Yesterday, my daughter Alice and I went to the launch of the Furzey Gardens Artists’ Fairy Doors trail. We were invited along as my design, Dino Door, is one of the 30 you’ll be able to search for this summer.
Running from Saturday 27 May until Sunday 3rd September 2023, the trail aims to help raise money for people with learning disabilities. Furzey Gardens supports such people all year round, in helping to maintain the gardens, raising plants in the nursery and in the tea rooms.
Furzey Gardens is a beautiful place to visit, with all sorts of hidden nooks and colourful areas that are just perfect for secreting an Artists’ Fairy Door for people to discover. There are 25 to find, hidden throughout the gardens, but it doesn’t end there. Another five (including mine) will be out in the community, placed in towns throughout the New Forest to help promote the trail.
You can all get involved in three ways:
Visit Furzey Gardens and walk the trail. Book tickets here: buff.ly/3LSr2V0
See a door you like? Put a bid in for it! You just might end up owning it! www.minsteadtrust.org.uk/doorbid
VOTE for your favourite! To vote for my Dino Door all you need to do is text 29FAIRYDOOR to 70085. £1 from the cost of your text will go to support people with learning disabilities via Minstead Trust.
A huge thank you to Sam Long Ltd for sponsoring my board. Sam’s fruit and veg stall can be found at Alton on Tuesdays, Lymington Market on Saturdays and, for three days a week, outside St Andrew’s Church in Dibden Purlieu – where I get all of our fruit and veg from. Excellent quality, and superb service as well. Don’t go anywhere else! Thanks, Sam!
Also, thank you to Matt Stroud of the Minstead Trust who has put the trail together. He’s done a brilliant job, and it’s going to bring a lot of pleasure to people over the summer, and do a lot of good too.
And finally, a gargantuan thank you to my daughter, Alice. Without her help I’d have never got the door painted in time. She was outstanding!
You’ve got all summer to enjoy it. Get out there and enjoy the gardens, the doors, and the sunshine!
