Reflections

This isn’t quite the view that visitors to our garden on Sunday afternoon were met with, as an overcast day meant the single common snowdrops were still mostly not fully out, unlike today. However, from comments made to the Golfer, myself and our helpers it would appear they still enjoyed themselves, as the number of visitors exceeded not only any previous openings but also any expectations we might have had. And it was DRY!

We opened from 12.00 until 4.00, and within ten minutes the ‘car park’ (the  ‘playground’ of a neighbour’s converted school house) was full and other vehicles parked on-street down the lane; this continued throughout the afternoon, triggering traffic issues once visitors began leaving as well as arriving. As the day went on, we watched ticket sales creep up in a state of complete amazement, giving us a total of 145 visitors – more than twice as many as we have ever had on a single day!

Normally, I try to speak to all visitors, but on Sunday this just wasn’t possible, even if I could remember who I had already spoken to! Our friend on the gate makes a note of where people have come from, which is always interesting, and when I do speak to people I like to know if they have been before and, if not, where they heard about the opening. This time, although there were repeat visitors, it was the first visit for the majority, seemingly because we were listed under snowdrop openings on the NGS (National Garden Scheme) website, a list which probably gets picked up by other media sources too.

I have written several times about our experiences of opening the garden and don’t want to repeat myself, so will focus on what was different about this one. Visitor numbers meant that a total of £1076 was raised, most going to the NGS with a proportion of refreshment and plant sales going to a local charity and a similar proportion taken in expenses to cover the cake baking. And talking of cake baking, for the first time ever we very nearly ran out of cake! Normally overcatering to reduce the risk of running out and giving us a welcome stockpile in the freezer, the unexpected visitor numbers this time took its toll, and baking to meet our own needs will have to resume sooner than expected! The plant stand, with common and named snowdrops and Iris reticulata, was similarly depleted.

Admittedly it does take some effort and is not just a matter of opening a gate, but this is our seventh year of opening (the third time in February) and the practical preparation is now largely routine, with the necessary ‘stuff’ coming down from the loft or out of the shed and returning there afterwards. We can also rely on our regular helpers who know the ropes too, although we could have done with additional help with refreshments earlier than was planned. Despite my determination to make time to sit down on Sunday morning there were still things that could only be done on the day – but I did manage 15 minutes!

What have we learned this time? In particular, that snowdrops bring out people who are not necessarily gardeners, as the huge increase in numbers demonstrated. Also, can we cope with this number of visitors and do we want to? It was the first time that parking has proved to be an issue and this will have to be addressed. Although many first time visitors insisted they would come again in June, this didn’t happen last year when our February visitors said a similar thing, so we can’t assume it will be the case, but we certainly need to be prepared for February next year – but would a colder or wetter day make an impact on numbers? There seem to be three alternatives: to open on more than one date, to offer only online timed bookings or to find additional parking. Rather than rely on the generosity of our neighbours and helpers, the latter is the preferable option but not easy to do in a small village.

It’s something to mull over now things have been tidied away and furniture rearranged, the figures balanced and money banked, as the exhilaration and exhaustion fade and quiet satisfaction at the overall success of the afternoon takes over, as we allow ourselves to relax a little and take things a bit slower. Thank you all so much for your continued interest, support and good luck wishes, always treasured.

 

 

 

 

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