Plant

Fifteen Topsham gardens will be opened this weekend to raise money for Topsham Museum.

They are opening as part of the museum’s Secret Gardens event, which has been held every two years since 2006.

This year’s event takes place tomorrow (Sunday), with more gardens opening than ever before - seven of which are new to the event.

Organisers are hoping to beat their record from 2010, when more than £6,000 was raised.

Organiser Jennifer Bliss said: “This is our big fundraiser. The museum is run by about 180 volunteers, and we don’t charge an entrance fee, so we need events like this to keep it going.

“Every time we have done it, we have had about 25 per cent more people than before, and we’re hoping the weather will be good – we’ve always had wonderful weather in the past and such a wonderful atmosphere.”

Admission to the gardens comes with purchase of a programme, which is available in advance for £4 from the museum, Topsham News, Mortimore’s, Auntie Julie’s Sweetshop and Route 2, and on the day for £5 from The Quay or at any of the open gardens.

Admission for under-12s is free, when accompanied by an adult, but no dogs are allowed.

The programme also contains details of which gardens will be opening, and information about them.

The gardens will be open between noon and 6pm, and cream teas will be served between 1pm and 5pm at the museum and 21 Victoria Road. Some plants will also be on sale.