Teddington in Flower 2011 – Teddington Society announces list of Garden Openings

The Teddington Society have now announced the list of Garden Openings for this year, which include three new gardens. The date for your diary is Sunday 12th June from 2pm - 6pm, and there will be an appearance from the Mayor too.

The entrance fee per garden is 50p – yes 50p!  All proceeds will go to The Friendship Club at the Strathmore Centre, Home Start Richmond and other local causes.

Here's the gardens which will open, some with refreshments and cakes to help you along your tour. And if you're looking for something a little stronger the bar at the Royal British Legion will be open too!

1. Alma Cottage, 5 Albert Road (off Park Road), Dick & Gilly Hughes

A walled garden, first laid out in 1854 by the owner, a gardener from Chiswick. Some of the original layout has been retained, currently planted with fruit trees, grapevines and shrubs. There is an air raid shelter, a pirate's castle for supervised 4-7 year olds and a pond.

2. 19 & 21 Teddington Park (off Waldegrave Road), Maggie & Andrew Crisell Teas & home made and Jenny Hilton cakes (No 19)

It is still early days for no 19, which we inherited two years ago as a very plain, empty rectangle (with a horrible, overpowering hedge). We have tried to soften the lines and maximise brightness, space and colour. No 21 provides a contrast with its cool, elegant and shaded garden containing mature shrubs and two ponds.

3. 18 & 20 Teddington Park, Alan Drake and Helga Foss Plants & paintings for sale

The heavenly twins - only a mother can tell them apart! There will be plants for sale - for the house, the garden and the pond, and also framed botanical watercolours of weeds!

4. 65 Elmfield Avenue (off High Street), Rev Dominic & Geraldine Stockford Refreshments/quiz

Our garden is an informal mixture of lawn, patio, and stepping stones framed by herbaceous borders. There is a small fruit growing area, and the end is naturally wild with a hideaway for children and a trampoline. Cakes and teas will be available and also quizzes for both children and adults.

5. The Royal British Legion, 135 High Street Refreshments

In the 90th anniversary of the Poppy Appeal you are welcome today at our garden surrounded by the remains of the old walls of the Manor House estate.

It has been redesigned this year and includes a 'Dig for Victory' exhibition of "grow your own" in a small space. The bar will be open and light refreshments are also available.

6. St Mary with St Alban Church, Ferry Road Refreshments/Flower Festival/Hand bell ringers

Come and see the inside of this lovely old church and enjoy the Flower Festival, which will illustrate Bible stories. Then wander in the churchyard, where you can also enjoy tea and delicious cakes. St Mary Teddington Bells will be ringing in the church between 2.00-2.30pm and 3.00-3.30pm.

7. 88 Broom Road (corner with Atbara Road), Sian Hardy & Bob Smith

A family garden that caters for very different needs: a place to play for two active boys, a place to relax with friends, and somewhere to indulge our growing interest in gardening. With a trampoline, small summer house and guinea pigs, as well as a diminutive vegetable plot, we aim for this to be a garden for "them and us".

8. 40 Udney Park Road (off High Street), Shirley Meaker Bric-a-brac for sale

When we came here 40 years ago, there was just a field with 2 pear trees and a hammock! Now it has been transformed into a large well stocked garden with a pond and a conservatory.

9. Collis School Nature Trail, Fairfax Road Refreshments/Plants for sale

This 'secret garden' is a real treasure. This year there is a new greenhouse which the children are busy filling with seedlings. Plus a decking area for pond dipping, a woodland area with wild flowers and a variety of mature trees and a living willow arbour. Come and enjoy the atmosphere with tea and home-made cake.

10. The White Bungalow, 23A Hampton Road, Diane Ward & Len Neave Refreshments/Plants for sale (near Teddington Hospital)

See the trains running in this fun garden, popular with children young and old for the past twenty years. The front garden has won several awards for its floral displays and everyone is welcome to come and enjoy tea in the rear garden. Plants and pots will be on sale (all proceeds to the Royal British Legion).

11.  24 Princes Road (off Stanley Road),  Judi McCormack

Smal, easy to maintain, mature garden on the site of a Victorian school, with a water feature, patio, lawn and gravel, designed as an extension to my living space. I gave up smoking via the NHS Scheme and gained my garden from the money I saved!

With The Royal British Legion celebrating the 90th Anniversary, the Collis School Nature Trail worth a visit and the St Mary with St Alban flower festival, there's plenty to see and do during Teddington in Flower.