Gardeners’ quest time as experts open their gates

5:30pm Thursday 17th July 2008

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Open Gardens, Barnet and East Finchley, Sunday, various times

As well as working as a researcher at Cancer Research UK, Ron Raymond spends about six hours a day tending to his garden.

He says: “The police have called round a couple of times to see why someone is gardening at two or three in the morning. It does mean I miss out on sleep, but it’s the only way I can do it.”

He describes his front garden in Great North Road as “very much a country garden” and “a plant-aholic’s garden”, while the garden in Cherry Hill that will open at the same time is more formal, colourful and neat.

Paul Harrington and Patsy Joseph, who are opening their garden in East Finchley, are both birdkeepers by trade, and encourage birds and other wildlife in the garden.

They pride themselves on their unusual sub-tropical plants and won the Daily Mail Plantsman of the Year award in 2005 for their efforts.

Mr Harrington says: “We collect plants wherever we go and then have to find some way of fitting them in.”

The gardens at 45 Great North Road and 10 Cherry Hill will open from 1pm to 5.30pm, with competitions for children and adults, tea, cakes and a plant sale. Entry costs £3.50 for both (children free). For information, call 020 8449 4453.

The garden at The Bungalow, 15 Elm Gardens, East Finchley, will open from 2pm to 6pm, with teas and a plant sale. Entry costs £2.50 (children free). For information, call 020 8883 8540.