Gardens open to view (From Gazette Series)

Gardens open to view

VILLAGERS of a pretty Cotswold village are opening their garden gates for charity at the weekend.

Gardens in Kingscote, near Dursley, will be open on Sunday (2-6pm) to the public to raise money for the Red Cross.

Visitors will be treated to an array of delightful gardens with herbaceous borders, immaculate lawns and a variety of planting styles to explore, with at least ten gardens open to the public.

One of the gardens that will be open is Kingscote Park, a beautiful Georgian house situated at the entrance to the village.

Owners Geoffrey and Anne Higgins have created a garden to celebrate some of the world's many spiritual beliefs including a Chinese healing garden, an Indian medicine wheel garden, a labyrinth and a Japanese Shinto arch.

Visitors can then follow the garden trail through the village, past the 13th Century church, to the other end of the village where they will find The Pheasantry, owned by Irene Ingleby-Oddie.

During the day there will be a unique opportunity to see former street children from Kathmandu perform traditional songs and dances of the Himalayan region when young people from the Rokpa Children's Home will be performing (3pm) at Kingscote Park.

Organiser Sue Bradley Jones said: "Geoffrey and Anne invited the children there as they feel the charity's aims fit in with the ideas of their Matara Centre for spiritual healing, which is part of Kingscote Park."

Other attractions will include plants for sale, activities for children and home made teas. Visitors can park in the car park behind Hunters Hall. For more information call 01453 860663.