able to explore the gardens, talk to the owners, watch demonstrations, purchase plants, and relax with refreshments. On view will be riverside gardens, traditional cottage gardens, organic vegetable gardens, a wildlife garden, a plantsman's garden, and a number of well-planted small gardens.

Visitors can explore two outstanding gardens that have been featured on television - a plantsman's garden and an organic and wildlife garden.

Talks and demonstrations will be held in three gardens on both days. Garden sundries will be on sale as will a wide range of plants supplied by specialist nurseries and local growers. Refreshments - such as coffee, lunch, cream teas - will be available on both days, provided by the Friends of Longparish School.

Gardens ticket (entitles entry to all 14 gardens): £5.00
Garden Demonstrations ticket (book in advance*): £2.00

Proceeds raised will go towards the Longparish School & Community Appeal.

For more information please contact:

Jane Sterndale-Bennett 01264-720222
Wendy Ellicock 01264-720386