Hidden village gardens reveal astonishing secrets

Friends Clare Downing and Julie France, who share a love for nature, discovered stunning displays in walks with their pet spaniels during lockdown.

Residents have devoted more time than ever to their gardens as many spent 18 months at home during the pandemic.

In one garden the pair discovered 25 varieties of hosta.

Another man has transplanted an olive tree from Greece to create a nostalgic patch of the Mediterranean.

To celebrate villagers' green fingers they are launching an open gardens day in Goostrey on June 12 next year to raise funds for East Cheshire Hospice.

Clare said: "An astonishing number of residents volunteered to open their gardens, we were amazed by the response.

A water feature in Clare's garden

"It has been like a keyhole moment to find such an astonishing wealth of gardens, some quite large but most of them modest in size with a lot of interest which deserves to be shared.

"We want to raise as much money as we can for the hospice because they have never been in need of it more because of the pandemic."

Toad Hall and the old Medicine House, home of Alan Garner and wife Griselda, will be open on the day

Clare, who works in marketing, organised open garden days for more than a decade in Lymm before moving to New Platt Lane.

Julie, who has taken semi retirement from a management role at John Lewis, is keen to find fresh ideas for her garden in Blackberry Gardens.

Julie said: "I've found Goostrey a very welcoming place to live. We feel the open day is one way of returning something to the village and hopefully it will become an annual event."

Toad Hall and the old Medicine House, home of Alan Garner and wife Griselda, will be open on the day

Visitors will be able to explore up to 15 gardens with a ticket of £8.50, with all proceeds going to the hospice.

A descriptive map and route will be published nearer the time.

Hosts can also raise funds for their own charity on the day.