Open Gardens

The Open Gardens is where it all started for Marchington Village Festival. In 2015 the Board of Directors at our local community shop was looking for ideas on how to sustain the shop financially. Whilst run mainly by volunteers, the cost of a village shop can be considerable. But, as a lifeline for many villagers, there is a huge will to keep it operational and the Open Gardens idea was conceived to support that goal. Now in its 11th year, it has become an established event on the Open Garden calendar, attracting visitors from far and wide. The team even organised a remote Open Gardens in 2020 during lockdown! It remains a vital source of income for the shop. 

After the first successful year, a committee was established to provide additional activities around the village and now a decade on and Marchington Village Festival encompasses the Open Gardens and provides a mini bus to transport visitors around the village and gardens. 

This year we have 14 gardens, some of whom are first timers and some that are returning after a break. More information on each can be found in the festival programme which is complimentary with the purchase of an Open Gardens wristband and includes a map of garden and scarecrow locations plus a voting form for the best scarecrow competition. Available from Marchington Village Shop and on sale from 25th May, each wristband lasts for both days of the Open Gardens. Extra programmes are just £1.00.