Broad Chalke opens up its gardens to support refugees
It's in aid of the Wiltshire Community Foundation
One of South Wiltshire's most picturesque areas is inviting visitors in for a look around this afternoon (Sunday 12th June), in support of refugees.
We're promised an 'English countryside experience' as six homes in Broad Chalke open up their gardens, along with a Jubilee exhibition, flower displays, an organ recital and tea and cake.
Among those opening up their private gardens is former High Sheriff of Wiltshire and Chair of the Wiltshire Community Foundation, Ashley Truluck.
He explains where the money raised today will go:
"It's for what we call the Welcome Fund, which is for all refugees. We mustn't forget that before the Ukraine crisis, there were Afghan refugees and many others before that, so it's for all refugees. The other half of the funding will go to our wonderful church here, All Saints Church, which like a lot of old churches needs some restoration work."
Broad Chalke currently has around a dozen Ukrainian refugees staying with households at the moment.
The village has proved it's been very welcoming, as resident Ashley Truluck tells us:
"We have about a dozen Ukrainian refugees in the village. I spoke to one of them the other day and asked what she thought of the Chalke Valley and she said she thought she'd come to heaven, which is very nice! She's had such a lovely welcome and it's such a beautiful village."
The gardens will all be open from 1.00pm until 5.00pm today, with entries to the gardens available from the Village Hall for ÂŁ5.
That'll include a map and descriptions of the gardens involved.
Ashley Truluck says the gardens offer something for everyone:
"The star garden is Reddish House, which those of a certain age will remember was Cecil Beaton's home. There's also a lovely medieval house opposite it, King's Old Rectory, with water gardens. Of the six gardens open, there's a little bit of everything."