SUMMER'S come to an end and so has Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s Open Gardens for 2019. And what a year it has been.

With the 12 gardens that opened in aid of the trust, the scheme has raised a fantastic £18,000 towards their vital work protecting Cornwall’s wildlife and wild places, despite some of the Sunday events taking place in torrential rain and Cornish drizzle.

Isabella Hawkes, the community fundraising officer said: “We could not have raised this amazing amount of money without the support of all the gardens and the army of volunteers who every year sees that the open gardens run smoothly. Cornwall Wildlife Trust is so grateful to these people but also to all the visitors who chose to spend their Sundays with us, thank you.”

The gardens which were the most popular were some of the trust’s regular supporters: Pedn Billy on the Helford, Burncoose at Gwennap and Trenarth at High Cross.

In total more than £3,000 people attended the open gardens this spring and summer enjoyed the varied layouts, cakes and cream teas.

A particularly popular attraction at 2, Trenance Cottages in St Newlyn East were plant stalls at every garden, for the first time.

The trust is already taking bookings for open gardens in 2020.

They begin on April 5 at Pedn Billy. Anyone wishing to open their garden for the trust should contact Isabella Hawkes at Isabella.hawkes@cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk or on 01872 302284.

The gardens that were opened this year were Coldrenick, Pedn Billy, 2 Trenance Cottages, Burncoose, Little Park Farm, Boswiddle, Lethytep, Cornish Cutting Garden, Arundell, Millpool, Trenarth, and South Bosent.