Half a century ago, Netherbury resident Mary Poole was the driving force behind a new scheme to help raise funds for the village church of St Mary.

This month, 50 years later, 17 gardens will be open in the picturesque village, still raising money to support the local community.

Unfortunately, Mary Poole died in April aged 89, so she will not see the golden anniversary of the open garden scheme she initiated, but other villagers are keeping her memory and work alive.

Anne Peck, who is opening her hilltop garden for the event on June 8 and 9, said: “We have an amazing variety of gardens to view including five that open for the National Garden Scheme – and this is the only opportunity to see them all on the same day.”

The NGS gardens are The Old Rectory and The Mill House, which were recently featured in Country Life magazine, Hatchlands, Slape Manor and 2, Pye’s Plot which appeared in Good Housekeeping.

Anne added: “Besides these national stars there are a dozen other fascinating gardens scattered through the village and on the surrounding hills, providing a wealth of different styles and sizes.

“One has an amazing collection of roses with well over seventy varieties and another has wonderful panoramic views over the surrounding country. Some are small but brimming with content and others have an enormous amount of space with large lawns, magnificent trees and lakeside walks. “There really is a garden for everyone.”

Last year, Netherbury Open Gardens raised £6,000 for the church and more than 600 people came to wander through its gardens.

This year organisers are hoping more than 1,000 people will visit the village, not just to explore the gardens but also to enjoy fabulous homemade buffet lunches in the village hall from 12.30pm to 2pm on both days plus teas, home-baked cakes and cream teas and award-winning local wine and cider.

Visitors can purchase a memento of the day from two plant stalls and there is a bottle tombola. St Mary’s Church will also be hosting two choral ensembles as well as a Diamond Jubilee crown competition.

Anne explained: “We are celebrating our open gardens’ Golden Jubilee the same weekend that the Queen celebrates the Diamond Jubilee of her coronation so it seemed fitting to hold a crown competition in the church.”

With Netherbury poised to host its fiftieth Open Gardens, all the gardeners need now is good weather.

“Because it has been so cold and wet everything is about a month behind,” said Anne. “I should have irises and white foxgloves out in my garden, but they are taking their time because we are on a hill and it has been so cold.

“Everyone is keeping their fingers crossed that the weather stays good. People have worked so hard on their gardens and we want things to be perfect for our visitors.”

  • Netherbury is a mile south of Beaminster between the A3066 and B3162 and signed from both. The gardens are open between 1pm and 5pm on June 8 and 9 and admission costs £5 per person which is valid for both days with no charge for accompanied children under 13. Tickets are for sale in the car park, village hall and from any open garden