Every 2 years there is a Crondall Open Gardens (COG) event where a number of the residents who have interesting and unusual gardens open them up to the public.
All of us will remember that in 2020 we were in the grip of a pandemic when almost all of us were in lockdown. That meant that COG in 2020 had to re-invent itself and became a virtual event. Gardens were videoed by their owners and shown on line.
The following year 2021 as restrictions eased a full open event was held.
So 2023 was the second time after the pandemic that the show could be held for real and it turned out to be a record year.
There were 12 gardens open and well over 800 people turned up in Crondall to walk the route from one end of the Village to the other. There were a couple of watering holes open for the garden fans to refresh themselves. Itasca wines did a great job as the furthest outpost and watering hole. Whilst at the Village Hall not only did the WI provide tea and cake but there was a Charity Plant stall which raised £2500
All in all it was the most successful COG to date and raised a whopping £7000 for the Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice and a further £600 for Andover Mind
The next COG will be in 2025 see you there.