Special Group Rates to be Offered for Open Garden Squares Weekend 2012

For the FIRST time, special group rates will be offered for the annual and extremely popular Open Garden Squares Weekend, which is held throughout London every June.

The 2012 weekend will take place immediately after the extended Diamond Jubilee Bank Holiday on Saturday and Sunday, June 9 & 10, 2012. In 2011, more than 210 gardens participated in the weekend with 31 taking part for the first time and 117 private gardens opening exclusively for the event.

Group benefits include:

• Book 10 or more tickets and get a 15% discount (booked in advance, please note: this is not available with any other offer)
• Detailed guidebook for each group member (sent to leader for distribution)
• ‘Diary Date’ postcards to send to your group members to help sell the event

One ticket allows entry to all venues over the entire weekend. Tickets bought in advance cost just £9 and £12 during the weekend (Discounted rates for groups). Tickets go on sale in late spring.

For more information on how to book tickets please visit: www.opensquares.org. Group leaders can also email groups@opensquares.org or leave a message on answerphone 020 7839 3969.

Also open especially for Open Garden Squares Weekend will be many of the much-loved and popular gardens such as HMP Wormwood Scrubs, Eaton Square, Bonnington Square, Cable Street Community Gardens, The Regent’s Park Allotment Garden and the Royal College of Physicians’ Medicinal Garden.

In addition there will be a variety of guided tours – both walking and cycling (details can be found on www.opensquares.org). For those who want to discover the gardens independently, two podcasts and self-guided bike rides can be downloaded from www.londongardenstrust.org/guides.

Lots more information can be found at www.opensquares.org.
Follow us on Twitter @Opensquares and on Facebook.

Ends

Notes to Editors

• Open Garden Squares Weekend is run by the London Parks & Gardens Trust to raise awareness of the significant social, cultural, environmental and economic contribution that squares make to the capital and its inhabitants. The Trust provides a centre for education, research, and creative projects for the improvement and conservation of London’s green urban spaces. www.londongardenstrust.org
• If you are interested in helping as a volunteer during the weekend, please visit the website for more details. In return for volunteering, you will be given a free ticket to the weekend.

For further media information and images

Please contact: Robin Saklatvala, Open Garden Squares Weekend, on 07734748286 or send an email.

December 2011