The Open Gardens National Directory

PRESS RELEASE

Big Society or Twig Society?

So you think that David Cameron's initiative to "Join the Big Society" is something new? Think again. People who open their gardens for charity have been part of the Twig Society for decades.

Now a group of committed Open Gardeners has got together to shout about their efforts. Calling themselves not The Big Society, but The Twig Society, they have brought together event details for over 400 towns and villages into one searchable website.

Frustrated by the difficulty of finding Open Gardens event dates, the group thought it seemed the obvious solution and were surprised that it had not already been done.

Free from the curse of complex and intrusive advertising, simple to use and with a clever search facility, the site allows people to find out about Open Gardens just down the road or across the country.

How the name "The Twig Society" came about is lost somewhere between the potting shed and that end-of-day gin and tonic that rewards effort well spent.

Open Gardens is all about horticultural espionage. It's about ideas, planting schemes, sneaky solutions to difficult problems. It's about taking a peep at the garden of that house you've always admired. It's about tea and cake in the gentle heat of an English spring or summer. At times, it's also about rain of course.

Hundreds of Open Garden events take place across the UK each year. This website supports the smaller event organisers who don't have a voice - those volunteers who bring together gardeners and gardens, plant enthusiasts and hobbyists, Hosta lovers and Pelargonium fanciers - the melting pot of Middle England that is Open Gardens.

For the humble town or village Open Gardens organiser, the site offers a real opportunity to get much needed publicity. For the garden visitor, it offers a simple way to find out about Open Garden events in your area.

Go to www.opengardens.co.uk for more information.

ENDS

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