VIDEO: Horsham couple’s open garden raises £1,100

Roy and Doreen Stirling, of Greenway, have been holding an open garden since 2005 and have raised thousands of pounds for various charities.

However, this year is likely to be the final time people had the chance to view the colourful garden and enjoy a ploughman’s lunch or cream tea.

They went out on a high, though, with a record total and glorious sunshine encouraging dozens of visitors.

The idea to invite the public to see their garden started in 2005 and they made £230 for the Horsham Y-Centre.

Since then the total has increased each year with charities benefitting such as CHASE hospice and the Bluebell Railway (where Mr Stirling has been a volunteer for several years).

On Saturday the final total was £1,111.41.

The chosen charities this year are the Bluebell Railway and the Methodist Relief Development Fund which supports the poorest of the poor in three ways: long term development, humanitarian aid and development education.

Family, friends and neighbours all helped on the day as they have in previous years.

All the money raised goes to the charities as plants, prizes and the food were donated or provided by the Stirlings themselves.