Welcome to the Marple Website

Open Gardens in Marple: raising funds for Cancer Research UK

About the Charity

ogim logo sml

Cancer Research UK is a cancer research and awareness charity in the United Kingdom and Isle of Man, formed on 4 February 2002 by the merger of The Cancer Research Campaign and the Imperial Cancer Research Fund. Its aim is to reduce the number of deaths from cancer.

As the world's largest independent cancer research charity it conducts research into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of the disease. Research activities are carried out in institutes, universities and hospitals across the UK, both by the charity's own employees and by its grant-funded researchers. It also provides information about cancer and runs campaigns aimed at raising awareness of the disease and influencing public policy.

Cancer Research UK's work is almost entirely funded by the public. It raises money through donations, legacies, community fundraising, events like Open Gardens in Marple, retail and corporate partnerships. Over 40,000 people are regular volunteers.

Open Gardens in Marple is always seeking sponsors!

Open Gardens in Marple is a community event designed to raise money for Cancer Research UK, a charity close to many people’s hearts.

In order to gain maximum benefit for CRUK, we aim to keep our costs as low as possible and are therefore seeking sponsorship. Banners, for example, are a particular expense, but are essential to our publicity as they will be prominently displayed throughout Marple. However, they will also be advertising our major sponsors by carrying their logos too, and that could be you!

Sponsors, both large and small, are acknowledged and thanked on these pages and on social media.

Where appropriate, free banners adverts are included on these pages too.

About the supporters of Open Gardens in Marple 2023

Marple Area Committee: £600 of Area Flexibility Funding

In April 2023 Marple's Area Committee, comprising of the 6 Ward Councillors for Marple North and Marple South and High Lane, awarded the organisers of Open Gardens in Marple £600 toward the cost of putting on the event - for posters, publicity banners and the like.

Marple Area Committee

Area Committee Meetings are a great opportunity for local people to enage with the councillors they elected to represent them. Marple Area Committee Meetings are held generally once a month and usually at Marple Senior Citizens' Hall in the centre of the town. To learn more visit the Area Committee page on the Marple Website.

Edward Mellor Estate Agents: £300 of sponsorship

Marple Estate Agents Edward Mellor has pledged £300 sponsorship in support of Open Gardens in Marple.

Edward Mellor Estate Agents

Wright Hire: transportation of plants

Wright Hire is Marple's "One-Stop-Hire-Shop" for equipment hire of just about anything you could need, large or small. Established in 1978, they operate from the trading estate behind the Goyt Mill.

Wright Hire of Marple

For Open Gardens in Marple, Wright Hire provided transportation for our Market Street plant sale on Saturday 10 June.

The Marple Website: free web pages

The Open Gardens pages on this web site are provided completely free of charge.

Lentils and Lather: free meeting location

Many thanks to Lentils and Lather for offering us a meeting room.

Thanks and acknowledgement to:

HB Printing: Posters, Flyers and Banners.

F&M Riley Decorators: a generous collection of raffle prizes.

Open Gardens in Marple 2023 – the final reckoning

  • 19 private gardens and Seven Stiles Allotments open to the public on July 8/9 2023.
  • Over 800 visitors.
  • Tickets priced at £8 for Saturday or Sunday, £10 for the weekend.
  • £600 sponsorship from Stockport SMBC.
  • £300 sponsorship from Edward Mellor.
  • £987 match funding for Garden No 18 by John Laing.
  • Online publicity by Marple Website.
  • Community involvement in the event by Friends of Rose Hill Station, Marple GirlGuiding, Friends of Marple Memorial Park, Ironwood Metal Art, Climate Action Marple, also Marple Men in Sheds.
  • Use of Scout Hut for the two days.
  • Concert in the park by Werneth Concert Band on Sunday afternoon.
  • Visit by the mayor of Stockport.
  • Donation of tea and coffee and use of coffee machine by The Coffee Dream Dream.
  • Refreshments and plant sales etc at several gardens and one with a train!
  • Creation of children’s scarecrow pictures by Helen Middleton Studio.
  • Regular use of meeting room at Lentils and Lather.
  • Use of facilities at Marple Sports Club.
  • Two advance publicity displays at Dobbies Garden Centre and one at Marple Carnival.
  • Tickets sold in advance at Marple CRUK shop, Littlewoods Butchers, Hollins Hardware, Stationery Supplies, Lentils and Lather, Dutsons.
  • Many donations of raffle prizes and tombola prizes.
  • Printing by HB Printing, Marple.
  • Plants for preliminary plant sale supplied by E Smith and Son of Lymm.
  • Transport for plants donated by Wright Hire.

Result - £16,352 donated to Cancer Research UK (including online donations)

Committee members:

Malcolm Allan, Christine Dutson, Mary Hoult, Nuala James, Anthony Langford, Mike Newton, Viv Newton, Carol Turnbull, Aaron Webster.

Marple Places