Glorious gardens

Photo: Pictures: ANTHONY MILLER

A raised deck area blends into the rockery at the rear of the Old Vicarage

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THESE three stunning gardens are normally hidden from view, but will be open to the public to raise money for Holy Trinity Church, Dobcross, this weekend.

They are among nine private gardens which will go on show as part of the church’s annual arts festival, ranging from large established ones to recently renovated sites, small container gardens and informal hill tops.

The newly renovated garden at The Old Vicarage in Dobcross was created when a banking was dug out for an extension to the house.

It consists of a rockery, decking and different levels of lawn.

Hidden behind a red brick semi-detached house in Wall Hill Road, Dobcross, is a surprisingly large garden with a water feature, Alpine rockery, herbaceous border, trees and shrubs, plus a fruit garden and lawns.

And a double garden which is part of the original grounds of Briarfield House in Sugar Lane, Dobcross, has mature trees, herbaceous planting, shrubs and container planting on stone.

All nine gardens will help to raise funds for the church, which has undergone a major restoration since 2003. Costing over £600,000, the work will ensure the listed Georgian building, which is more than 220 years old, stands proud for generations to come.

Entrance to all nine costs £5 and tickets can be bought in advance from Saddleworth Museum, the Brownhill Countryside Centre and at the Holy Trinity Arts Festival.

Eight open gardens are in Dobcross: The Old Vicarage, Street House Lane; 12 Mount Lane; 80 Wall Hill Road; 5 Crib Lane; 9 Woods Lane; 2 and 4 Sugar Lane; and 1 Edge End, Long Lane.

The ninth is at Yew Tree Cottage, Huddersfield Road, Diggle.

Two weeks later the garden at the home of Mr and Mrs Norman Jolly at Gatehead Road, Delph, will also be open in aid of Holy Trinity and Cancer Research, from 10am to 4.30 pm on June 27.