Gardens Open Scheme

Welcome to the Fareham in Bloom "Gardens Open" Scheme.

 

On one day a year, award winning gardens from previous Fareham in Bloom community gardening competitions are open for the public to visit and enjoy. One ticket, purchased at the first garden visited, gives the holder entrance to all the gardens open under the scheme on that day.

 

The Gardens Open Scheme was inaugurated in 2005 as a one-off exercise to celebrate the tenth anniversary of Fareham in Bloom. The event in 2005, held on a very hot day, was such a success that it was decided to repeat the exercise in 2006. Another beautiful summer's day made that year's event even more successful and so it was decided to make this an annual event.

 

The purpose of the scheme is to celebrate excellence in gardening and to promote the Fareham in Bloom community gardening competition by showing winning gardens. It enables other gardeners to visit these gardens and to see what is achievable and thus encourage them in their own efforts. Hopefully it encourages them and inspires them to participate in future competitions.

 

Profits from the sale of tickets, together with income from the sale of tea and cakes and the sale of plants at some of the gardens, is donated to charity. Half of the total profit is donated to the Mayor of Fareham's Charities and the other half is donated to charities selected by the Fareham in Bloom Co-ordinators (normally a horticultural charity).

 

Visiting these gardens is a social occasion where gardeners and non-gardeners alike can share the experience of seeing a variety of different styles of garden. Visitors are welcome to sit for awhile, enjoy refreshments in some of the gardens, and take the opportunity to purchase plants from some owners. The owners are always willing to share their ideas and knowledge with visitors.

 

Overall the day is an enjoyable experience both for the visitors who come to the  gardens and the garden owners who get pleasure from showing others their gardens.