AN open gardens day in Brightwell-cum-Sotwell will raise funds for a new play garden at the village pre-school.

Ten gardens throughout the village will be open this Sunday from 2pm to 5pm to help raise funds towards a £10,000 target for the Allsorts pre-school based at Brightwell Primary School.

To enjoy the gardens, visitors are being asked to pay the suggested donation of £5.

Proceeds will go towards the complete redevelopment of the garden used by children at Allsorts, with a new willow tunnel, a sensory path, a treehouse and sandpit.

Mum-of-three Sally Jackson, whose daughter Esme, four, attends Allsorts, said about £10,000 has already been raised for the project to improve facilities at the pre-school in Greenmere.

She added: "The garden was looking extremely tatty - the climbing frame was fine but everything else needed a lot of work, and we wanted to create an outdoor space the emphasis on learning through nature.

"The last time we had this sort of fundraiser six years ago was to raise money for an extension to St Agatha's church.

"This open gardens event is one of a number of fundraisers which will help us to reach the £10,000 target."

Mrs Jackson helped to organise the Open Gardens day with former chairwoman of the pre-school Lorna Gardner.

Mrs Jackson, a member of the pre-school's fundraising committee, added: "We have already built an outdoor classroom and have started the work on a sensory path and there will also be a mud kitchen.

"Fences need painting - we want to create an attractive outdoor space where children can learn."

Funds for the project could also be raised at the Brightfest music festival on Saturday, June 11, Mrs Jackson added.

Teas will be provided this Sunday at St Agatha’s church and there will be a programme of talks and demonstrations from gardening gurus.

These include Ali Quantrell, from Oxford's Botanic Garden, offering a demonstration of natural woven birch staking, followed by a garden advice surgery.

Horticulturalist Paul Chilton will share his expertise in the art of fruit tree grafting and Brightwell players will perform nature-inspired folk music accompanied by local singer Madeleine Lowe.

Landscape architect Jason Debney will enlighten listeners on the history of the cottage garden.

For children there will be storytelling by Alison Jinks, from The Wallingford Bookshop. They can can also join a dragon-modelling workshop.

Parents at the 40-year-old pre-school for children aged two-and-a-half to five were consulted about the design of the new play garden.

For the open gardens programme visit brightwellcumsotwell.co.uk.