Celebrate Summer and join The Sussex Beacon for this year’s Garden Gadabout, taking place across two weekends 23 – 24 June and 30 June – 1 July. Opening times 11am – 5pm

Almost 18 years ago the seed for the Garden Gadabout was first sown, with a small number of local gardens opening to raise funds for The Sussex Beacon. The event has since blossomed into one of the largest open gardens schemes in Sussex. This year an exciting variety of enchanting gardens and community spaces are opening for The Garden Gadabout 2012.

There are 65 open gardens, some new to the Gadabout, alongside some of the best from last year. A free colour brochure, available locally, shows all the open gardens, so you can plan to take in the trails and gardens that most interest you. Enjoy the opportunity to meet new people, gather inspiration and ideas for your garden and discover how others have met their own garden challenges. Many of the open gardens will be offering scrumptious lunches and teas for sale, so don’t forget to check the brochure for foodie as well as gardening delights. Look out for those gardens that will be offering something a little bit extra to make your visit even more special.

The Sussex Beacon‘s own beautiful hill top gardens will be opening on Sunday 24 June for the Gadabout. Come and see the new planting that has taken place since last year as well as stalls, children’s competition and sales of plants, teas and light lunches.

Entry to each garden is £2 or a Super Saver day ticket £7 gives one day entry to all gardens. Buy day tickets in advance from http://www.brightonticketshop.com, 01273 709 709 or from The Sussex Beacon charity shops, or on the day from open gardens. For more event information visit: www.gardengadabout.org.uk

The Whistler picks…

Children’s Garden, St Nicholas Church, Church Street, Brighton BN1 3LJ

The Children’s Garden is a community garden created for, and with the help of, local children. It is planted to imitate a typical British woodland environment, with herbs and fruit-bearing plants. There is a tool shed, water butts and compost bins. Children are welcome to come in with adult supervision.

6 Railway Street, Brighton BN1 3PF

This beautiful small and fragrant courtyard garden belongs to a cottage dating from 1850, near the railway station. Packed with a wealth of plants with scented foliage and flowers, Clematis covers one of the walls. A small pond and an arbour provide a perfect spot to sit and relax.

Punch Cottage, 7 Crown Gardens, Brighton BN1 3LD

Approached by a twitten running between Church Street and North Road, this is a sunny, friendly and inviting little garden. A leafy tranquil space in the centre of town. Follow the garden path past bamboo, cordylines and trickling fountain to a sunny deck area festooned with roses, flowering shrubs and annuals.

93 Montpelier Road, Brighton, BN1 3BE

A delightful sun-trap courtyard garden, designed with a central garden pool (unfenced) fed by tumbling water. Planting is in modern raised beds and there is a sunny sitting area.
Enter through the house and down some steps at the rear.

The Sussex Beacon is a dedicated HIV centre, which has been at the forefront of specialist HIV services and care since 1992, providing care and support for people affected by HIV in Sussex and working closely with local NHS service providers. It offers a range of Inpatient and Outpatient services, which have been developed in response to the changing needs of people affected by HIV, including a ten-bed Inpatient Unit, Day Service, Cognitive Behavioural Therapies, Treatment Support, Women and Families Service, Mindful Living Services, Complementary Therapies.

It costs £1.9 million per year to maintain current service levels, over 50% of which is raised via fundraising, Beacon shops, and the goodwill and support of the local community. The two main fundraising events are the Brighton Half Marathon in February which is the primary fundraiser http://www.brightonhalfmarathon.com and the Garden Gadabout in June/July http://www.gardengadabout.org.uk. This year

The Sussex Beacon launched The Beacon Appeal to raise the funds needed to save the Inpatient Unit. www.sussexbeacon.org.uk