A riot of colour and character (From Bromsgrove Advertiser)

A riot of colour and character

12:50pm Wednesday 4th April 2007 in News By Sarah Mawhinney

GREEN fingered residents are invited to take a look around a host of Marlbrook gardens open for charity.

The National Gardens Scheme has a number of residences taking part in open days. Charities benefitting from entrance fees and sales of plants include Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie Cancer Care and Caring for Carers Four fantastic Marlbrook gardens will be throwing open their doors for a number of open days on Sunday, May 20, Sunday, July 8, and Sunday August 12, from 1.30pm-6pm and Saturday, September 8, from 6pm-9.30pm.

Admission to the combined gardens is £4.50 for adults and children are free. The cost for the September opening is £5. Home-made teas are also available as are private visits by appointment.

At 24 Braces Lane, Marlbrook, Lynn and Alan Nokes have a gentle sloping garden landscaped by owners since 1995.

Features include a Meditteranean patio, ponds and steam, raised bed vegetable garden and lawned area surrounded by borders stocked with herbaceous plants and shrubs.

Nearby at Saranacris, 28A Braces Lane, Janet and John Morgan have a challenging terraced garden in an old sand quarry which has been landscaped by owners.

Features include a roof garden with conservatory accessed via a spiral staircase, three Koi ponds and stream and rare and unusual plants.

Di and Dave Morgan at Oak Tree House, 504 Birmingham Road, have a well stocked plantman's cottage garden on two levels.

It features mixed perennial borders, large secluded patio surrounded by mature plants and secret front garden.

At 185 Old Birmingham Road Bruce Heideman and Sue James are developing an organic garden with a mix of traditional and modern planting.

The features here include a large fruit and vegetable garden, greenhouse and polytunnel and examples of how to collect rainwater on a large scale.