Although there were a coupler of light rain showers in the morning, the bank holiday afternoon was nice and dry for the 2026 Open Gardens event in Packington.

The exceptionally hot and dry summer did cause all sorts of problems for the gardeners, and it was very likely that there would be some diminishment in the usual beauty of each of the gardens on show. However, as the photos below will testify, there was a high standard of garden excellence on display, even if much of the grass lawn areas may have been looking slightly like straw.

!0 venues were available to be visited, with refreshment available at some of them, in the form of hot and cold drinks, ice creams, and cream teas, in particular at the Memorial Hall and at the village church. There was also a Country Colours Art Group art exhibition; while the church benefitted from a PVHG History Group display of village history, as well as a full bell-ringing session and then a village choir recital.

The traditonal early evening Duck Races had alas been cancelled a week prior, after 55 days of no rain and drought conditions meant the brook was unlikely to have enough water for the races to meaningfully be held. Meanwhile, the rains came! An unofficial Duck Race event at 3 pm generated much enthusiasm with about 30 ducks taking part, although it was generally agreed that the official 100-duck events would have been difficult to mount effectively.

Those full races are now hoped to be staged in Spring 2027 on the May bank holiday Monday, when the brook is expected to be well supplied with flowing water.

Our Packington Communications Group PCG photographer Karn Turnbull recorded a nice selection of cheerful coloured photos in the two galleries above, to remind us all of a wonderful afternoon.

The event realised just under £3,000 for the church fabric fund – so, a great help to our fund-raising efforts for our expensive tower repairs.

Lesley Birtwistle and Anne Wathes