Open Gardens 2026 took place earlier this month with 16 gardens across Histon and Impington opening their gates to visitors.
Gardens on show ranged from family gardens to community spaces at Villa Road and St Andrew’s Church, Histon; to communal and residents’ gardens at Bramley Court; and the Acorn Project garden for children at the old Infant’s School.
Gardening by numbers
- 16 gardens opened
- 1,090 programmes sold
- £814 worth of plants sold
- £1,845 worth of tea, cakes and soup consumed
- An average of 486 visitors per garden
- 3 gardens welcomed over 800 guests
- The event made a profit of £8,000 – shared equally by four charities, Histon and Impington Feast, Cambridge Acorn Project (who support children who have experienced trauma), Breast Friends (a local breast cancer peer support charity) and a Deaf Reach project (supporting a Rwandan audiologist to supply children with conductive hearing aids).
While many visitors toured just a handful of gardens or lingered to listen to live music and refreshments, a small number of visitors attempted to visit all 16 gardens.
“Taking it all in”
Residents Kate and Scott, who opened their garden commented: “We loved doing it. It was a pleasure to see so many people of all ages enjoying our garden. The music was wonderful, we had people dancing and others just relaxing and taking it all in”.
A visitor said: “Nothing beats it for reminding village people what a fantastic community Histon and Impington is, and how lucky we are to live in it”.
A team effort
Denise Walker from the Open Gardens organising committee said: “We would like to thank the many people who made this possible. The gardeners who so generously shared their gardens, the many volunteers on the day (including members of St Andrew’s congregation, the Guides, family and friends and charity volunteers) and the villagers who help year after year.
“Plus, the cake bakers, soup makers, plant growers, musicians, photographers and organisers, and the local businesses who sponsored the event or sold programmes”.
If you would like to open your own garden in 2028, or would like to join the organising committee, email info@opengardens.org
READ ALSO: UK artists flock to celebration of colour and community at Histon Manor | HI HUB; Everything’s coming up roses as Bramley Court scoops top award and opens garden to visitors… | HI HUB
