GARDEN-LOVERS are in for a treat with a Bowers Gifford trail set to open over the weekend.

The trail will take place on Sunday from 2pm to 6pm at 13 and 14 Una Road, and 32 Kelly Road, in Bowers Gifford, Basildon.

The three gardens include modern contemporary locations, as well as a large mature garden with many interesting spaces and vegetable areas. The open garden event will raise money for St Luke’s Hospices in Basildon. John Spooner has been opening his garden to raise money for the National Garden Scheme for 12 years.

He is taking part in the first year of St Luke’s Hospices open garden events and he has recruited neighbours to form the trail. His garden is across half an acre and features two ponds, a small vegetable area and is home to a small family of gnomes.

“We are looking forward to the pen garden event and welcoming in visitors. The garden is filled with evergreens and a veg patch as well as green houses, a big lawn and herbaceous and perennial boarders,” said John. “We have opened up the garden for many years now and we enjoy taking part and raising money for a good cause.”

The garden is set out into small ‘rooms’ which are surrounded by shrubs and herbaceous plants which leads the visitor on to the main lawn area and the summer house, here there are several areas to sit and enjoy the garden. The full addresses for the St Luke’s open garden trail are: 13 and 14, Una Road, Bowers Gifford, Basildon, SS13 2HU and 32 Kelly Road, Bowers Gifford, Basildon, SS13 2HL John will open his garden at number 14, Una Road again on 7 and 10 July from 11am to 5pm, for the National Garden Scheme.

If you would like to open your garden next year for St Luke’s Hospice contact fundraising team 01268 524973 fundraising@stlukeshospice. co.uk. For more details on the St Luke’s open gardens visit www.stlukeshospice.com/ event/open-gardens-summer-2022