Visitors to a garden estate near Darlington rarely seen by the public got a glimpse inside the venue during a recent event.
Through the National Garden Scheme, which is run each year, Middleton Hall Retirement Village, in Middleton St George near Darlington welcomed smiling crowds and garden lovers.
In total, the event raised £800 for charity and gave people an insight into a space that is rarely seen by the public.
This event was part of a country-wide initiative to open gardens to raise money for nursing and health charities.
The occasion in August offered a rare opportunity for visitors to look around the award-winning 45-acre estate at the retirement village and 155 visitors explored the site’s extensive gardens and woodlands.
Many joined the guided tours hosted by members of Middleton Hall’s Estates team and residents who live in the village’s independently owned retirement properties.
Earlier this year, Middleton Hall Retirement Village’s Estates team were crowned winners of the Best Outdoor Space award at the prestigious national Care Home Awards and the open day allowed the team to showcase their handiwork.
Highlights for visitors included areas with specialist planting including the Japanese garden, fernery and wetlands, the village’s allotments, two orchards, formal lawns and the sweeping entrance driveway featuring a lime tree avenue.
Information boards throughout the site explained the team’s aims for the estate such as the planting around the main reception area being chosen to reflect its historic origins, the design of the wetlands, lake and pond encouraging and supporting wildlife and the natural environment and the lifestyle enjoyed by the village’s resident chickens and ducks.
Visitors also enjoyed a choice of walks through the estate’s extensive woodland as well as the chance to enjoy a cup of tea, a slice of cake and homemade scones.
Estates manager Bryan Moore said: “It was wonderful to welcome so many people to this year’s National Garden Scheme open day. We’re very proud of our estate and it was great to have the chance to show it off to the public and to raise an impressive amount for charity.
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“The team worked incredibly hard to get the gardens ready for visitors and we were fortunate to have some wonderful support on the day from volunteers who live in the village’s independent retirement properties.
“We’re already planning for next year so watch this space for our 2025 event.”
Margaret Stamper, assistant county organiser for the National Garden Scheme added: “This is an excellent result for a single garden so very well done to everyone concerned and many thanks from all of us on the NGS Co. Durham team.”
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