IT may have just 12 houses, but the tiny Teignbridge hamlet of Olchard has shown it has a huge heart after raising £4,000 for Rowcroft Hospice through its Open Gardens programme.

From April to October, gardens across South Devon opened their gates to visitors as part of the charity’s annual fundraising event, offering the chance to explore lovingly tended private gardens, like those in Olchard, near Ideford.

Nine gardens in the hamlet opened on Saturday, June 13.

And despite only opening for a single afternoon, Olchard raised just over £4,000 - the event overall raising a total of £18,000.

Organiser Liz Allen said: ‘We're not a village, actually. We're a hamlet of just 12 houses."

‘It's really fun. It brings the whole hamlet together – even the kids help out. The children really like it."

‘Some of the kids had a toy stall and made over £100, which was great."

‘The great thing is that everybody either opens their garden, or, if they don't open, they do lots of things to help. It literally involves everyone in the hamlet.

‘That's the strength of the event. It's not like you have to cajole everybody into doing things. Here, nobody needs to be asked. Everybody helps out. It's great.

‘We even borrowed a maypole and had maypole dancing!"

‘Somebody was coming in from the neighbouring town and said it looked like the county show because we had cars parked all the way back.

‘We gave out cider samples for donations - a lot of people donated more money to Rowcroft just to try the cider!

‘My garden's a couple of acres and there's another garden which includes an orchard and that's five acres. We've got a real variety of gardens’

Liz says that Olchard is actually a derivation of orchard as once upon a time the area was a giant orchard.

Molly Billingsley, Rowcroft’s Community and Challenges Fundraiser, said: ‘It has been wonderful to see so many people open their gardens to the community this year and share the spaces they’ve created and cared for.

‘Every garden has been different, but they’ve all helped bring people together and raise vital funds for Rowcroft.

‘We are incredibly grateful to everyone who opened their garden, welcomed visitors, made a donation or helped spread the word’.

Rowcroft is now looking ahead to next year’s Open Gardens programme and is inviting garden owners and communities across South Devon to get involved.

You don’t need a large or perfectly landscaped garden to take part: gardens of all shapes, sizes and styles are welcome – from cottage gardens and allotments to courtyards, community spaces and secret gardens.

Communities can sign up to create a larger event, with several households opening their gardens together. You could host a garden party on your terrace bringing neighbours together or get creative with a plant sale, cream tea, BBQ, live music, garden games or outdoor workshop.

If you think your garden or community could be part of Rowcroft’s Open Gardens 2027, or you know someone who might be interested, find out more at: rowcrofthospice.org.uk/opengardens