The village of Bures has been holding an Open Gardens event for a number of years. One of the organisers and Committee Members, Mary Turner, explains more:
“The gardens can vary in size, and it is a lovely way to explore how the owners make use of their space and sometimes use their creativity by also displaying art objects in their gardens. We like to encourage local artists to display their work in the church and this year we had a good variety. Refreshments are also served in the church and this year there was a large selection of cakes and cream teas and people were also entertained by a performance on both days of the May bank holiday weekend from a group of mandolin players. Several gardens also provided refreshments too. There was also a large display of second-hand books for sale. This year on the common, people could buy healthy lunches prepared by Sophie Gurton of Collett’s Farm Wormingford, and there were also two stalls selling handmade wooden furniture and metal artwork.
“Our committee decided this year to support Suffolk Wildlife Trust by making a donation from our proceeds which are being shared with the church, and altogether totalled £5,295. As a committee, we are very mindful of the important work carried out by the Trust to look after our wildlife and countryside and creating wildlife corridors, encouraging and offering sound advice to our local communities and landowners. It is also very encouraging that attention is being focussed on helping threatened species such as dormice, hedgehogs, swifts, water vole and skylarks. With the help and support from the Trust, Bures recently set up a Swift Project and we now have several houses in the village fitted with swift boxes.”
