Friday 17th April is RHS National Gardens Open Day and also the second opening for the Port Erin Group of gardens series of events to raise funds for IOM Anti-Cancer Association.

The Port Erin Group of gardens opened in March welcoming visitors to see the early shoots of life at the beginning of spring. Visitors enjoyed a nice hot cuppa and a piece of cake in the conservatory at Thie Shey on an overcast morning – taking in the early spring bulbs and polyanthus’. Many visitors braved the conditions to explore the gardens, chatting about the work undertaken over the winter period.

Now, a month further into the gardening calendar, the Port Erin Group of gardens are opening up again on Friday 17th April between 10am – 4pm. The date coincides with the Royal Horticultural Society’s National Gardens Open Day – and to celebrate this, there will be no entry charge to visit the gardens.

The RHS National Gardens Open Day aims to celebrate the garden and encourage members of the public to discover the array of beauty different gardens can present. The garden at ‘Thie Shey’ on Thornhill Close in Port Erin, is a lawn-free garden crammed full of a variety of plants; Moville’s garden uses every inch of space to maximise its flowering potential; and the garden at No.1 Thornhill Close balances flowers, vegetables, wildlife, and the odd chicken! Lots to see if you haven’t had chance to visit previously, and the opportunity to see how the gardens have developed for those who’ve been before.

IOM Anti-Cancer Association will be working with the Port Erin Group of gardens again to raise funds for their work against cancer. Tea, coffee and cake will be on sale again; along with a few gems to be purchased from the plant stall. Sylvia Constantine and her gardening friends will be on-hand to chat about the gardens, their development, and exchange tips and advice from their gardening experiences.

The garden opening is part of the National Garden Scheme, which aims to raise funds for charities through the opportunity to visit private gardens that would not normally be accessible to members of the public. You can find out more about the National Garden Scheme and also more information about the Port Erin Group of gardens by visiting www.ngs.org.uk.

Tickets (free) are available on the day from Thie Shey for entry into the three gardens available. The gardens will also be open again throughout the season on the following dates:

? 10am – 7pm Fri 15 May
? 10am – 7pm Fri 19 June
? 10am – 7pm Fri 17 July
? 10am – 4pm Fri 21 August

IOM Anti-Cancer Association are delighted to be involved in the Port Erin Group garden openings, and would like to thank Sylvia for supporting their work against cancer. The Association is involved in a variety of work on the Island including the Staywell Clinic (Cervical Screening), the funding of the Island’s Psycho-Oncology Service (psychology & counselling specifically for people affected by cancer), and a variety of cancer awareness projects including a monthly awareness broadcast on Manx Radio.

IOM Anti-Cancer Association also continues to provide funding to specialist hospitals who treat Manx patients affected by cancer, such as The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre and Alder Hey Children’s Hospital; and fund research with organisations such as the Institute of Cancer Research. You can find out more about the work of IOM Anti-Cancer Association, by contacting Theresa Grainger on 252725, email IOMAnticancer@gmail.com or visiting www.iomaca.org.im.

For more information about the National Garden Scheme Port Erin Group garden openings, please contact Sylvia on 830607 or by email thieshey@wm.im.