Stunning country garden will help raise funds

Manor Farm House, at Patney, near Devizes, will be open from 2pm to 5pm on Sunday, May 10

A COUNTRY garden lovingly nurtured for 14 years will be open to the public as part of the National Open Gardens Scheme – with the refreshments raising funds for the Wiltshire Bobby Van Trust.

Manor Farm House, at Patney, near Devizes, will be open from 2pm to 5pm on Sunday, May 10, giving visitors a chance to admire the stunning two acre plantsman’s garden originally designed by Michael Balston. The garden was used as a place to research garden plants and sustainable ecology.

Owners Tricia and Mark Alsop have updated it to provide visitors with a riot of colour. The garden’s lawned areas with borders are surrounded by hornbeams and yew hedging and there is a long border and gravel garden by the tennis court and a formal vegetable garden with box hedging.

There is also a meadow with spring bulbs, a box mound and a walkway through moisture loving plants.

The garden is open as part of the NGS scheme and entrance is £6, with children admitted free.

Bobby Van volunteers and staff will be on hand to provide tea, coffee and cake, with the proceeds going to the charity’s funds.

Director Jennie Shaw said: “We are very grateful to Tricia and Mark for allowing us to be a part of the open garden. It is such a beautiful setting, it makes for a lovely afternoon out.

“We’ll be providing a refreshing cup of tea or coffee and some delicious cakes to make it even more of a memorable outing, and it will be a valuable contribution to maintaining our service.”

Manor Farm House can be found at Manor Farm Lane, Patney, SN10 3RB, find the NGS listing here.