Leading developers Barratt and David Wilson Homes supported Fradley Open Gardens with a donation of £1,000 towards the event’s charity and community pot.

The Open Gardens event was first held in June 2019 after it had become a regular occasion in surrounding towns and villages. It was held at approximately 12 venues, but was forced to be postponed for the following two years due to the pandemic.

After its resumption last year, the event has grown to approximately 16 gardens and welcomes as many as 500 people per event.

A study by Mind has found that over seven million people around the UK have taken up gardening since the pandemic. The research also found that gardening has also led to improved mental health, whilst over three million are also said to have benefited from moving to more rural areas and gaining access to outdoor spaces.

Barratt and David Wilson Homes’ donation has gone towards its fundraising. All money raised over the weekend of Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th June 2023 will be distributed among local village charities, groups and events. Last year, some of the groups to benefit were St Stephen’s School, Rainbows, Youth and Community services and St Stephen’s Church.

Sandy Carruthers, Team Member at Fradley Open Gardens, said: “We feel that this event, which covers both North and South Fradley, has helped to bring the community together and enabled residents to meet others whom they wouldn’t normally come in contact with.

“Our aim is also to help bring together the children of the village by donating funds to their community groups. All profits are distributed to the village organisations that are doing a sterling job in promoting gardening to the school children.”

As well as the gardens, scheduled entertainment and refreshments were on offer for all visitors to enjoy and the committee is run entirely by volunteers.

Dominic Harman, Managing Director at David Wilson Homes Mercia, said: “As leading developers, it is important we support and enhance the surrounding communities in which we build, through collaborations with organisations and charities in the area.”

Adrian Evans, Managing Director at Barratt Homes West Midlands, said: “With our developments in such close proximity, we were delighted to offer our support to Fradley Open Gardens with this donation and ultimately, aid the projects and organisations in the local area.”

For more information about the event, visit the Facebook page at Fradley Open Gardens.

Fradley Open Gardens is located close to Barratt Homes’ development Fradley Manor and David Wilson Homes’ development Anson Gardens.

To find out more about the developments, call the Barratt Homes sales team on 033 3355 8475 or the David Wilson Homes sales team on 033 3355 8479.