THE well-known garden of Lyn and Phil Short at Hill Top, Ilkley will not be opening in 2020, due to the coronavirus restrictions.

The garden was scheduled to open on June 3rd and 7th June this year, but following advice from the Chief Executive of the National Garden Scheme, which normally donates substantially to various charities including Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie, Hospice UK and many others, the couple has been obliged to cancel this year’s openings. Over several years, the garden has received some 3000 visitors and raised almost £14,000 for the NGS and other charities, as guests enjoyed the Victorian pathways, large rockery and summerhouse, natural stream and bridges as well as the wide variety of trees, flowers, shrubs and ferns, with superb views over Ilkley and Wharfedale. Not to mention the plant stall and the home-baked cakes and teas.

Preparations for this year’s openings were already well in-hand, and the couple hope to re-open the garden at a similar time next year, as it is at its best during late Spring/early Summer. They would like to thank everyone for their interest and support in the past, and look forward to sharing their garden with many people again in 2021.