Visitors inspired by beautiful Ringstead gardens

Hundreds of people visited the village's picturesque gardens on Sunday 8th June.

Wow. Is what I overhear visitors say on seeing Ben Stocks’ garden for the first time. His deep herbaceous borders in full bloom, lawns mowed to perfection, lavender and rosemary in abundance and all smelling incredible. It is a space to envy. But he’s not showing it off for the compliments, it’s part of Ringstead Open Gardens to raise money for the local St Andrew’s Church.

Ben Stocks’ garden

Ben says it’s the creation he loves about gardening,“The fact that from nothing you can build something that can be really beautiful”. And walking around enjoying his hard work are Karen and Andrew Smith from Old Hunstanton, who’re taking photos they hope will inspire them. “Karen’s been looking forward to this all year” comments Andrew. At the other end of the village is Bridget Crowfoot, who Ben describes as the inspiration behind many of the gardens. “The good stuff, the unusual stuff comes from her”.

So off we go to meet the almost 90 year old, on the walk the village is bustling - people holding their guides eager to see what others have achieved in their gardens, perhaps have a nosey (could just be me) and get ideas. We pass a young couple in their 20’s from Lincolnshire, Nathaniel and Katrina, who say it’s nice to see village spirit here going strong. Then Fiona Haddon from Cumbria, who’s visiting Norfolk for the week, and says it’s brilliant that she’d come again.

A pit stop to meet villager Melanie Hutchinson, who says initially it was nerve wracking opening to the public, but now “It’s lovely to share your garden with people who love gardening too and give you so much positive feedback”. Melanie also has beautiful views of the fields beyond, right now a striking red full of poppies.

Melanie Hutchinson's garden

Then we pass the village hall, where we bump into Ben’s wife Sara who's in charge of organising the lunches - a fabulous array of homemade food. It is she says as popular as ever, over a hundred pre bookings and dozens of volunteers needed to help, one of whom says the event brings the whole village to life. Sadly we didn’t book for lunch, so I console myself with a tea and brownie, enjoying the live music. There’s also a tombola and raffle.

A few more gardens on the way to Bridget’s are also getting envious looks. The sun shines, the bees buzz and the butterflies flutter. Idyllic. When we arrive the 89 year old is, quite unsurprisingly, surrounded by people eager to get advice. When I get my turn she is as charming as I had hoped. She laughs as I tell her Ben says she’s inspired many of the village gardens. “It’s very good for my ego” she jokes. “I think that’s the great thing about gardening you can share, I love it. I get very cross when theirs are doing better than mine actually!” Laughing again.

Bridget Crowfoot's garden

She has been part of the event for more than 30 years - so Bridget has most likely inspired many gardens beyond Ringstead. The advice she wants to pass on is “Keep it simple and keep at it, absolutely keep at it - much better than housework”. I can’t argue with that. Oh and talk to people she says. “One way of learning is chatting and I’ve always been a little chatterbox”.

Thank you Ringstead for a lovely afternoon. Another successful open gardens, which is approaching almost 50 years. When we get home my mum comments she wants to extend one of her borders and my one year old has a new word - flowers.

All images: Credit Dani Crawshaw