An annual 'Open Gardens' initiative has raised a total of £51,716 for Hospiscare.

As many as 40 people took part this year, opening their gardens to visitors in exchange for a donation to the local hospice charity.

Funded by donations and the NHS, Hospiscare provides specialist care for adults with a terminal illness and their families in Exeter, Mid and East Devon, with a site in Exmouth.

Fundraising Projects Manager Laura Robertson said: "This is the 15th year we have run the Hospiscare Open Gardens programme with this year being one of our biggest yet and raising a record-breaking amount for our local charity.

"We're so grateful for the incredible amount of support we receive year after year from our community across Devon, and of course our ongoing event sponsor, Otter Garden Centres – we couldn't do it without everyone involved!"

Maureen Basterfield, who opened her garden in Colyton this year, said: "We met with many lovely people who made it a pleasure to open Blackbury Honey Farm for Hospiscare. Our visitors are so keen to support a local charity that so many of them have had personal experience of."

Jacqui Taylor, Managing Director at Otter Garden Centres, said: "We were delighted to support Hospiscare once again this year and loved seeing all the beautiful Open Gardens.

"This is a very special charity for us, which is why we also chose Hospiscare again as our charity of the year at our Ottery St Mary Garden Centre. The team are proud to support the outstanding work of their nurses in our East Devon community as well as across Exeter and Mid Devon."

If you are interested in opening your garden for Hospiscare in 2024, email [email protected] or call 01392 688020 to find out more.