EVERY year, gardeners in Gargrave fling wide their gates to welcome visitors in a fundraising event for St Andrew’s Church.

In 2020 they cannot do this in person because of the coronavirus, but rather than take a year off they have decided that it is an opportunity for Gargrave gardens to go global. They have set up a virtual garden trail at https://gargraveopengardens.com and are inviting visitors from around the world to join the tour.

Gardeners are uploading photos, stories, interviews, blog posts, videos and drone footage to the website throughout the summer.

One 3D video allows viewers to navigate their own way during a tour of a garden in Bell Busk. Participants can sign up to receive updates when new entries are posted. Donations to St Andrew’s Church are invited.

Open Gardens has been an annual event in Gargrave for several decades. Originally a fundraiser for the Methodist church in the village, the event now supports St Andrew’s Church.

St Andrew’s forms a hub for village life. Although the building has been closed for public worship during the Covid-19 emergency, the life, worship and work of the church continues.

Already the initiative has attracted viewers from as far afield as the USA, Italy and Australia.

The organisers are hoping to reach all continents by the end of the summer, although admit that Antarctica might be ambitious.