Open Gardens has become one of the most popular events of the Saddleworth Festival in recent years.

Once more we have tried to mix familiar and new gardens, with the emphasis on those that visitors can relate to in terms of size, manageability and location.

Seven gardens are opening this year, so take your time, talk to the gardeners and enjoy the refreshments and plant sales available at some locations.

For the first time we also invite you to walk down Chancery Lane in Dobcross and enjoy the range of troughs, baskets and containers with which residents with little or no garden have created a space for us all to enjoy.

SCOUTHEAD
Jack and Josie Schofield
4 Lyndon Close AD, N

PARKING: Problematic in Lyndon Close, please park on the A62 on the same side as Scouthead Church.

A cottage garden rising behind a 1960's bungalow with terraces for heathers, herbaceous borders, mixed shrubberies and soft fruit.

Jack and Josie have succeeded in making a fine garden adapted to the altitude (960 feet), acidity,. poor drainage and a pylon!

DELPH
Freda and Norman Jolley
Upper Gatehead Farm, Gatehead Road ND, PAD, PS, N

PARKING: On the road only please, between the Bell Inn on the A62 and Dobcross Square.

A west facing hillside garden with substantial mixed borders, a greenhouse with grapevine and peaches, a vegetable plot and a small orchard.

DOBCROSS
Chancery Lane, Dobcross. No ticket required.

A charming lane running parallel to and behind Woods Lane (cul de sac)

PARKING: Please park carefully on-road in the village.

The residents here are displaying the potential of container gardening. The lane is steep so please take care.

DOBCROSS
Howard and Judy Humphreys
Hollygrove Cottage, Brownhill Lane ND, PAD, PS (limited)

PARKING: In field adjacent to the house. If the weather is very wet, alternative parking a short walk away will be signposted.

A south / southwest facing garden incorporating a 30 year collection of alpine and mountain plants from all continents..

Approximately 1500 varieties are featured including low growing and ground cover plants, rhododendrons, azaleas, species trees and shrubs.

DIGGLE
Colin and Jill Berry
Carr House, Standedge Road (A670), Diggle ND, PAD

PARKING: Plentiful parking available on the lay-by outside the house.

Another high hillside garden! Mixed borders, raised borders, ponds, herb border, an organic vegetable garden, new wildflower meadow and many native and species trees.

A garden designed for all year interest.....

UPPERMILL
David and Eileen Boler
Clough Bottom House, Church Lane

Dogs on lead only. PS, N

PARKING: None at house. Please park by Saddleworth Church and walk a short distance down Church Lane.

The house and gardens face southwest in a sheltered wooded valley at the junction of Wicken and Royle Cloughs.

The main garden includes large lawned areas, trees, shrubs, an ericaceous rockery and formal beds for annuals.

Across the stream is a large propagating house, a wooded area and a vegetable garden.

GREENFIELD
Myra Shiel
Bridge Cottage, Manchester Road PAD, R, ND

PARKING: On Manchester Road

A garden frequently flooded from Dovestones Reservoir but still presenting attractive seasonal colour and making full and imaginative use of its waterside location.

Recently featured in two national womens' magazines.

GRASSCROFT
Beryl and Adrian Lord
16 Burnedge Fold Road PAD

An attractively planted garden, which exploits the south facing, slope by use of railway sleeper boxes and palisades.

The garden has recently enjoyed increased afternoon sunshine following the felling of nearby sycamores. A small water feature may be seen from the newly constructed timber deck.