BRAMSHOTT welcomed more than 1,000 visitors for its biennial open gardens weekend.

This was an increase of 24 per cent on the last event in 2016, not including children who accompanied their parents and grandparents.

Downton Abbey’s Hugh Bonneville cut the ribbon to open the event and other famous faces in the crowd were Vanessa Redgrave and her daughter Joely Richardson. The Village Crier, Terry Burns, announced the start of the weekend in glorious sunshine, and handed the scissors over to Hugh, who praised the village for its tremendous effort.

One end of the green ribbon was held by Tony Rudgard, who had just celebrated his 95th birthday, and who was the founder of the Bramshott Open Gardens event in 1986.

There were 24 very varied gardens open to the public, both very large and small, and this included one garden which had been the subject of the Garden Rescue programme and had received a makeover from Charlie Dimmock and the Rich brothers.

Some of the gardens were serving refreshments and cream teas, and beside St Mary’s Church there was a barbecue and tea tent, which served hundreds of visitors during the two days. There was also a well-stocked plant stall, which did a brisk trade, as did the grand tombola.

Inside St Mary’s Church there was a large handwritten Scroll of Remembrance, together with a flower festival depicting animals from the bible.

An art display and sale in Covers Farm Barn, proved popular, and cards were on sale which showed different views of flowers and gardens around the village.

A shuttle bus also offered transport around the village to the more far flung gardens for those who wanted to see as many gardens as possible.

As a result of all the hard work, and all that was on offer over the weekend, the chairman of the Bramshott Open Gardens committee, Craig McGregor, was able to announce that the weekend had raised just over £18,000 before all costs, which was a record.

Macmillan Cancer Care, St Mary’s Church and other local charities will benefit from the largest part of the funds raised.

The next Bramshott Open Gardens weekend will take place in June 2020.