GREEN fingered Rowledge residents are opening up their gardens this weekend all in aid of a good cause.

A gifted gardening quintet of Mandy Main, Lynn and Peter Ludford, Maggie Blyth and Philippa Dodson hope that inviting the public to see their work will inspire fellow enthusiasts, while raising cash for Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice in the process.

Ready for guests on Sunday, May 13, the lawns will be the first of around a dozen opening over the next three months as part of the hospice’s Open Gardens event.

The gardens will take visitors across Phyllis Tuckwell’s catchment area of West Surrey and North East Hampshire.

Mandy, who is the Rowledge and Wrecclesham Phyllis Tuckwell support group organiser, hopes that Sunday’s event will bring the community together and raise money to help care for terminally ill patients.

She said: “We were asked last year if we could organise our local area Open Garden and appealed to Rowledge residents for their support – they duly answered the call.

“I am sure visitors will take something away from four different styles, whether they are seasoned horticulturalists or discovering their green fingers for the first time.”

Refreshments and a raffle will also be availalble for visitors at the village hall.

Charli Quay-Barnham, community fundraising manager at Phyllis Tuckwell, added: “We hope people will enjoy visiting the gardens and take away inspiration.

“On July 14 our own garden at the hospice will be welcoming visitors to enjoy the space.”

Phyllis Tuckwell’s grounds are lovingly tended by the charity’s volunteers and mix open green space with small, quiet areas.

Visitors can sit and enjoy the array of shrubs and flowers on display, admire the various sculptures and reflect on the Memory Tree.

The charity’s Memory Tree bears small metal leaves dedicated to loved ones who are no longer with us.

Gardens of many different sizes and designs will also be on display in Farnham, Tilford, Guildford, Ripley, Headley Down, Churt and Cranleigh.

For a small fee visitors can wander round and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of each. Maybe they’ll even take away a few ideas to try out on their own green spaces at home.

Many of the Open Garden locations are partly wheelchair-friendly and some welcome well-behaved dogs on leads.

Refreshments are available to buy at many of the events, and some will also be selling plants.

Look out for Phyllis Tuckwell’s Open Gardens brochure or visit www.pth.org.uk/open-gardens for further details.