CIRENCESTER Open Gardens is on Sunday, July 3 from 2-5 at various gardens in the town.

Wander down medieval Coxwell Street and find ‘secret’ gardens hidden behind historic houses; explore The Mead, a cul-de-sac built in the 1930’s and visit the peaceful garden of the Friends Meeting House on Thomas St.

Discover gardens of different sizes displaying a wide variety of plants, shrubs and trees that will give ideas of what can be achieved in small to medium sized gardens.

Continue along the Riverside Walk, past the ‘Hare Garden’ and visit the Open Air Swimming Pool. Built in 1869 this heated pool is sourced from a natural spring and is currently undergoing a phased refurbishment.

Then onwards to Barton Lane allotments, a tranquil retreat by the side of the river where local residents produce a large array of fruit, flowers and vegetables on their plots, and who will be on hand to give tips on how best to ‘grow your own’.

Admission to all gardens is £5 (accompanied children free).

Refreshments will be available at the Friends Meeting House, where there will also be plants for sale.

If you have cakes or plants you would like to donate please bring them along on the day or contact one of the organisers (details below) and they can collect.

Parking will be available at Blueberry Wave, 22 Thomas St GL7 2BD and at Powell’s School, Barton Lane and will be signposted.

Proceeds from the event will be shared between the Open Air Pool and Phoenix Gardeners, a voluntary group of enthusiastic gardeners who have come together to brighten up Cirencester by planting and maintaining flower containers at various locations across the town.

  •  Contact Meg Blumsom (01285 657696 or email megblumsom@googlemail.com), Alison Horrocks (01285 651765 or email horbox@hotmail.com) and Mary Turner (01285 652385 or email mary.turner.uk@gmail.com).
  • For details of Cirencester Open Air Swimming Pool visit cirenopenair.co.uk.