Open Squares Weekend

---

Two new local gardens open their gates on June 12 and 13

Two new local gardens, Hammersmith Estate's sunken garden and the private garden at John Betts House, will welcome visitors during Open Garden Squares Weekend, on June 12 and 13.

Private gardens and square across the city will be opening their gates during this popular annual event which is run by London Parks and Gardens Trust.

The sunken garden at Hammersmith Estate on the west side of Fulham Palace Road suffered extensive bomb damage in WW2, but has recently been restored to its former glory by Peabody, working closely with residents.

John Betts House, part of the Hammersmith United Charities' Almshouses, has a private garden for older people which has been a gold medal-winner in the London Gardens Society and Hammersmith & Fulham in Bloom competitions. The garden is a beautiful safe haven featuring many interesting plants, hanging baskets, a greenhouse, raised vegetable beds, a water feature and balconies with residents' container gardens.

These two new additions join several other well known local gardens including Fulham Palace and Fulham Palace Meadows Allotments, the William Morris Society and Emergy Walker's House.

The most unusual opening meanwhile is the garden within Wormwood Scrubs Prison, though visitors must book in advance to join escorted tours.

For the third year, this popular event will be sponsored by Transport for London (TfL). Visitors from all over London and far beyond will have the rare chance to enter a vast array of inspirational gardens which are not usually open to the public - ranging from the historically memorable to the small and quirky; from the contemporary and eco-friendly to renowned roof gardens, cemeteries and working allotments.

Over 200 gardens are participating in the weekend with 31 taking part for the first time.

Local g ardens open over the weekend of June 12th and 13th include:

• Chiswick House Walled Gardens
• Chiswick Park
• Sutton Court
• Emery Walker's House
• Fulham Palace
• Fulham Palace Meadows Allotments
• Hammersmith Sunken Garden
• HM Prison Wormwood Scrubs (special conditions apply)
• John Betts House (for the first time)
• William Morris Society
  

June 3, 2010