The Friends of St Peter’s are delighted to report our Open Gardens 2024 raised over £5,100 towards the maintenance of St Peters Church building.  

Over 400 people attend the event, and it was lovely to see so many people happily enjoying themselves as they wandered around the village visiting the gardens. By one o’clock the queue was gathering to collect arm bands and tickets from St Peters and admiring the wonderful display of crochet flowers cascading down the front of St Peters tower. Thank you to the Yarnbombers, and to church warden Steve Sherwood; what a great advertisement for the Open Gardens.

There were 14 gardens open on the day, each one quite unique. Some were very small but a blaze of colour with beautiful Flowers in pots and planters.  Others appeared small until you found yourself walking through series of garden rooms, each with its own theme and amazing collection of amusing objects. There were formal gardens, courtyard gardens, vegetable plots and cottage gardens, one was complete with some bee hives. Some gardens had wonderful water features and paths that lead you to secret areas, quiet places for contemplation. All of them were truly delightful, often enhanced by the mellow brickwork walls so typical of Titchfield gardens. It was a wonderful opportunity to see what is hidden behind the gates that we all regularly pass in the the village. The garden layouts and the array of plants were inspiring. Many keen gardeners spent time talking to the garden hosts, quizzing them about their plants and propagation techniques. The hours of work getting the gardens ready for the show by the garden hosts was so appreciated. 

A welcome stop during the garden tour was at the Tea Gardens, where donated cakes and cups of tea were served by volunteers. So many people contributed to their time and effort to make this event so enjoyable, and it is this community spirit that makes our wonderful village the amazing place we live in.