A COUPLE opened their spectacular garden to raise funds for a children’s hospice.

Anne and Geoff Shaw, owners of Follers Manor in Alfriston, raised £2,664 for Chestnut Tree House.

More than 250 people visited the garden.

They had a first glance at the work about to take place on the meadow area of the garden with information boards provided by garden designer Ian Kitson.

Robert Vestentoft, author of The Boy Who Went Fishing for Stars, also attended with illustrator Helen Weir.

Libby Hannelle from Chestnut Tree said: “We would like to say a huge thank you to Anne and Geoff for opening up their garden, to the volunteers who made the event a success and to everyone who came along and supported us on the day.

“Without you we really couldn’t continue to offer care to local children with life-shortening conditions and their families.

“It was such a wonderful day.

“The views of the South Downs are simply breathtaking and provided a fantastic backdrop for a lovely, relaxed and friendly day of fundraising.

“Events like the open garden at Follers Manor are vital to us.”

Earlier this year, Anne Shaw and her two gardeners Steve Janssen and Julia Eldridge supported the hospice by completing a parachute jump.

They also visited the hospice building near Arundel to see first-hand the care children with life-shortening conditions receive there.

Anne said: “The hospice is such a lovely, joyous place.

“I can imagine children have a really lovely time there.

“The equipment, the garden, the woodland walk are all wonderful and the staff do such an amazing job, it really is a happy place.”

This year marks the highly-regarded hospice’s 15th anniversary.