BRIDGERULE Open Gardens recently celebrated ten years of fundraising for the Devon and Cornwall Air Ambulance Trusts, raising an outstanding amount of £2,709.

However, following the event on June 19, a further £1,000 has been donated to the cause by Barclays Bank in match funding, totalling to £3,709.

There were ten colourful and very interesting gardens in this year’s Open Gardens event, which was opened by Anne Swithinbank and her husband John, from BBC Gardener’s World and Gardener’s Question Time.

The group of gardeners were most grateful to receive a further £1,000 from Barclays Bank recently, with Gemma Rix represented the bank on the day. The £1,000 was split between Devon and Cornwall Air Ambulance Trusts, making this year’s total amount £3,709.85.

Chris Hitchings, one of the gardeners, said: “This is the most amount of money that we have ever made in one year, and I would like to thank Barclays Bank PLC for being so generous in supporting such a worthwhile cause. The air ambulance is one of those charities that we all hope we will never need, but it is nice to know that it is there when necessary.”

In the ten years since Rosie Beat of the Mill started up Open Gardens, the total made is a pleasing £22,659, which, for the small village of Bridgerule, is an amazing amount. Thanks have been expressed to all the gardeners over the years, and to everyone who has supported the event.

Ladies from both the church and chapel get involved with cake stalls and cream teas and this year the local primary school joined in by displaying their garden paintings in the village hall. Framed embroideries were sold, as were plants and produce, all helping with the grand total that is divided equally between Cornwall and Devon Air Ambulance.