First Lymington Open Garden event since pandemic attracts 1,000 and raises £7,500 for St Barbe Museum and Art Gallery

MORE than 1,000 people stopped to smell the roses at Lymington’s Open Garden event which raised £7,500 for the St Barbe Museum and Art Gallery.

The event returned for the first time since the pandemic, with visitors to green spaces around the town joined by the mayor, Cllr James Hoare.

Fourteen gardens took part in the event this year, which is organised the Friends of St Barbe.

Venues ranged from small courtyard gardens to more expansive areas, with raised beds, vegetables, fairy gardens, ponds and pergolas featuring.

There were also plant stalls and more than 300 afternoon teas were served at the United Reformed Church.

The event was hailed as a “huge success”, with a spokesperson for the museum saying: “None of this could have been achieved without the enthusiastic support of the garden owners and a small army of volunteers.

"To all those who baked cakes, grew plants, served teas, and acted as gate stewards on the day, we say a big thank you.

"It was a hugely enjoyable afternoon, bringing crowds of people to the streets of the town – a real community event.”