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Garden Open Day boosts charity total

Posted on Thursday 29th September 2016
High Flyers choir performing in the garden

After another very busy Garden Open Day on September 24th we are pleased to announce that the total so far raised for Ashwood’s Charity of the Year has now reached a magnificent £22,077.67 …and it’s still rising! On Saturday we welcomed an amazing 524 visitors to the garden: the weather was kind to us, the garden was spectacular and a performance by the Sedgley Morris Men certainly added to everyone’s enjoyment of the day.

John with Sheila Baker, founder of High Flyers

John with Sheila Baker, founder of High Flyers

John’s Garden at Ashwood Nurseries is the beautiful private garden of nursery owner John Massey and is one of the few private gardens in the UK which is renowned for all year round colour and interest.  John opens his garden on selected dates during the year, with all entrance proceeds being donated to our nominated charity.

High Flyers, our Charity of the Year for 2016, is a local day group for young adults with learning difficulties. It has around 45 members, including young adults with conditions such as Autism, Down’s Syndrome and William’s Syndrome.

It has been a great privilege and pleasure to meet so many members of High Flyers and their carers on the Open Days. One of the highlights was undoubtedly the wonderful performance by their choir on the July Open Day…the audience loved them!

Sheila Baker, founder of High Flyers, says “We’re so pleased to have been chosen by Ashwood Nurseries as their Charity of the Year…their fund-raising is going to make such a difference to our future. We needed to raise a deposit for a mortgage to buy the premises that we currently rent….the money that Ashwood has raised will now enable us do this.”

Maggie Morgan, our much-loved volunteer: greatly missed

Maggie Morgan, our much-loved volunteer: greatly missed

On a sad note, this year’s fund-raising was marred by the sudden death of Maggie Morgan, our much-loved volunteer and one of John’s oldest friends.

Maggie was a well-known face to regular visitors to the garden, selling tickets at the gate in all weathers and greeting everyone with her welcoming smile and lovely Welsh humour.

She will be greatly missed.

Barbara Cartwright