Award-winning Shropshire horticulturist Tom Pountney is opening his beautiful country garden to visitors for a complete weekend later this month to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Due to the popularity of last year’s open garden day, Tom, who owns Offcot in Kynaston, near Kinnerley, Oswestry SY10 8EF, has agreed to welcome visitors this coming Saturday and Sunday, July 25 and 26, 10am to 4pm this time.

He is no stranger to supporting charity, as this will be the fourth time he has supported Macmillan Cancer Support in Shropshire. Admission is £7 at the gate and homemade cakes, refreshments and a plant stall will be available for visitors.

Sadly, the garden’s narrow paths are unsuitable for wheelchairs, frames and buggies and no dogs are allowed. For more information, please contact the group on email at shrewsburymacmillanfundraising@gmail.com .

Gill Eleftheriou, spokeswoman for Shrewsbury Macmillan Fundraising Group, said: 

“We are delighted that Tom is opening his beautiful country garden, nestled deep in peaceful Shropshire countryside, for a fourth year. 

“Because the open garden was so popular last year, he has agreed to open for the weekend this time, which is incredibly generous.

“Tom tweaks his annual planting schemes every summer and I'm sure that the garden will be spectacular again this year. It’s definitely a date not to miss for garden lovers and Macmillan supporters.” 

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.

“The garden was just a field and the grass was over two feet long when I moved there,” explained Tom. “It’s now 10 years old, as I spent the first year just clearing it out.

"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.”

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 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 helped to support 45 Macmillan professional staff at Shrewsbury and Telford hospitals.