Rare treat as Staindrop is to reveal its ‘secret gardens’

A DALE village is putting on one the country’s largest open gardens events.

It will be a rare treat for garden enthusiasts who visit Staindrop on June 25 because the village hosts its open gardens day only once every four years. Some 12 gardens will be on view for people between 2pm and 5pm.
Staindrop Open Gardens Day chairman Ed Chicken said: “There are probably more [gardens] than anywhere else. We had at least 400 people last time through ticket sales, that is excluding children who are free.”
Along with 12 exquisite gardens, visitors can enjoy tea and cakes at the Scarth Memorial Hall before visiting a variety of craft stalls on the village green, or popping
into the Wheatsheaf pub for a pint.
All of the gardens are located around the green within easy walking distance of the hall. Mr Chicken said the gardens of many homes are misleading from the front view and many of the quaint cottages have extremely long back gardens.
He added: “I guess it was from the days when people were self sufficient. You see these beautiful cottages and you have no idea what is behind.”
He said the reason many people are attracted to open garden events is that while they cannot replicate the huge expansive gardens of stately homes they might visit, they can get ideas from people who have gardens that are similar to theirs.
A passionate gardener who gets out whenever he can, Mr Chicken’s garden will also be open on the day. It boasts a wide variety of trees, shrubs and bulbs, and has three outstanding water features. He has also started to grow his own woodland.
Explaining why people enjoy being in the garden, Mr Chicken said: “It is a therapy for a lot of people.
“It is their green gym. Why go to a gym when you can be out in the garden?”
An added attraction at 3pm is a guided tour of St Mary the Virgin Church.
Mr Chicken said: “It is quite interesting because of the links to Richard III and King Canute. It will be a good day out in Staindrop, for a fiver you can’t beat it.
“It is a good community event which shows off the village and shows off the Scarth Hall”.
All money raised from the event goes towards the upkeep of St Mary the Virgin Church.