Historic gardens make £10,000 for charity

The historic gardens at Goldsborough Hall in Yorkshire were recently opened for the afternoon for the first time in 80 years.

According to the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), its Garden Harlow Carr curator Elizabeth Balmforth had the honour of declaring the attraction open for business on July 25th.

The move was part of the National Gardens Schemes attempts to raise cash for Macmillan Nurses and Marie Curie Cancer.

More than 2,700 people visited the site in just five hours, raising more than £10,000 for the charities.

Ms Balmforth told the RHS that she was delighted when owners Mark and Clare Oglesby approached her about opening the site for the day.

"Clare has a real passion for gardening and has embraced the challenge of breathing new life into the grounds, which have seen so many changes since Princess Mary lived at the hall," she said.

The expert noted that the current owners have created a legacy that can be left for future generations of garden and greenhouse lovers.

Meanwhile, the RHS has revealed that the first trainee to be taught at Great Dixter under the Christopher Lloyd Scholarship has been named.