Devon Couple Hop To It for Gardening Extravaganza
The fur will be flying, in a good way, at one of Devon’s most-loved gardening events.
The Secret Gardens of Topsham, being held on June 11th, is a hugely popular event with residents and also draws hundreds of people to the town, taking advantage of a rare opportunity to see a wide range of hidden gem gardens.
These are usually private but their owners have agreed to throw open their doors to visitors for just five hours.
Nell and Marcus Parry’s walled garden in the centre of town is completely invisible to passers-by but will be one of 12 on display this year. Visitors will also enjoy a floppy-eared surprise in the form of the family’s rabbits, Valerie and Dom, who will be in the garden throughout the day.
“There will be a bag of herbs for anyone who would like to feed them and I’m very happy to give people advice on how to keep rabbits - it’s not as easy as it looks” explains Nell.
The couple have worked on the garden for the past four years, transforming it from hard standing and overgrown shrubs to become a wildlife-friendly haven with a pond and carefully selected frog- and rabbit-friendly plants.
The Parrys’ garden will be one of the smallest in the event which will also include substantial displays in several of the town’s most historic houses.
The Secret Gardens of Topsham on June 11th is the first of its kind for five years. It is usually staged on alternate years but was interrupted by the pandemic.
“It is a wonderful day for garden lovers of course, but it’s also a lovely event for the entire family who can explore the hidden paths and waterside walks of Topsham” explains Rachel Nichols, who is leading this year’s event as president of Topsham Museum, and who was one of the organisers of the very first Secret Gardens day back in 2004.
“Like all of our Museum activities, this event is undertaken entirely by volunteers who have been planning it since last year, not to mention the owners who all take huge pride in displaying their beautiful plants and gardens” she continues.
In addition to seeing the gardens themselves, green-fingered visitors can enjoy a specialist plant stall at the Museum’s waterside garden - including selections from some of the Secret Gardens themselves - and tea and delicious home made cakes at two lovely gardens along the route.
All proceeds from the event go towards running Topsham Museum which has its main building in one of the 17th century houses on Strand, close to the Exe.
Topsham Museum has a popular and frequently-updated website and virtual tour, plus an online shop. The Museum additionally has displays in a red telephone box in the town, serving as a year-round outpost and attraction.
Secret Gardens of Topsham:
Sunday, June 11 2023, noon until 6pm.
Entrance by programme (£8) will be available to order online via Topsham Museum e-shop. Programmes will be available in person from May 8th from the Museum itself, the Topsham Bookshop, or the Wilkinson Grant estate agency branch in the town.
Parking available at Topsham Rugby Club and in the town’s public car parks.
