RESIDENTS living in the Bere Peninsula have been busy raising money for various causes recently.

Frances and David Howard-Pearce opened their garden at Weir Cottage to the public, raising £545 for St Luke's Hospice. The cottage was originally owned by Lady Harriet, wife of the third curator at Kew Gardens.

The garden has been developed as an arboretum, and fourteen notable trees showed their autumn colours. A constant stream of visitors eager to see the display were able to also learn the history of the woodland trail.

Bere Ferrers Women's Institute has been busy for months making crafts and gifts for a new fundraising venture — an autumn craft fayre. The all-day event proved enjoyable and productive and is hoped to be repeated in 2013.

Holy Trinity Church in Bere Alston also hosted an impressive autumn fayre earlier this month. People took the opportunity to buy early for Christmas and £725 was raised for church funds.

A Bere Alston youngster, who attends Tavistock College, is currently fundraising to help her to spend a month making life better for local communities in Ecuador.

Verity Cooper will be embarking on her trip next July through Camps International. She will be helping to build schools, hospitals, working to prevent coastline erosion and planting trees in the Amazon.

Verity is currently trying to raise the £4,000 needed, £3,000 of which will be spent directly on the projects.

A jumble sale held in Bere Ferrers Church Hall last month raised £180 to wards Verity's target and she is now planning other events, hoping for continuing support.