Jenner's House opens garden on Sunday (From Gazette Series)

Berkeley's Dr Jenner's House opens garden on Sunday for charity open day

4:00pm Friday 22nd February 2013 in News By Lucy Fulford

BERKELEY will be in bloom when Dr Jenner’s House opens its garden on Sunday.

On Sunday, February 24, between 11am and 4pm visitors will be welcomed into Dr Jenner’s garden as part of the National Gardens Day scheme to raise funds for charities.

This is the third Garden Open Day the site will participate in.

Snowdrops are already out in the garden, with daffodils and crocuses on their way.

Jenner is most famous for pioneering vaccination and visitors to his garden will get the chance to explore the thatched summerhouse in which Jenner provided free vaccinations against smallpox – aptly named The Temple of Vaccinia.

Edward Jenner was a keen gardener and one of his prized possessions was the vine which he nurtured from cuttings taken at Hampton Court Palace. To this day, it produces delicious grapes which are on sale at Dr Jenner’s House in the summer months.

This year, visitors will also be able to see the trench where University of Bristol Archaeology students began excavations last year, discovering a Viking cloak pin and an Anglo-Saxon strapend.

Helen Jeffrey, education and audience engagement manager said: "The Garden Open Day gives visitors an exceptional opportunity to visit off-season and see Jenner’s garden begin to blossom whilst supporting an excellent cause."

There will be plants for sale, free children’s explorer trails, plus hot drinks and cakes to enjoy. Entry is £3 for adults and children go free, with all proceeds to the National Garden Scheme.