WELCOME TOWIVENHOE OPEN GARDENS 2009June 20th and 21st Following the first winter for several years with real icy cold temperatures, and a spring with wonderful bulbs as a result, the Open Gardens weekend in Wivenhoe comes round again, a regular midsummer event. There are around thirty gardens open to the public, an opportunity to see some of the many different faces of Wivenhoe, our village-like small town rising up from the banks of the River Colne. Some new gardens to the event, some regular participants, the gardens are varied in both style and size, from large landscaped plots to ingeniously planted back yards. Their gardeners have a varied and often dry terrain to work with, and the riverside developments of recent years have brought their own challenges. As ever, plants and teas will be for sale at some gardens, and there are other displays of pictures and items of local interest. This year light lunches will be available at St Mary’s Church, from Noon until 2 p.m. each day, with the added pleasure of some musical entertainment from the a capella singers, ‘In Accord’. Come and enjoy a Ploughman’s Lunch, and maybe some strawberries and cream, and listen to sweet voices at the same time! We even have a little Garden Quiz for you to puzzle over on your way around the gardens – not too strenuous, and the answers can be found inside the back cover of the programme. The parish church, St Mary’s, is near the Quay and is open on both days. Come and look round the church and see its outstanding 16th century memorial brasses. There will be a stall run by The Friends of St Mary’s, selling Wivenhoe Designs stationery and other goods. Parking is available in the High Street car park and in the Congregational Church car park, which you can find a little further up the High Street. Wivenhoe Open Gardens 2009 is organised jointly by St Mary’s Church and The Wivenhoe Society. All profits are shared between the Church and other Wivenhoe causes; this year the Wivenhoe Society’s chosen beneficiary is the Royal British Legion Wivenhoe Branch Building Fund. Tickets, together with programmes, ARE NOW ON SALE from Wivenhoe Cross Post Office, Rollos Estates, Bryans Newsagents and the Wivenhoe Bookshop The tickets (with a programme) from these venueswill be £3 up until Friday 19th, and £3.50 from several gardens over the two days and St Mary’s Church. More information will be on the Wivenhoe website www.wivenhoe.org.uk nearer the dates. |