Gardens don’t have to be big to be beautiful – but they do need lots of attention!

See for yourself by visiting Barry & Melanie Davy’s garden at Brooke Cottage in the heart of Handforth from 12 noon - 5pm on Saturday and Sunday, 10th &11th July. You’ll see what can be achieved with even the smallest of plots, so long as you’ve got the time and imagination – and get some hot tips from the experts for you own garden!

A lack of time was the problem for Barry Davy. He had a top-level teaching job that left him with little spare time so, four years ago, he gave it all up to take up gardening and began by redesigning their own garden. Melanie loves the end result but is more of a part-timer: “I quite enjoy gardening sometimes, and not just doing as Barry tells me to!” She is also an enthusiastic actress with The Northenden Players, www.northendenplayers.co.uk, of which she has been a member for over 20 years.  Her next performance will be 5-11 September in “The Graduate”, in the starring role as Mrs Robinson, the seductress made famous by Anne Bancroft.

The garden has an emphasis on tree ferns, hellebores, hydrangeas, foxgloves and other shade-loving plants. More exotic plants include bananas, cannas, ligularias and bamboo. Another area of the garden features herbaceous borders and circular beds with a naturalistic feel. Admission is £3, children free and you can also enjoy delicious home-made teas. And if you can’t make it on the scheduled dates, visitors are welcome by appointment