Open Gardens 2025
A lovely review of the very successful Open Gardens Event - 8 June 2025
It could be us!
A Day Among the Blooms: Kirklington’s Open Gardens Showcase
The quaint village of Kirklington transformed into a horticultural haven yesterday, opening its garden gates to visitors for their Open Gardens event—a delightful testament to both green-fingered passion and community spirit.
A Warm Village Welcome
From the moment visitors arrived on Main Street, the village’s characteristic warmth was evident. Friendly volunteers wielding cheerful placards guided newcomers toward two thoughtfully designated car parks: one for those with limited mobility, and another for general parking. The main parking area led down a rustic track to a farmer’s field, where grass had been freshly cut and local residents directed cars with the kind of genuine hospitality that makes small English villages so endearing.
The Heart of Community
The village hall served as the event’s bustling hub, where both cash and card payments were welcomed in support of local projects. Inside, the aroma of fresh refreshments mingled with the earthy scent of plants for sale, creating an atmosphere that epitomised community enterprise. Every pound spent here would circle back to benefit the village itself—a beautiful example of local investment in local dreams.
A Garden Trail with Character
Armed with a well-designed map, visitors could choose their own adventure through ten diverse gardens. The more adventurous could meander along footpaths that wove through fields of crops and paddocks dotted with horses, offering sweeping views of the surrounding countryside. Those preferring a gentler pace could follow the roads and pavements, still discovering horticultural treasures around every corner.
Each garden told its own story, lovingly tended by hosts who greeted visitors with genuine enthusiasm and shared tales of their gardening triumphs and challenges. These weren’t manicured showpieces from glossy magazines—they were real gardens, lived-in spaces where passion met practicality. While only a couple could be described as pristine, all radiated the unmistakable glow of gardens that are truly cherished.
Weather-Proof Community Spirit
Despite Mother Nature’s occasional attempts to dampen spirits with passing rain showers, visitors maintained an infectious positivity. Smiles were the order of the day, proving that when communities come together around shared interests, even British weather cannot diminish the joy.
The Bigger Picture
The event’s seamless organisation and enthusiastic participation highlighted something profound: the irreplaceable value of community infrastructure. Kirklington’s active village hall and robust local support network made this celebration possible, creating connections between neighbours and showcasing the village’s collective pride.
For residents of Averham, Staythorpe, and Kelham, the day served as both inspiration and gentle reminder—that such community magic rarely happens by accident. It requires dedicated spaces, willing volunteers, and the kind of local engagement that transforms a collection of houses into a true neighbourhood.
In an age of increasing digital connection but sometimes diminishing face-to-face community ties, Kirklington’s Open Gardens day stood as a beautiful example of what flourishes when people invest in their shared spaces and celebrate their collective passions. Sometimes the most extraordinary experiences grow in the most ordinary gardens, tended by the most generous hearts.
Thank you Kirklington
Bob