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Programmes on sale – enjoy over 20 gardens on Sunday 21 June -12 noon to 5.30pm- and the chance to win a little carved Owl.

There are still programs (only £6) available for tomorrow’s Open Gardens afternoon with over 20 Gardens opening to the public in support of the hospice and other charities. A little carved by wood carver Andy Burgess can be won in a raffle being held at Broomcroft Hall garden. There are Arts trails, live music, tea and cakes, and much more to enjoy. You can also buy a program tomorrow from 11.30am at Broomcroft Hall which is on Ford Lane in the village, or at the Deli Lapwing Lane in West Didsbury. Have a great day!

Little Owl carved by Andy Burgess

Fog Lane garden newly created

Screenshot

2 days to go until Didsbury Open Gardens for Maggie’s Manchester, Sunday 29th June.

Just 2 days to go until 13 gardens open to the public in Didsbury, in support of Maggie’s Manchester. Programmes are selling but we have plenty left for those wanting to buy on the day. Just visit the Deli on Lapwing Lane or the garden at 38 Willoughby Avenue, off Fog Lane, to buy a programme. Gardens open from 12 noon and close at 5pm. We are sorry but dogs are not allowed in the gardens unless they are assistance dogs.

Stop Press: Our 14 Linden Rd garden will not open but we have an extra garden opening, an old favourite, at 10 Parkfield Road South. It isn’t in the programme but visitors will find it well worth a visit. A large family garden lovingly tended by a plantswoman, with a diverse range of plants, a pond and a lovely greenhouse!

There will be live music, tea and cakes, as well as Photographs for sale, at the Darley Avenue Gardens and we have music between 12 noon and 1pm at the 36A Barlow Moor Rd garden. Plus plenty more to enjoy in the fabulous gardens opening this year.

A Special Open Gardens for Maggie’s, Sunday 29th June, 2025.

On Sunday, 29th June, Didsbury Open Gardens will be organizing a special event to support the Maggie’s Cancer Support Centre, opposite The Christie, in Withington. A number of lovely local gardens will open their gates to visitors to wander, relax and enjoy the garden spaces while raising money for this worthy charity.  The centre and garden at Maggie’s will also be open with activities during the day for visitors, including talks and Yoga.

Maggie’s itself is a light, bright and airy space designed by Lord Norman Foster, set in  peaceful gardens designed by Dan Pearson. Best in Show winner at Chelsea Flower Show and world-renowned garden designer.  Combining a rich mix of spaces, including the working glasshouse and vegetable garden, the garden provides a place for both activity and contemplation. The colours and sensory experience of nature becomes part of the Centre through micro gardens and internal courtyards, which relate to the different spaces within the building.

This is one of a network of 30 centres that delivers on the wisdom about cancer care originally shared by Founder Maggie Keswick Jencks: “Above all what matters is not to lose the joy of living in the fear of dying”.

The Centre was formally opened in April 2016, and has been making a significant impact on the lives of people affected by cancer since then. Anyone affected by cancer can visit Maggie’s, with no appointment or referral, and find emotional and practical support – or simply someone to talk to – from the trained staff.

In its first year, over 20,000 people visited the Centre, which has a large kitchen table at its heart. Around it, supportive relationships and friendships form between visitors, and with the small staff team. People are encouraged to openly and honestly share their experience, their fears and their aspirations for the future. Alongside this crucial social support, people can access specialist services, social activities and creative networks relating to stress management, benefits advice, rehabilitation and life beyond cancer.

On the 29th June, the gardens will be open between 12noon and 5pm and programmes will go on sale locally in early May.   Look out for more details on the website at www.didsburyopengardens.org and https://www.maggies.org

Maggie’s Manchester

Programmes On Sale for 16 June Open Gardens Event

The programs are now on sale for the lovely open gardens day on 16th of June. Lots of fabulous activities planned for the day, with live music at one of the gardens, an Arts Trail throughout the village and the chance to take part in a photography competition.

Garden hosts will be selling teas and cakes, garden produce, plants, as well as pottery and artworks. There will be guided tours of the allotments at Bradley Fold, details are in the program.

Why not plan a fabulous day with the family and enjoy seeing hidden gems and beautiful spaces, whether you walk or cycle, and meet lots of people along the way.

Didsbury Open Gardens, 16 June, 2024

The Didsbury Open Gardens charity event will take place on Sunday, 16 June this year. With new gardens as well as old favourites, a variety of garden styles and an Arts Trail. Don’t miss it!

We will have over 15 gardens, as well as guided tours of the allotments, a Church garden, and both private and public spaces. Once again, the garden at Maggies will be open to visitors. The architecture of Maggie’s Manchester, designed by world-renowned architect Lord Foster, is complemented by gardens designed by Dan Pearson, Best in Show winner at Chelsea Flower Show.

Combining a rich mix of spaces, inc the working glasshouse and vegetable garden, the garden provides a place for both activity and contemplation. The colours and sensory experience of nature becomes part of the Centre through micro gardens and internal courtyards, which relate to the different spaces within the building.

‘It is lovely showing off our gardens and the fruits of our labours to people with a real interest in what we are trying to achieve at Maggie’s – combining interesting planting in a safe, calming environment where people with cancer, and loved ones, can escape for conversation or private reflection surrounded by nature. Or enjoy some wonderful fresh produce from our allotment garden!’ Kathryn – gardener at Maggie’s Manchester. (Extract taken from the NGS Yellow Book)

Visit http://www.didsburyopengardens.org. Buy programmes from early May at The Cheese Hamlet, Didsbury Village, or The Deli on Lapwing Lane, West Didsbury.

We’re back! Didsbury Open Gardens will happen on 19th June. Programme goes on sale this weekend.

The Didsbury Open Gardens event will take place on Sunday, 19 June, 11.30am till 5.30pm. Just sent the programme to print this week and it will be in The Cheese Hamlet and Fusion Deli on sale in the coming days. Very exciting Arts Trail, plenty of new gardens, and teas and cakes await our visitors. All proceeds to charity and in particular we are supporting St Ann’s Hospice. Hoping we have a great turnout from visitors on the day….and sunshine too.

Spring is in the air!

At Didsbury Open Gardens we are getting ready for Spring, and even now the early signs are there, as Snowdrops, Daffodils and other early blossoms start to emerge. Birdsong is becoming more noticeable, and the sun has started to feel….warm! Our garden hosts are working hard to get ready for this year’s blooms, from contemporary, wildlife and perennial gardens to cottage gardens. We have it all here in Didsbury.

June 2022 will see a return of the lovely community event that attracts so many garden lovers and we hope to see many of our regular visitors returning again to help us support St Ann’s Hospice and to enjoy all that the gardens have to offer.

Some of our Didsbury Village NGS gardens will open, alongside our old favourites and public spaces and woodlands. There is much to look forward to.

We hope to see you there on Sunday 19 June 2022.

A lovely archway and pergola

A Japanese themed garden created during the lockdown

The photos below show the Japanese themed garden completed during the recent relaxation of the lockdown. Designed and built by Maria Stripling in memory of a friend’s husband who had visited Japan on holiday and the lovely Kyoto tea house gardens. With elements including ‘turtle’ islands (denoting longevity), Azaleas, Acers and a Taxus cloud-pruned tree. With a gravel sea, stepping stones and sculptures owned by the family and perfectly at home in the new space. The forms and planting mirror the surrounding countryside and compliment the rest of the garden as well as the friend’s love of yoga, walking and, of course, ‘tea’!

The garden was due to open in July to raise funds for St Anns Hospice but that has been deferred. However, there are plans to create a video which we will share on here soon.