Report on the Great Garden Trail with Art in the Garden on Sunday 8^th June 2008  

This year’s South Petherwin garden trail attracted a record number of visitors on one of the rare sunny days of recent weeks. There were 3 buses this year – each sponsored by a local business – the Post Office, Jaspers and Stenlake’s. They drove visitors around the parish throughout the afternoon and at times were so full they were forced to leave passengers to wait for the next bus. Owners of 19 gardens on show enjoyed the opportunity sit in the sunshine and view the fruits of their labours, and to welcome others to join them for a while. Kerris, Saul Cathcart, Vivienne Page and Derek Parsons were artists in residence at Manderley, Gardener’s Cottage, 1A Tiny Meadows and Wheelhouse Cottage respectively. They also enjoyed their afternoon in the sun and each provided the beginnings of a picture to be offered to the owner later. Some also gained more commissions for the future. The Chapel Hall proved to be a most suitable space for an art exhibition; and  I thank the trustees of the chapel for their hospitality. Exhibitors were Roger Pyke, Norman Preston, Nina Carter, Anne Thomas, and Polyphant Art and Craft Group.  The opportunity to view the work of local artists was a welcome addition to the trail and appreciated by artists and viewers alike. Next year, perhaps some of our ‘home grown’ groups will agree to take part, too. A sumptuous farmhouse tea was served at Penfoot by Joan Whale and her band of family and friends, while tea & biscuits (including  sugar wheat and dairy free) were on offer at Wheelhouse cottage, courtesy of Wendy Smith assisted by Muriel Parsons. I understand drinks were made at other gardens too – for which many thanks. Plants from the gardens were sold in the car park, supplemented by Shady Oaks Nursery, traditional walking sticks were being made during the afternoon by Rusticks of South Petherwin , jute bags, and asparagus were supplied by the village shop, and strawberries from Mike Whitford of Lifton  also attracted much attention, and steady trade was done during the afternoon. There are still 2 prizes unclaimed from the draw, so if you have yellow tickets, have a look at them; the numbers are 76 and 105, both yellow. The flowers of May display was shown at Manderley and I’d like to thank Philip Parsons and Peter Vernon for masterminding that. This was both a parish event and a charity event and on both counts it was a success. 19 parishioners willingly offered their garden for the trail and it was lovely to see people walking around the village and people catching up with old friends not seen for a while. It was good to see young people, too While there is still money to be collected, the amount raised for the Precious Lives Appeal for Children’s Hospice South West is already above £1,000. well done everyone! If anyone from the village would like to help, in any way, next year please let me know via the village shop.  

Lavinia Archer

Parish councillor and Children’s Hospice South West.