Online auction

The Hampshire Country & Garden Festival is running an online auction from Thursday 11th to Sunday, 14th June offering virtual entertainment while raising money for the Hampshire Medical Fund.

The unique event is in place of the annual festival at Bere Mill, which had to be postponed to 2021.

The auction aims to celebrate and promote all that is great about Hampshire, while also raising funds for equipment in a new revolutionary Gynaecology Clinic in Winchester NHS Hospital.

To take part in the auction visit https://givergy.uk/hampshirecountryandgardenfestival where you will find some fabulous prizes including a classic York Commemorative solid teak garden bench by Chic Teak with the option of having a carved inscription on the back.

Other auction items include a case of Chalk Down cider, a delivery of wildflower turf to cover a 40 square metre area, an evening fishing on the River Test with a picnic supper and a delivery of fully prepared lamb supplied from the Bere Mill Estate.

A full list of prizes and info on how to place a bid are available on the festival website www.hampshiregardenfestival.co.uk.

Chic Teak will also donate 10% of all sales of luxury furniture made during the auction weekend (13th and 14th June) to the Festival fundraising cause; click here to shop https://chic-teak.co.uk/

While the Festival itself cannot go ahead as planned this year, the festival committee have been able to continue their work to support patients and staff by creating two unique gardens for the following deserving Hampshire causes.

Louisa Corbett, who designed several RHS Chelsea Flower Show gardens, is creating a garden for Melbury Lodge the inpatient Mother and Baby Unit, treating women in perinatal mental health crisis in Winchester, where a relaxing outdoor area is desperately needed.

Jez Stamp and Lou Jameson of garden design company JamesonStamp, are creating a garden for Firvale childrens’ respite centre in Basingstoke, which helps children with complex health issues or behavioural problems.

Jez and Lou said: “We are fully aware first-hand of the solace and stimulation that gardening brings. Having been inspired by the work undertaken by the team at Firvale, we feel honoured to help enrich its outdoor space.

“We aim to lift the spirits of those that set eyes on the initial façade at Firvale and in turn inform a space that engages a multitude of senses. Bright colours and bold textures will be paramount and we welcome the opportunity to use them.”

This garden is available for sponsorship (interested companies should contact Sarah-Jane Shirreff at sarah-jane@shirreff.co.uk

Annabel Humphrey, committee member for the Hampshire Country and Garden Festival, said: “The last few months have been very difficult for everyone and we were very disappointed to have to cancel this year’s festival. The online auction is a great way for us to bring all the wonderful people involved in the Festival together to provide some virtual entertainment while continuing our pledge to raise money for the Hampshire Medical Fund.”

She added: “We’re also very pleased to be able to fulfil our aim to create the two gardens for Melbury Lodge and Firvale clinics and work on the gardens will start this year. We look forward to welcoming everyone back to the Festival in 2021.”