Fullers Mill Garden Is Entrusted To Perennial
National horticulture charity Perennial has accepted ownership and management of Fullers Mill Garden, near Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. Bernard Tickner has spent 50 years developing the 7-acre garden, which was placed in a charitable trust a decade ago.
He continues to fully fund the garden and its transfer to Perennial secures its future so that visitors will still be able to enjoy the garden in years to come. The garden opened for the 2013 season on Wednesday 3 April.
Bernard Tickner commented: “I am very pleased that Perennial has accepted the trust of the garden which enables it to be sustained for the future. The garden will continue to be cared for and opened to the public. I am so pleased that visitors will still be able to enjoy this very special place.”
CEO of Perennia, Richard Capewell, responded: “Perennial is enormously grateful to Bernard for the opportunity to preserve Fullers Mill Garden. We are looking forward to working with the garden staff and continuing to keep alive this unique garden that Bernard has created and use it for people to enjoy and learn from.
“Whilst gifts and legacies of this magnitude are very special and rare, Perennial, as a charity, depends on legacies in all shapes and sizes, as well as donations large and small from the garden-loving public to help us continue our work.”
Fullers Mill Garden, set on the banks of the River Lark, is located five miles north-west of Bury St Edmunds close to the village of West Stow. Bernard Tickner moved to Fullers Mill in 1958 and began creating the garden in what was an area of rough scrub and woodland.
The garden was emerging and in 1966, he married his late wife Bess from Norway. The garden combines a beautiful woodland site with a plantsman’s paradise of rare and unusual shrubs, perennials, lilies and marginal plants offering year round interest.
The garden is open from 3rd April to the end of September, on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays from 2 – 5pm. Entrance costs are £3.50 plus a 50p voluntary contribution to enable Gift Aid.
Tea, coffee, delicious home-made cake and plants are for sale. Disabled access is possible through most of the garden and toilet facilities are available. Private visits from groups and individuals are welcomed throughout the year by prior arrangement.
For information about the garden, visit: www.fullersmillgarden.org.uk