Shotley Open Gardens |
 |
||
|
|
||
Shotley Open Gardens 2008 - Saturday 21 June ‘No garden too big, no garden too small, Open Gardens has them all'! If you love gardens, this is the day for you, many gardens throughout Shotley, Shotley Gate and Erwarton will be open from 10 am until 4 pm. Fantastic flowers, vibrant veg, very nice views, amazing allotments (including a ‘plot by tots'!) but also, gardens in development, a tiny plant filled ‘courtyard' garden and many others of varying shapes and sizes to inspire you! Tickets and maps of the gardens are available from any of the gardens, which will have a sunflower poster on the gate/front or from the HQ at the front of Shotley Village Hall on the day. Entry to all gardens is a one off price of £2.50 per person. Ploughman's lunches will be available again this year at Little Oak, Main Road, Shotley Gate, and tea, coffee and refreshments will be available at other gardens, as will raffle tickets. If you would like to open your garden (and it has inspired others in the past to ‘get their garden in shape!) please contact Les Stebbings for an entry form, call 787478 or write to; 4, Orwell View Road, Shotley. Although closing date for entries is 31st May, it is helpful to have them in as soon as possible so that posters, maps and tickets can be printed! All proceeds will go to the Shotley Church ‘Power Project, raising funds to install a much needed toilet at St Mary’s. For more info call Maggie Warner on 01473 431787 |
|||
| 2007 event: | |||
|
Between 10am and 4.30pm, look out for the ‘sunflower’ signs. A one off price of £2.50 per head, at any garden, will gain entry to all the 17 gardens and supply a map showing all the Open Gardens and the sites of the Garage Sales. Map to be available on this site shortly. |
 |
||
| Maps showing open gardens and garage sales (click to enlarge and print): | |||
|
Shotley Street etc: |
 |
Shotley Gate: |
 |
|
The organisers of Shotley Open Gardens are most grateful for the support and hard work of the 17 garden entrants on view in 'Open Gardens' 2007. Open Gardens is on 16 June 2007, 10am - 4.30pm Old friends and 'new'; tiny gardens and rolling acres; all await your pleasure! This year we are joined by Garage Sales on behalf of Shotley School. Like the 'Power Project' they too are fund raising! Shotley School needs an outdoor shelter / classroom and Shotley Church still needs a toilet - we are getting there. We need approx £2,000 more to site a modern, easy-clean accessible toilet with its attendant infrastructure plus power, water, etc. Open Gardens this year co-incides with a 'Pow Wow' which we think may well add to visitor numbers to Shotley and their vehicles needing a parking place! Open Gardens organisers have a plan for its visitors to help aleviate the expected parking pressures but, for it to work we need the help of any kind-hearted drivers, able and willing to give time and petrol for an hour or so to do a short shuttle -trips between two points - approximately half a mile apart! If you can help, please ring 01473 431787 - urgently! Shotley Church is for all. The installation of a toilet for the Church would benefit those attending the events of our lives: weddings, funerals and baptisms etc., equally as much as those who regularly worship at St. Mary's Church, making it a community need. It is 8 years since a trio (two living in Ipswich) began to raise ring-fenced funds for a toilet for Shotley Church. A generous sum, almost half the total we now have, was most gratefully received from a Trust Fund and still we seek to close the gap, the Open Gardens event being just one means of doing so. May we ask for your help by visiting Open Gardens this year? Day long teas, coffees, cakes in The Street; ploughmans lunches at 'Little Oak' and raffle tickets - all will help close that gap! Raffle prizes have been generously donated by Atco Qualcast; by 'one'; (with a return trip for two adults and three children of the winners choosing) and by The Pier Restaurant, Harwich who have donated a £30 meal voucher. A Free Ferry crossing donated by Alan is to be used in conjunction the Pier voucher. We are indebted to all donors of prizes and through My Shotley.com we sincerely thank them. |
|||
|
Shotley Open Gardens is arranged by the organisers of the ‘Power Project' for your church, Shotley Church. In addition to a pleasant day for gardener and visitor alike this event provides funding for a toilet and, as it becomes more widely known, is a means of bringing 'new money' into the village. If you would like to open your garden to fee paying visitors for the benefit of, but free of charge to the Power Project on Saturday June 16 2007, 10 - 4.30pm you will be most welcome, if you are re-joining us, we owe to you once again, our grateful thanks. An Entry Form from is available for collection from Mr. L. Stebbings, 4, Orwell View Road, Shotley, please fill it out and return at your earliest, Please, briefly describe your garden, allotment, woodland etc. to be included in the brochure/map. If you have a charity which is important to you, we are happy for you to use this occasion for a fund-raising stall within your Open Garden' Please state this intention on your entry form. After 7 years, there is now a ‘glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel.' Even so, our funds still need a 'shot in the arm'. A toilet is not just for Sunday Worshipers use, it is for the benefit of people who will attend their sons' and daughters' weddings, baptisms and events through the year.. In addition, a toilet will help Shotley Church to reach its potential to help itself with suitable fund - raising concerts, not really an option at present. We are not all gardeners of course nor have an interest in gardening, your preference may be a cash gift, if that is so, any help you can give will be sincerely welcome. M. Warner for the 'Power Project for Shotley Church |
|||
|
Have you thought of opening your garden for the Power Project (Toilet Fund) for Shotley Church? The organisers hope you can help them once again or, perhaps, for a first time. The Open Gardens event not only provides funding for a toilet for the church (which, at some point in the lives of many Shotley people, may be greatly appreciated) but also gives our visitors a pleasant 'day out'. If you are able to help, would you please get your entry form from Mr. Les Stebbings 4, Orwell View Road, Shotley and return it to him as soon as possible when filled out, to allow maximum planning time. A limited transport service is being looked at aiming to provide those with walking difficulties a chance to visit a few 'accessible' gardens. Names of those people and a contact telephone number should be advised to the organisers on 01473 431787 - again, as soon as possible please! If you are able to help, then, on behalf of your Church, a sincere 'Thank you' REMINDER to Open Gardens Committee Members the next committee meeting is on February 19; 7.45pm in the small committee room at The Village Hall. MW. |
|||
Update 8 September 2006 - report on meeting to plan 2007 A DATE TO NOTE! The next Shotley Open Gardens will be on Saturday 16 June 2007 (10am - 5pm) At a meeting on the 8th. Sept. 06 in the Village Hall, (which sadly clashed with the eve of the Fruit and Vegetable Show) those 'Shotley Open Gardeners' able to be present, agreed with the current 'team of four' organisers, whilst we, the organisers, may be given good health and strength in the future, now is the time for other willing hands to work alongside us. This is to help secure, what we hope, will be the long-term future of Shotley Open Gardens, and also bring into play their several fields of expertise helping grow the event and make it more attractive to the wider community. Happily that help is available. The hope of the founder/organisers was expressed: that this event would remain an on-going fund-raiser for the various needs of Shotley Church - beyond the hoped for toilet installation. Like the Forth Bridge, preservation of your church for your children's children will always require financial help. The meeting also brought into focus a special need! There are people who can manage a walk in a garden who are genuinely unable to walk the varying distances between the gardens. If this describes someone you know, please ring 01473 431787 (Maggie) with names and contact telephone numbers or tell them of the plan - it is no more than that at present - but we have started the process! More info.will follow. The enlarged 'team' is working to see if there are drivers willing to provide transport between gardens suitable for the less able to enjoy. Any questions? Please use the number given above. by Maggie. |
|||
|
Open Gardens 2006 photo gallery on this website |
|||
|
Fifteen gardens and a woodland, were open to the public on 17 June. Ideal weather conditions made it possible for some people to visit 13 of the 16 venues but it was just one of many local events - possibly football too, vying for public attention and our visitor numbers reflected that fact. The takings were a little down on 2005 at £345.83 a figure boosting the wonderful contribution the great gardeners of Shotley have made. We are most grateful to them, they had surely worked overtime to produce such a wealth of beauty and/or practicality. Golden Wood was attended on the day by its curator; if you did not get there, Mr Ian Peters will be pleased to point you to it. It is a very worthy project. In its infancy now, it is already able to foster an interest by the children of today as it matures, for the children of many 'tomorrows'. 'Open Gardens' is not solely about raising money. An atmosphere of friendship marks the event. People have met after many years; new friendships have been forged by simple chatter over a cup of tea. It is apparent that every one of our army of Shotley helpers enjoys their task and without them no amount of planning would work. So many people were involved and in so many different ways that to name names would be unfair but please accept the writer's grateful thanks on behalf of the tiny organising team for the Power Project for Shotley Church, (TW, SC, KW, MW). The very generous donation made by Atco-Qualcast of a Bosch Hegecutter was won by Mr. Clem Cocker. Atco Qualcast have been associated with Shotley Open Gardens for each of the three events and the organisers, through the auspices of www.MyShotley.com, wish to publicly thank this Stowmarket company for their great generosity. P.S. All 2006 SOGs will soon receive information reference Open Gardens 2007 |
|||
| 15 May | |||
| Fourteen Shotley gardeners and a woodsman / naturalist are ready to greet you Saturday June 17. 2006 from 10am - 5 pm. This, the third 'Shotley Open Gardens' event, is again on behalf of the Power Project (Toilet Fund') for Shotley Church. Alongside our established entrants there are four new venues to explore including 'Golden Wood'. Step that way to learn of its short history and the hopes of those whose inspired work has led to its existence. Entry - tickets; tiny, yellow 'swing-tickets - worn or carried prominently please and priced £2.50 are contained in a re-cycled envelope with a map. They can be obtained from Shotley's two Post Offices from May 27. or, from outside the Village Hall on the day, (£2.75). Tea and Coffee will be served all day, see map. For lunch, find your way to 'Little Oak' for a sincere Ploughman's (£3.00) - served between 12-2pm. | |||
 |
|||
| 24 Apr 06 | |||
| The Power Project website goes live!. | |||
| 4 Apr 06 | |||
The wonderful gardening - fraternity of Shotley have said YES to a third event. Their generosity is never taken for granted and is much appreciated. This year, the event will include ‘un-explored' territory. Four gardens will be opening for the first time on behalf of the Power Project and a warm welcome aboard is extended to these new ‘S.O.G.S.' One of the four call for ‘the Map' extend further to the west than hitherto! In addition, many ‘firm favourites' of the past 2 years have ‘signed up, but, sadly, a notable exception is caused by the gardener having to enter hospital. We wish her a quick return to health (and post-operative, ‘gardening therapy.') Plans are also in progress for the display of ‘three-dimensional' art -work by four local artist's to be displayed in a garden or, perhaps, in more than one garden. If you did not get to ‘Little Oaks' to sample the Ploughman's Lunch in 2005, there will be another opportunity to do so courtesy of the generosity of ‘ Clan Baxter' and the hard work and planning of the staff of ‘Jerusalem Inn' fame. It hardly needs emphasizing this event represents a lot of hard work by many people, who do it all so cheerfully at no cost to the Power Project. Thank you ALL, most sincerely. Pictures, of some of 2005 Open Gardens now feature on note-cards, these will be on sale at the Ploughman's venue, for Power Project funds, priced 65pence each. Orders can be taken. We hope to ask once again for the two Post Offices to sell Entrance Tickets prior to the event and from a Central Source, (where, is not yet decided) on the day. This source will need to be staffed through the day and volunteers to man the ‘box office? 'will be warmly welcomed. Hotline for same 01473 431787!! Thank you |
|||
| 16 Feb 06 | |||
 |
|||
| 22 Oct 05 | |||
|
Request for 2006 entries Are you willing, once again, or perhaps for the first time, to help raise funds for the 'Power Project' which aims to raise funding for a toilet for Shotley Church?. By opening your vegetable and/or flower garden/s, to the general public - at no charge to the Power Project please - you would help raise vital funds. It is hoped to arrange a single site for ticket-sales in 2006. If
you have not already done so, it will help the organiser greatly if
you would advise Mr. Les Stebbings as soon as possible please, of your
intention to open your garden next year, thus avoiding last-minute organising/printing
etc.This also helps gardeners planning-during the cosy, fireside, winter
evenings, what to grow and where!. An official Entry Form will then be sent to you, followed EVENTUALLY by a suitable 'identification' poster." Thank you, Margaret Warner, for the ' Power Project's 'Open Gardens' event. |
|||
|
Total
for 2005 Open Gardens £446.65. Thanks to all. |
|||
|
Report on SHOTLEY ‘OPEN GARDENS’ 2005 Borrowing the theme-title of the Flower Festival of Erwarton Church, “What a Wonderful World” was revealed to those who visited the ‘Shotley Open Gardens Event’ June 18. ! Normally the rightful preserve of their owners, the ‘S.O.G.S’, we were able to indulge in ‘Hidden Shotley.’ This Shotley hides behind hedges, fences and walls, and is ‘another world’. We frequently pass this world by, totally unaware of the beauty, serenity, [and the very hard work] which goes on there. Yes! We paid a fee, but even so it was a privilege to be allowed to see behind the scenes. Some of the plants had had a ‘colourful, if not ‘regal’ history! Large stones, now bordering garden pools, were probably laid as boundary markers many moons ago! Our enthusiastic hosts delighted us with their stories. Meantime, almost out of public gaze, the refreshment teams did a vital job sustaining our visitors on one of the hottest days so far! Those who insist a ‘Cuppa’ is the best thirst-quencher; were well looked after, as were those who found the cold drinks on offer at Shotley School, dare we mention the delicious carrot cake? Here, one must stay for a moment! Let us hope that every ticket–holding visitor saw the school garden, a garden with something for all creatures, great and small, animal and human. The writer would like to express gratitude to the staff, and the children for their happy and thoughtful, involvement in this event. I am sure your fellow ‘S.O.G.’s’ are very happy to have you aboard. By midday, hunger had joined with thirst to send many feet in the direction of ‘Little Oaks’ [a splendid venue for a restaurant!!] Grateful thanks are due to Mr. and Mrs. R. Baxter for the use of their kitchen enabling the staff of ‘Jerusalem Inn’. [10th Dec. 04] to serve cool Ploughman’s lunches which, judging by comments were much enjoyed. A few people were not really hungry but found them-selves tucking in, enticed by the plates of others. Sylvia and Thelma prepared the ‘platters’ from ingredients donated once again, by Mr and Mrs Patel. I quote, “Don’t thank us; it is God who gives it” A gift, and a lesson, in one! Mr and Mrs Patel, we DO thank you most sincerely! There were still more donations. Messrs. Elmers of Kesgrave, stockists of garden equipment, gave a £10 voucher to use in their shop; this will be the subject of a draw, to be announced! TESCO gave a £10 voucher buying bread and milk etc. For a second year Messrs. Atco Bosch very generously donated a “S.O.G.S.” prize. This very handy, ‘swivel-headed ’ mower was won by the ‘drawn-straw’ of Garden No. 1 - Mr. T. Slatter. Mr.D.Warner, took photographs of some ‘O G’s’ and has kindly presented them to the writer free of charge, for future use. Copies can be ordered -proceeds for the Power Project of course! The total figure for Shotley Open Gardens 2005 stands at a very encouraging £406. 65. The organisers wish to thank most sincerely, everyone who helped make Shotley ‘Open Gardens’ Event [2005] a success; which should be measured not just in terms of hard cash but also by recognising the spirit of fellowship and goodwill attending it. ‘Additional’ Shotley gardeners have expressed a desire to take part next year. If you are one of those people or you know another who would also like to open their garden please get in touch in the first instance by ringing 01473 431787 There is a form in the ‘SOGS’ pack to fill in if you will kindly consider entering your garden for 2006. This avoids the uncertainty of ‘the long wait’ before any work can be started. Please include name, address and a contact ‘phone number and kindly post to The Power Project for Shotley Church, 10. Surbiton Road, Ipswich IP1 4AX / or hand to myself – or Mr Stebbings, 4 Orwell View Road, Shotley once again- as soon as you are able. My sincere thanks. |
|||
|
|
|||
|
A FUNDRAISING event, in aid of the Power Project which aims to help fund a toilet for Shotley Church. Ten gardens lend shape to the 'Shotley Open Gardens Event' 2005. They are situated in 'The Street,' the 'Main Road' and Shotley Gate. A notable new garden for the event is that of Shotley School, not to be missed!Whilst enjoying an elevated, family garden you may like to discuss the prime Shotley Beef grazing on the marshes below? See map! Buy your entry ticket at any 'Open Garden'- it will be accompanied by a map and is valid for all gardens in the event. Food and drink will be available- indicated on the map. 'The Ploughmans' will provide a reasonable, light lunch which, along with Tea / Coffee / Cake should sustain you while you enjoy the gardens and conversation with their owners.The Power Project Organisers and their valuable helpers will endeavour to give 'value-for-money'; naturally, any donation above an asked - for price, will be gratefully accepted.Enquiries Tel 01473 431787 or email info@myshotley.com.
|
|
 |
|
|
|
| (c) Shotley & Erwarton Parish Plan Steering Committee. Page last updated: 11-02-08 |
