The beautiful gardens at The Old Rectory in Quenington will play host to a Rare Plant Fair in support of the charity Cobalt Health.

The Grade II listed Old Rectory with its organic garden has been developed over the past 40 years and is in a very tranquil setting on the banks of a mill race, with the River Coln running through the gardens.

Ian Moss, who organises the Rare Plant Fairs alongside wife Teresa, explains just what goes on at the Fair.

He said: “Our approach is to have an open garden and plant fair in beautiful locations that are well worth a visit in their own right.

“The nurseries that attend our Fairs are carefully selected to ensure that they are genuine growers who produce most or all of the plants that they sell themselves.

“We try offer the widest possible range of plants to our visitors, including perennials, shrubs and trees, alpines, bulbs and exotic plants, and all of our nursery owners are experts in the plants that they grow.

“The nurseries come from all over the country, from the Midlands right down to the tip of Cornwall and bring all different types of plants. It’s a really attractive event for keen gardeners to see plants or nurseries that they wouldn’t normally get to see in their area.”

This year is the Rare Plant Fair’s 25th season, since Derry Watkins began it back in 1994.

2019 will be Ian and Teresa’s sixth year organising the fair, after they retired from their own nursery three years ago.

The Plant Fair has been coming to Quenington and helping Cobalt raise money for many years says Ian.

“Cobalt and the Fair have been working together since before our time as organisers,” he said.

“I know Lucy and David Abel Smith who own The Old Rectory are strong supporters of Cobalt, and it’s a really positive relationship that helps all parties.

“Quenington is one of our longest running events and it’s always very popular.”

The Rare Plant Fair comes to The Old Rectory at Quenington on Sunday 14th April. Tickets are £5 and a proportion of proceeds donated to Cobalt.