LOOKING for ways to raise funds to build a community hall for Copplestone, Anne Gatton, chairman of Copplestone Garden Club, had the idea of an open gardens weekend.

She is a member of the hall fundraising committee. “Everyone was coming up with ideas, I like gardens and plants and had this idea,” she said.

“Everyone has made a huge effort, someone able to use only one hand because of an injury even made 18 cakes for the weekend.

“Some hired a portable toilet, another had ice creams, people are so generous. I had lots of help from the fundraising team of the Recreation Association and from Hospiscare,” she said.

The seven gardens were very different, each owner’s passion coming through, visitors getting ideas for their own plots. A stall at Anne’s home offered unusual plants, another offered table tennis and boules, at them all were chances to sit and admire.

The seven gardens, all belonging to members of Copplestone Garden Club were: Copplestone Railway Station, 2 Railway Cottage on Station Road, 43 Fernworthy Park, Bewsley Edge, Reflections, Tower View and Eastlands, the latter trio being alongside the main road into the village.

The weekend raised a massive £1,674 which will be split between Hospiscare and Copplestone Community Hall Association to help towards building the hall on the Recreation Field.