Local charities raised more than £25,000 by hosting open afternoons in the Bishop of Norwich’s gardens this spring and summer.
The Bishop of Norwich, the Rt Revd Graham Usher, and his wife Rachel, invited 10 charities to hold fund-raising open afternoons in their gardens.
The charities – Norwich Samaritans, St Martins Housing Trust, CPRE Norfolk, Nelson’s Journey, St Barnabas Counselling Centre, Norwich Integration Partnership, the National Garden Scheme, Yare Valley Riding for the Disabled, Great Yarmouth and Gorleston RNLI, and EACH (East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices) – raised a total of £25,825 at the open garden events.
More than 3,000 people enjoyed discovering the delights of the gardens, plus refreshments, stalls and entertainment.
Bishop’s House Garden is the oldest private garden in Norwich. Cared for organically, it is a four-acre paradise of flower-filled borders, towering exotic plants, a thriving fruit and vegetable garden, a new herb garden, a wildlife woodland walk, and a wildflower labyrinth and orchard where the bishop’s bee forage.
There has been a garden here for more than nine centuries, growing food, offering hospitality, and highlighting the beauty of the natural world. Bishop Graham shares the garden as part of his ministry, for quiet days and retreats, as well as to support local charities.
The garden will be open for another 10 local good causes in 2025 – dates and charities to be announced.
Private garden tours for groups can be arranged by emailing the Bishop’s Finance and Facilities Assistant: louise.cumberland@dioceseofnorwich.org
Pictures: Diocese of Norwich/Luke Bryant/Tile Media
