Herald - Issue 391

Page 36 • The HERALD • 25th June 2020 v SUPPORTING YOUR LOCAL BUSINESSES v RYAN FENCING Quality Fencing & Gates 07769 706516 • 023 8084 1203 www.ryan-fencing.co.uk • Find us on Facebook | DOWN THE GARDEN PATH | SPADEWORK Family Landscaping & Fencing Team ] Decking & Natural Sandstone Paving ] Patios ] Driveways ] Block Paving ] Turfing ] All Types of Domestic & Commercial Fencing ] Security Fencing Supplied & Fitted Tel: (023) 8089 4909 Mobile: 07703 566814 u F ree E stimates u F ully I nsured Telephone Richard 023 8084 9637 | Grass Cutting | Edges Trimmed | Hedge Trimming | PATIO’S & DECKING JET WASHED | FENCE & SHEDS PAINTED QuickSmart Garden Services Professional & Reliable Visitors Return to Popular New Forest Garden Furzey Gardens in Minstead has reopened its doors to visitors for the rst time since March. e gardens sprung back into action with a sold out members weekend on 6th and 7th June, before opening to the public with another sold out day on 8th June. Visitors were able to enjoy bursts of late spring colour, with rhododendrons, candelabra primulas and some azaleas still going strong, whilst new summer owering plants including the three metre high purple-hazed Echiums are coming into bloom. Families also relished the chance to search for the garden’s famous fairy doors, including some new dwellings that have appeared over the winter. Furzey Gardens has been shut in line with government coronavirus guidance since mid-March and has reopened with stringent measures to keep visitors safe. A new entrance and one way route will aid social distancing, the toilets remain closed and the tea rooms are serving a takeaway menu including sandwiches, cakes, cream teas and scones. Pete White, Head Gardener, said : ‘It was so good to see people back enjoying the gardens after such a long period.’ e popular New Forest garden was only play area, with temporary capacity limits for other sections. But with the gardens bursting with colour, the plant nursery brimming with fine specimens and new fairy doors to discover, there is plenty to entertain visitors of all ages. Furzey Gardens is part of Minstead Trust, a charity supporting people with learning disabilities to live more independent and ful lled lives. People with learning disabilities work to maintain the gardens and raise new plants in the nursery. Minstead Trust has lost tens of thousands of pounds in income from closing Furzey Gardens and with restrictions on the numbers that can safely visit, daily costs will continue to exceed income for some time to come. e Trust is relying on the generosity of its visitors and supporters to secure the future of the gardens in order to continue to support vulnerable people. Every generous donation for tickets and every new membership makes a real di erence. Entrance is by donation, all visitors must pre-book their slot at www.furzey-gardens.org able to reopen a er its generous supporters raised more than £4,300 to help the gardens get ready to welcome visitors again. Some areas of the gardens remain closed, including the Visitors return to Furzey Gardens At the end of May, Christine and Sandra, two volunteers at the Healthy Haven garden at the Waterside medical practice, put on strawberry scones and a strawberry gateau for the sta . is was to celebrate the garden being open for one year, and to thank the sta for all the hard work they do especially during the Coronavirus epidemic. In the photo Dr Chris Cole can be seen at the front tending the strawberry beds. e garden this year has been planted with many varieties of vegetables and owers. Christine is looking for more volunteers to tend the garden, so if you have a couple of hours spare each week please contact her on 07795 976807. HEALTHY HAVEN