FRIENDS OF ST JOHN’S CHURCH

OPEN GARDENS 2024

Over the weekend of the 29th and 30th June, the Friends of St John’s Church Moggerhanger held their Open Garden Event. Visitors were able to browse ten vastly different gardens at their leisure on each of the days available. On both days, the number of visitors exceeded expectations, with queues forming to get tickets at the Church, followed by scores of small groups strolling around the village from one garden to the next.
Starting their journey at the Church in Blunham Road – which was decorated with an array of amazing flower arrangements, and imaginatively coloured pictures of snails provided by the local primary school – each visitor would pick up their green wristband, and maybe stop for refreshments before setting off around the village on their garden journey. Whilst any children taking
part were given the Snail Trail questionnaire to assess their powers of observation at each of the locations.
Anybody going round the garden trail could not fail to be fascinated by the differences from one garden to the next, with no two gardens remotely alike.
There were small, enclosed gardens right through to large, expansive ones. Deceptive gardens filled to the brim with different areas, making it feel as if you were moving from room to room. A lengthy, narrow garden going on and on beyond the fence, enclosed by the tree canopy above in contrast with one with a wide panoramic vista, with borrowed view from the fields beyond, enclosed by the sky itself. Some were a simple organised landscaped area, whilst others opted for a messier style but thought out just the same – all looked beautiful.
Some new gardens, restricted in size by recent developments, suited the Mediterranean influence while others were abundant, almost overgrown, where nature is just allowed to be. There were all types of lawn, from small circular lawns with brick edging surrounded by vegetation, to all embracing lawns linking otherwise isolated beds of flower assortments and vegetable patches.
There were those guided by paths or low hedges criss-crossing their way through shrub and vegetable patches or those with specific paved areas where the paths of solitude and reflection gave way to areas of sharing and recreation.
In one garden, individual trees – taller than the house itself – reached for the sky, creating changing areas of light and shade on the ground below, compared to another where they framed the garden and provided shelter to just sit and be. In another a wisteria covered pergola cutting its course across a potted forest of bonsai oak, horse chestnut, cherry and other trees, all lovingly hand reared from seed, nut or pip. Who knew that Bonsai trees had a front and a back?
Each garden was an assault on the senses. Especially the sense of smell. Whether it was just entering a garden or moving around from bed to bed – the roses, the lavender, the amazing citrusy smell of the magnolia and the almost gentle appearance of the fragrance of mint.
Then there were the host of unique areas to each garden filled with rockeries and fairies, private places and open ones, chickens and dinosaurs, water features and fish tanks, walled gardens, green houses, summer houses, tree houses and humorous signs which tell us that “Gardeners learn by trowel and error.”
Once they had seen all they wished, it was back to the church for another cup of tea or coffee and maybe, a piece of rustic Bakewell Tart.
The event was a great success and raised more than £2,500 to go towards the upkeep of St John’s Church building. A big thanks to all who visited and to the whole team that made it possible. After the positive comments received from some of the 340 visitors, it looks like the challenge has been set to hold the event again next year.

Some of the Gardens

Flower arrangements in the church

We will be holding another Open Gardens in 2025 over the weekend of 28th & 29th June Please contact us if you would like to open your garden, or help with the event.

SAFARI SUPPER 2018

A perfect summer evening on Saturday 23 June saw fifty-one people walking around in Moggerhanger searching for their supper.

After a welcome drink in Tim and Carolyn’s garden, everyone set off to houses around the village where the hosts had prepared starters. An hour later, again people were traveling from one end of the village to the other to their main courses. A different host and a different group of people for all so it was a chance to catch up with old friends and maybe make some new ones.

Then it was back to St John’s Church for dessert and coffee. Finally, there were home-made liqueurs, courtesy of Tim & Carolyn, followed by a raffle and the Village Hall Summer 100+ Club Draw.

Ken Ebbage, Treasurer of the Friends, thanked everyone who had contributed in any way to the evening, including the hosts and cooks and everyone who bought a ticket to come. Elizabeth and Karen were each presented with a basket of flowers for helping with the desserts and washing up.

The evening raised a magnificent £809 for the Friends of St John’s Church a registered charity which raises funds for the maintenance of the church building and churchyard. Anyone who would like to contribute regularly to the work of the Friends (it can be for as little as £1 a month) is invited to contact Ken.

There is a big project on the horizon – to provide a toilet for the church – so much fund-raising to be done.

Safari Supper 2018