ONE of the country’s finest gardens is under threat unless it can raise £20,000 to keep it going through the coronavirus crisis.

Even with the Government’s help The Garden House at Buckland Monachorum still needs £10,000 a month to keep it going, the charity which runs the much-loved attraction told the Times this week.

The Fortescue Garden Trust has launched a crowdfunding campaign in a bid to raise the funds needed to keep the garden maintained so it can reopen when the restrictions are lifted.

Chairman of the trustees Matt Jackson said as an enterprise which was not run for profit but not seen as a vital charity directly helping people during the outbreak like a foodbank, it slipped through the net for extra help from the Government.

He said if £20,000 could be raised, it would unlock a further £10,000 from Devon County Council and £2,500 from West Devon Borough Council.

The garden, which has featured on BBC Gardeners’ World and is a favourite of Eden Project guru Tim Smit, TV gardeners Toby Buckland and Carol Klein and constantly in the top 50 gardens to visit in national polls, is much more than a beautiful collection of plants, said Matt.

‘You don’t have to be a gardening genius to love a good garden and although we do get horticultural experts here, there are just as many people who come once or twice a week to have tea and cake and some social interaction and while a few hours away in a lovely environment.

‘This garden is for everyone.’

He said April, May, June and July were the busiest months for the garden in terms of visitor numbers and the money taken during this time kept the garden ticking over in the winter.

‘Not opening during these months is like a farmer not getting the harvest in.

‘It is vital income to keep the garden afloat,’ he said.

Matt said he was ‘blown away’ by the support of people, mostly from the local community, who had put their hands in their pockets so far to donate when it was a tough time for everyone.

‘This year has been the hardest challenge in the 75-year history of the garden being open. With the community’s help and support we hope we will pull through and be in a position to keep it open for a long time to come.’

The Garden House is looked after by a small steam of staff, students and volunteers, many of whom are drawn to the place for its physical and mental well-being benefits.

Go to the link https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/the-garden-house to find out more.