This year thousands of visitors flocked to a sun-drenched Holker for the annual gardening festival, which took place between the 4th-6th June.
The three-day event, hosted by the Cavendish family and sponsored by the North-West Evening Mail, is a celebration of stunning show gardens, local food and produce, and traditional skills.
This year BBC Gardeners' World presenter Carol Klein made her first trip to Holker on Saturday. The celebrity guest said: “I’m totally delighted to be here, it’s wonderful. I’d heard it was good but I did not realise it was this good. I have always wanted to come here and I tell you what, I’m going to come again, that’s for sure. Everyone should come.”
Carol, who is filming for a new cottage garden TV show to be screened next year, judged the Den Building competition in the Forest School area, a new addition to this year’s festival. Pennington CE, Lindal and Marton, Thwaites, and Sir John Barrow schools were the four finalists in the contest hosted by forest school company, Wild At Heart, Holker Hall and the North-West Evening Mail. Carol said: “I think it is such an excellent idea; involving kids with the countryside, getting them to think for themselves. Building dens is something I used to do a long, long time ago and loved." She decided that the four schools should be joint winners.
Carol also attended an auction to raise funds for St Mary’s. Once again very kindly hosted by Lord & Lady Cavendish and this year led by experienced auctioneer Mr Henry Bowring. The auction was a great success and raised £3790 for the Hospice.
Over the weekend St Mary’s was delighted to raise an amazing £8372.60 in total, which is the most we have ever made at the Festival and a big thank you goes out to everybody who helped at the festival over the weekend. The volunteer time provided to support this event was greatly appreciated.
The auction on the Saturday also provided the opportunity for St Mary’s staff to say thank you to Lord Cavendish and present him with a small gift of appreciation from all involved with St Mary’s. Lord Cavendish has been involved with St Mary’s either as Chairman or in other roles on the Trustee board throughout its 20 year existence. In June 2009 he decided to step down from direct involvement with the charity and kindly take up the role of patron.
Alan Lodge, Director said “we miss his direct involvement and constant generous support, and really appreciate all the help that he has given to St Mary’s over the years. We look forward, however, to working with him in his new role as patron, a role previously held by his late mother.”
Pictured:
Lord Cavendish receives his parting gift from St Mary's Hospice, presented by Director Alan Lodge
The Auctioneer gets people bidding
Carol Klein speaks fondly of the Garden Festival
Crowds of hospice sunflower wearers show their support for St Mary's
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