More than £2,000 was raised at a garden open weekend to support cancer patients from Shropshire and Mid Wales together with Macmillan professional staff at Shrewsbury and Telford hospitals.

Award-winning Shropshire horticulturist Tom Pountney opened his beautiful country garden at Offcot, Kynaston, near Oswestry to visitors last Saturday and Sunday to fundraise for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Tom is no stranger to supporting charity, as this was the fourth time he had supported Macmillan Cancer Support in Shropshire. Visitors paid £7 to see his garden and homemade cakes, refreshments and a plant stall were also available.

The event was organised in collaboration with Shrewsbury Macmillan Fundraising Group whose spokeswoman, Gill Eleftheriou said: “The weekend was a big success, raising £2,134. Tom's garden was simply amazing - an immersive oasis of vibrant colour and lush foliage.”

One visitor commented: "This garden is so beautiful - the show of flowers phenomenal, just like visiting a RHS show garden but even better because it is home-grown here in Shropshire."

“Shrewsbury Macmillan Fundraising Group would also like to add our heart-felt thanks and gratitude to Tom,” added Gill. “The work he puts in to achieve such perfection is off the scale.!”

The garden has been a labour of love since Tom moved to Offcot 11 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.

In 2023, he created the winning show garden for Salop Leisure and Love Plants at Shrewsbury Flower Show.

"I held an open garden for the first time six years ago and it’s nice to be able to share it with visitors and raise money for charity at the same time,” said Tom.

Macmillan Cancer Support’s Shrewsbury Fundraising Group has revealed that money raised for the charity in Shropshire last year supported more than 1,700 people in across the county and Mid Wales. 

The Macmillan Support Line gave emotional support and financial advice to 800 people, as well as expert signposting on anything to do with cancer. The Macmillan Welfare Rights team helped 964 referrals.  

Money raised in the county also supported 45 Macmillan professional staff at Shrewsbury and Telford hospitals.