Visit two hidden Cotswold gardens from home

The third film in the Cotswold Gardens on Tour series, filmed to raise much-needed funds for Cirencester charity The Churn Project, is now available to view. Shot on some glorious summer days in 2020 by local multimedia company Cotswold TV, the film features two tucked-away Cirencester town gardens whose owners wanted to share their private spaces in support of The Churn.

The first part of the film sees owners Jim and Deirdre Waddell guide us through their much-loved garden on one of the town's oldest streets. Following Jim’s death in early 2021 a moving tribute to him starts the film. Gardening was his great love and he and Deirdre took enormous pleasure in restoring their garden over the past five years.

The second tour of these very special Cirencester gardens takes us behind the gates of one of the town’s beautiful old villas and into a tranquil walled garden full of colour and charm. There are corners planted especially to encourage wildlife and biodiversity whilst other, more formal, spaces boast beautiful roses. 

Still available to view on The Churn Project’s Vimeo channel are the first two garden tours – of Daglingworth House and Bywell. The three films, each of which lasts for approximately 30 minutes, are available to view for just £5 each, with all proceeds going directly to help fund the vital work being done by the charity.

The Churn Project supports young families and people at risk from isolation and loneliness in Cirencester and surrounding villages. The challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic have put an extra burden on the charity, with demand for its services increasing markedly. The Cotswold Gardens on Tour initiative is helping to generate much-needed funds to enable it to meet the extra demands and continue to help local people.