Box Open Gardens was first held as an event in Box in 1978, and now takes place every three years. In June 2011 there were 12 private gardens open to visitors, spread from one end of the village to the other. Some of the gardens were new to the event, some were familiar from previous occasions and, between them all, there were striking contrasts to be seen.

CLICK HERE to see pictures from previous Box Open Gardens

The village of Box is set on a hillside on the edge of Minchinhampton Common, which means that many gardens take advantage of the slope in order to provide attractive areas on different levels, linked by steps or slopes. Natural springs are also a notable part of the area, and many gardens incorporate attractive water features in the form of a stream or pond. Careful supervision of children is required in all gardens.

Initially, Box Open Gardens day was a fund-raising event for the Village Hall. More recently, profits have been shared with local charities. In 2011 the proceeds were shared equally between Box Village Hall (a registered charity) and the charity Friends of Sean, raising funds to help a young man from Box who was recently paralysed in a serious cycling accident.

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History of Box Open Gardens

In 1982 twenty one gardens were opened and a record number of 24 gardens were opened in 1992. It was the hottest day of the year and both visitors and organisers were totally exhausted. Since then, between eleven and sixteen gardens have been opened for successive Open Garden Days and it has been accepted that these lower figures are much more manageable.

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LISTEN to the BBC WOMAN'S HOUR recording of BOX OPEN DAY from 1982

WARNING: These are LARGE mp3 files - suitable for Broadband users only.

Your PC will require software capable of playing mp3 music files, such as Apple QuickTime or Windows Media Player.

1. Click here for BBC "Woman's Hour" programme introduction                   

2. Click here for interviews

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Open days have run from 2.00pm - 6.00pm and traffic has been discouraged on all the roads in the village during this period. With National Trust agreement, cars have been parked on the Common opposite Beaudesert School and in the paddock at Box Farm. Programmes were on sale at entry positions opposite the Village Hall, at the top of Scar Hill and opposite Quarry Wood at the south end of the village. The entry fee in 1978 was 30p for adults and 20p per child under 16. In 2005, this had risen to £3.00 per adult with all accompanied children being admitted free.

In addition to the open gardens, other attractions have included Local Art Exhibitions in the Village Hall, WI Produce Stalls and Side-Shows on the Village Green, Plant Sales, Pony Rides on Minchinhampton Common, Flower Displays in St Barnabas Church, the late Edward Payne’s Stained Glass Studio Exhibition and the late Stella Apperley’s Portrait Sketching, Vera Harvey’s Lace Making Exhibition, a “100 Years in Box” Photographic Exhibition, a Ruskin Mill Crafts Display and Children's Events. Both the Chalford and Nailsworth Silver Bands have played on the Village Green and the Avening Morris Dancers have also performed.

The sale of Box Village Cream Teas in the Village Hall and in a number of gardens have also been greatly appreciated as has the sale of Ice Cream on the Village Green.

Until 1995, all the proceeds were donated towards the upkeep of Box Village Hall, a registered charity. A record profit of £1,980 was raised in 1992 and the lowest profit,  £1,175, was in 1998 when the heavens opened at 2.00 pm sharp and pouring rain continued until closing time at 6.00 pm. In spite of the downpour over 500 visitors braved the elements! At the Open Gardens day in 2005, the proceeds came to £1,600 and £500 each was given to Horsfall House, the Cotswold Care Hospice and the Besse School in the Gambia leaving a small balance for the Village Hall funds.

Box Open Gardens Day is the major village three yearly event and, one way or another, practically the whole village is involved in the organisation. Visitors come from far and wide and often include many who have had close connections with Box in the past. As the years have passed, Box Open Gardens Day has had to face more and more competing summer events, but it is still very much enjoyed and both the work involved and the friendly welcome are widely appreciated by everyone who visits our open gardens and the other attractions.