What an amazing day, and the perfect way to showcase our beautiful village to our many delighted visitors.

Everyone was having a great time, our Open Gardeners had worked their green fingered magic so the gardens were looking stunning and it was lovely that so many of our visitors wanted to chat about the gardens and share ideas.

We had a record 18 gardens open and such a fantastic array including, cultivated, wild flowers, secret hedge walk, orchards, 130 foot well, cottage gardens, arches and fairies.

The 19 sporting themed scarecrows added so much fun to the day and how inventive our scarecrow makers are.  Hanging around the village were footballers, cricketers, racing drivers, skiers, gymnasts, cyclists, and can you believe it, a real pony.  Special thanks to Anne for setting up the Scarecrow trail along Green Hill where the winner was located.

Coddenham put on a wonderful show and it felt like everyone played a part, there are so many “thank yous” to be made.  The stars of the day were our gardeners and scarecrow makers of course but also many others too. So much effort was put in from the catering teams, both Margaret’s in the Community Centre and Jane’s in the church – the flower displays were lovely, not forgetting how stunning the churchyard itself looked.  All the bakers of delicious cakes and the makers of sandwiches. It was lovely to be able to share the few bits left over with the Country Club for their patrons watching the England game.  A thank you to them for opening early and holding their Beer Festival at the same time.

Others were involved in advertising, putting up posters, e-advertising and sprucing up and installing our wonderful scarecrow boards. Volunteers put up signs to keep us safe on the roads and to sign the way to the car park.  The guys working there had a very busy day.

I noticed so many had tidied their front gardens and hedges and pulled up weeds along the paths and verges.  Thank you for that.  The village really did look wonderful.

A special thank you to Haysel House who opened all their beautiful grounds and some residents opened their gardens.  I heard so many comments about how lovely the grounds are.

It was very pleasing that the shop had its most successful day and we are grateful for their donation towards our good causes.

I must give a special personal thank you to my husband Tony and Sue and Roy Groom without who’s amazing support we would not be able to succeed.

For me the best thing about the event is how vibrant and buzzing and happy everyone in the village was before, during and after the event, and how it is such an enjoyable way to meet and make new friends in the village.

The profits are at least £2,500 a wonderful amount, but all the figures are not in yet.  I will update as soon as possible.

Please look at the Facebook page “Coddenham Open Gardens” to see the photos and if you have any please email them to me at eleanor.margaritelli@hotmail.com

Thank you one and all for making Coddenham Open Gardens and Scarecrows 2024 such a special day.

The next one will be in 2026, watch this space.

Eleanor Margaritelli – Chair COGS