Tom’s garden open day raises £1,020 for Macmillan Cancer Support

More than £1,000 was raised for Macmillan Cancer Support at the weekend when award-winning Shropshire horticulturist Tom Pountney opened his picturesque country garden to visitors for the second year running.

Tom, who owns Offcot in Kynaston, near Kinnerley, Oswestry, is no stranger to supporting charity, having previously welcomed visitors to his half-acre garden to raise money for the National Garden Scheme.

“We had a really wonderful day,” said Gill Eleftheriou, spokeswoman for Macmillan Cancer Support’s Shrewsbury Fundraising Group. “Everyone was blown away by Tom's garden which looked absolutely stunning.

“One visitor called it ‘the best garden in Shropshire!’ With perfect weather and a beautifully peaceful location, we wouldn't have wished to be anywhere else. We raised a magnificent £1,020 in total, a perfect day all round!”

Homemade cakes, refreshments and a plants stall were available for visitors.

The garden has been a labour of love since Tom moved to Offcot nine years ago. Having studied horticulture at Pershore College, he is now general manager of Love Plants, the specialist plants centre at Salop Leisure’s headquarters at Emstrey, Shrewsbury.

Last year, he created the winning show garden for Salop Leisure and Love Plants at Shrewsbury Flower Show.