OPEN gardens could become an annual event. Offering the chance to view private gardens in Castel, St Peter’s and St Andrew’s was so successful this year that people want it to happen more often.

Director of events at Culture and Leisure, Peter Falla supports the idea.

‘From a Floral Guernsey perspective, we are already stimulating other parishes to follow the example of these three,’ he said.

‘If any parish is keen, we would be delighted to hear about it.’

Carol Guille was a member of the organising committee for the open gardens of Castel.

‘It is a nice parochial thing, since it’s all organised by volunteers,’ she said.

‘It is important to encourage events like that. People are generally interested in gardening I think, and these are gardens that are not usually open to the public so they are unusual places to look around.

People often get ideas for their own garden.

‘We really enjoyed organising it. It’s a very worthwhile thing to do and there’s a great sense of achievement when it’s a success like that.’

Floral Guernsey holds two festival weeks a year, during which parishes are encouraged to open their gardens to the public.

‘It doesn’t necessarily have to happen in a festival week period, but it is important that there is a degree of coordination and planning,’ said Mr Falla.

‘Visitors enjoy the gardens especially. They often have a special interest in gardening, which is all part of the Guernsey experience.’

* Anyone interested in opening a garden to the public is asked to call 749253.