IF you’ve ever wondered what it takes to become ‘Shed of the Year’, what the world’s hottest chilli plant looks like or have never seen an Australian Wollemi Pine – thought extinct until discovered in the Blue Mountains in the 1990s – keep August 27 free.
For that is when Pam and Alistair Thompson open their spectacular garden at Pear Tree Cottage, Witton Hill, Wichenford, for charity, under the charity fund-raising National Garden Scheme.
Finalists in this year’s ‘Shed of the Year’ competition, their Worcestershire garden also includes a Medieval style pole house complete with chickens, a 50ft well, a wildlife lily pond, a writing room, a stone herb garden and even a working red telephone box.
Visitors can enjoy the gardens (postcode WR6 6YX) with their lawns, borders, plenty of seating and quirky surprises, from 2pm until 10pm, with home made teas available in the conservatory.
From 6pm wine will be served and the garden is filled with hundreds of candles and nightlights (weather permitting).
Trees, shrubs and sculptures will all be softly uplit to enjoy twilight while listening to owls and watching bats.
The gardens, which were awarded a silver medal as Britain’s Best Gardeners’ Garden in 2015, extend to about three quarters of an acre and enjoy far-reaching views to Abberley Clock Tower.
If you can’t make August 27, visitors are always welcome by arrangement (telephone 01886 888295).
Entry is £5 per adult, children free, with proceeds helping Worcestershire’s Macmillan Cancer Support fund-raisers.
Since its foundation 90 years ago, the National Garden Scheme has donated more than £50million to its beneficiaries.
