Faversham Life
Faversham Life
Words Posy Gentles Photographs Alexandra Campbell
Wild flowers in The Mall
Faversham Open Gardens is back with 27 gardens open to visitors on June 29, all within walking distance of the centre of town, and the biggest garden market yet.
There will be seven new gardens this year as well as some old favourites – and there is a pleasing variety as ever. There is a contemporary courtyard garden in The Mall, and a Georgian Garden in Gatefield Lane which has been replanted with historical accuracy, guided by the book Plantae Favershamienses published in 1777 by Edward Jacob, a member of the Society of Antiquaries. An interest in wildlife, pollinators and sustainability is a notable feature of many. There is tiny garden with seven miniature fruit trees, and fruit and vegetables growing on the roof; and a new garden of just under one third of an acre tucked away behind Preston Grove.
Wildlife garden in Norman Rd
A contemporary courtyard garden in The Mall
Gabions and pollarded lime trees
Roses against the backdrop of meadow planting in Abbey St
And the meadow
Shed and a profusion of red campion
Shed and thalictrum ‘Black Stockings’ in Newton Rd
It is an opportunity to see Westbrook Stream, a rare chalk stream restored by volunteers and functioning as a green corridor linking West St to Stonebridge Pond, and The Abbey Physic Community Garden, a community garden run by staff and volunteers.
The Abbey Physic Community Garden
Faversham’s marketplace will be buzzing with stalls selling plants (amongst which a specialist in carnivorous plants, a salvia specialist and our local Copton Ash Nursery selling alpines), garden ware, vintage tools, crafts, books and cut flowers. The Faversham Horticultural Society will be on the ‘Gardeners’ Question Time’ stall, with experts at hand ready to answer your gardening queries.
Faversham Open Gardens will happen this year on 29 June. The Garden Market will be the largest ever
Madrona, the acclaimed nursery from Bethersden, will be holding a stall at this year’s market
May Farm will be selling ice cream, and Jacques & Lilie will offer coffee and delicious little cakes from their vintage Citroen van. There are numerous cafés in Faversham, in the market place and beyond and some of the open gardens are also offering tea and cakes.
Shepherd Neame continues to sponsor Faversham Open Gardens, which allows 100 per cent of money raised to go to charity. Shepherd Neame’s chief executive, Jonathan Neame has been appointed High Sheriff of Kent and will officially open the event in full regalia in the Market Place at 10 o’clock, and visit two of the open gardens in Newton Rd. For the first time, Faversham Open Gardens has joined forces with the National Garden Scheme, so garden ticket sales will raise money for charities such as Macmillan Cancer Support and Parkinson’s UK. All market stallholders’ fees will go to the Abbey Physic Community Garden.
Sign post at The Abbey Physic Garden Community Garden
To visit the gardens, buy Faversham Open Gardens’ brochure (this is your ticket) at the Faversham Open Garden’s stall in the market on the day (29 June) from 9.30 am, or at the Visitor’s Centre in the Market Place. The brochures can also be bought in advance from the National Garden Scheme website, and picked up from the Visitor’s Centre, where you will find the Faversham Society, the charity established in 1962 to protect Faversham’s heritage, and the gift shop. The brochure has all details of gardens, maps and stall holders and costs £7 or £12 for two (children under 12 are free). It tells you which gardens offer tea and cake, and which welcome dogs and are wheelchair friendly.
Text: Posy Gentles. Photographs: Alexandra Campbell
