AN Open Garden and Plant Sale held at Penrose House in Crediton has raised the staggering amount of £930.56 for local charity, Hospiscare.

The garden, one of the finest in Crediton, was opened for three hours on Saturday, September 5, by kind permission of Bert and Margaret Jewell.

Bert is a local gardening expert and often judges many flower shows, often with his wife, in the area.

Bert is also a popular speaker at garden clubs around the county. He specialises in pelargoniums and has won several gold medals over the years with his plants. He also grew the plants for the Crediton Town Council flower towers in the Town Square and cares for a number of flower beds and trees in the town.

There was a cake stall, hand-knitted items stalls and plant stall and takeaway cream teas were also available.

Full social distancing and other safety measures were in place and because of this only 20 people were permitted in the garden at any one time.

The Open Garden would have normally taken place in May but was not possible because of the Lockdown measures.

However, Bert said he was able to sell plants he had grown for the event from a stall outside his home and he was pleased to say that this had raised more than £300 towards the total.

A total of 54 visitors went along to the Open Gardens during the day.

Hospiscare is a local adult hospice charity, providing high quality care and support to people with any type of terminal illness, and those close to them, in Exeter, Mid and East Devon.