Wednesday, 4 June 2014

4 June 2014 - It's a RECORD!

By Ian Morris




It's a new record!

£4,220

Being the amount of profit generated by the recent Open Gardens Weekend on Saturday 31 May and Sunday 1 June. (The previous record was £3,808 in 2013).

Over the 17 years of this event, the OG has raised nearly £42,000, for the benefit of our 13th Century church, the Village Hall, the village and a variety of good causes.

A very BIG thank you to everyone who contributed in whatever way to ensure the event was such a success, especially those from outside the village who willingly gave up their weekend to help.

We received nearly 200 feedback sheets from the two days, out of 543 paying visitors (an increase of 11% on 2013); which is a very high proportion (36%) when one considers that many of the individual sheets were from couples. A quick scan of the sheets reveals overwhelmingly positive delight, enjoyment and praise for such a great weekend – here are some of the quotes:

“Very good event, the weather helped. Quintessential English village. Nice tea, good service. Pretty church – thank you to the organist and to the bell ringers. Thank you to the gardeners!”

“Super tea!! And sunshine too!! A very, very pleasant experience. Beautiful gardens – lovely people too – will come again tomorrow and next year!!”

“Fantastic, lovely village – how good old England should be. Please keep it this way – a welcome oasis compared to where I live.”

“Wonderful afternoon – excellent silver band. Lovely to spend time in a traditional English village – the villagers were very welcoming.”

“Very nice and yet a strange experience – we do not have this type of event where we live in Denmark. The afternoon tea and cake were very nice.”

“I enjoyed it very much indeed. Well- organised with facilities and entertainment and refreshments. A warm welcome received from the gardeners. Well-maintained gardens and the opportunity to purchase plants.”

“The highlight, as every year, is indulging in a cream tea!”

When I have had time to collate the data and analyse, I will share with everyone .
I will also put together a report reviewing the event and identifying opportunities for next year.

If YOU have any views, feedback or suggestions, PLEASE let us know. Similarly, if you have any photographs, please send them to us at OpenGardens@outlook.com


Meanwhile, thank you once again on behalf of all of the OG team!

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