Southport gardener Carmel Malley really hadn’t planned to open her garden to the public quite yet. There was an awful lot to be done before she’d be ready to welcome visitors.
But husband Neil had other ideas, and when they went to see the National Garden Scheme stall at Southport Flower Show last August, he stepped in and volunteered her to open this year!
‘I’ve had to work doubly hard, as I needed to make changes to the garden,’ says Carmel. ‘It’s very much been about removing a 12ft high hedge’.
But there has been a plus side to all the work ‘the peonies have buds for the first time ever!
And I’ve cleared out the water feature and moved a lot of shrubs’.
The garden features a beautiful selection of flowering shrubs and plants as well as sandstone boulders, wisteria and lilac.
Visitors can see the result of all Carmel’s hard work when the garden at 18 Scarisbrick New Road in Southport opens its gates to the public on Sunday, 24th May 2026, between 1pm and 4pm.
‘Neil volunteered me, so he has to run the catering!’ laughs Carmel. There’ll be tea and cakes and plants for sale, entrance is £3, children free.
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