Fun and fundraising planned at Stody Lodge Gardens this May

Stody Lodge Gardens, the spectacular 14-acre rhododendron and azalea gardens just outside Holt, is hosting a raft of exciting events for its open gardens season this May. Each of its open days support a different local charity and this year these include the Holt Youth Centre, St Johns Ambulance, The Benjamin Foundation, St Andrew’s Church (Holt), Thornage Hall, The Norfolk Hospice, Heritage House and Stody & Hunworth Churches.

The much-loved Stody ‘Kids for Kids’ Family Fun Day returns on Sunday 6th May. Norfolk’s youngsters are invited to come and enjoy a wide range of activities and farmyard animals including feeding young goats and kids. The highly popular Stody Fun Dog Show will return with fourteen fun and accessible classes. New for this year will be donkey rides by the wonderful Scratby Donkeys. There will be fantastic face painting, a tricksy treasure hunt and fun games on the lawn.

On Sunday 13th May 2018, Stody Lodge Gardens invites the region’s classic vehicle lovers to The Stody Classic Vehicles Day.  This event will be a great celebration and gathering of classic vehicles of all varieties. Not just cars but tractors, campervans, motorbikes, coaches… all are welcome. There is no need to register your vehicle but please email enquiries@stodyestate.co.uk if you are coming in a group so we can reserve a parking space for you all to be together. There is ample well-drained parking and plenty of space for picnics and drivers of a classic vehicle will have free entry into the gardens.

Stody Lodge Gardens will also be exhibiting two Norfolk artists from Sunday 20th May to Bank Holiday Monday 28th May inclusive.  Martin Pigg’s contemporary wood sculptures have featured as centrepieces for Gold and Silver winning gardens at the Chelsea Flower Show and Hampton Court Flower Show respectively. Painter Tracy Weston, who lives in the village of Stody, will also be exhibiting her ‘abstract expressionism’ pieces in the gardens.

 Lastly, The Stody Big Gay Out will take place on Saturday 26th May 2018.  A special welcome and invitation is being extended to the region’s LGBT+ community, as well as family and friends, to come and enjoy Stody’s explosion of colour. All members of the public are welcome. This event has been developed in association with Norwich Pride who will serve delicious rainbow cakes and fundraise for Norwich’s 10th Anniversary Pride on 28th July 2018. 

Kate MacNicol of Stody Lodge Gardens, said: “We place a real emphasis on inclusivity with everything we do and wish to welcome everyone in our community to our gardens. We hope they will enjoy themselves either at one of our special events or just to soak up the colour and beauty of the gardens if they prefer to come on a quieter Sunday or mid-week open day.”

For further information please visit www.stodylodgegardens.co.uk or call 01263 860572 and email enquiries@stodyestate.co.uk.