The Fonthill Estate, Fonthill Bishop, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP3 5SH
8th June 2025 Open Gardens: 12 noon – 5pm
Tickets: £10 each (online) or £12 (at the gate) – https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fonthill-house-charity-garden-opening-in-aid-of-lady-garden-foundation-tickets-1261221560639?aff=oddtdtcreator
The owners of the magnificent Fonthill Estate in Wiltshire are hosting a special Open Gardens event on 8th June 2025 to raise funds for UK gynaecological cancer charity, Lady Garden Foundation. The event has been planned by Lord Margadale, Nancy Morrison and Penny Plane in fond memory of great family friend, and daughter, Emily Plane, who tragically lost her life to ovarian cancer in 2023. Emily would have celebrated her 30thbirthday this June, hence the timing of this fundraising initiative.
“Emily loved her visits to Fonthill, and we couldn’t be more pleased to open the garden in her honour. It’s a special way to remember her and share something she enjoyed with others.” Nancy Morrison
SUNDAY 8th JUNE: This Open Gardens event marks the third and final time that the 9,000-acre Fonthill Estate will be open to the public this year and represents an opportunity to meet owner Lord Margadale and his gardening team, and to tour the stunning grounds including the floral and vegetable gardens. Visitors will also enjoy stalls hosted by local artisans and enjoy a variety of refreshments. All ticket and prize draw proceeds are being donated directly to the Lady Garden Foundation and available to be bought online as well as on the day.
KEEPING A LADY GARDEN IN BLOOM: In addition to enjoying the Fonthill gardens, female visitors will also be encouraged to visit the Lady Garden website to discover a host of resources to help them understand the signs and symptoms of the five gynaecological cancers, and find information on how keep their ‘lady gardens’ in bloom: https://www.ladygardenfoundation.com/gynae-health/#resources
OVARIAN CANCER: Emily Plane bravely fought ovarian cancer between 2018 and 2023. Diagnosed at just 23 years old, Emily thought she was struggling with IBS but in fact had stage 3 ovarian cancer . Several rounds of treatment extended her life, but she sadly passed away in November 2023. There are around 7,500 new ovarian cancer cases in the UK every year (21 every day), making it the 6th most common cancer in females. Projections suggest there could be around 9,400 new cases of ovarian cancer every year in the UK by 2038-2040. (Source: Cancer Research UK)
Penny Plane, mother of Emily Plane comments: “My involvement with the Lady Garden Foundation began when my daughter Emily was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at the age of 23. I am so grateful to Lord Margadale for opening the gardens at Fonthill in Emily’s memory, raising funds so the Lady Garden can continue to raise awareness of all five gynaecological cancers, educating people about the life-saving importance of regular self-examination and knowing the signs and symptoms”.
Jenny Halpern Prince MBE, Chair of the Lady Garden Foundation said “We can’t stress enough the importance of knowing your own body and understanding what to look out for. Early diagnosis saves lives, and we are so grateful to the Fonthill Estate for generously donating the proceeds of this special Open Garden event to help us continue our mission to save lives. Emily Plane was a true friend of the Lady Garden, and her mother Penny’s incredible, on-going support helps us continue our vital work”
Article by Halpern
