Organisers of an annual Herefordshire garden festival, which this year announced its largest ever donation to charity, have now handed over the money to two good causes.

Hellens Garden Festival announced it was giving a total of almost £17,000 from this year’s two-day Festival in Much Marcle to St Michael’s Hospice and the Back to the Wild Community Interest Company.

In just over ten years the Festival has now donated more than £65,000 to St Michael’s Hospice, at Bartestree.

Gail Calthrop, of Festival’s Creative Directors, said: “Hellens continues to be a great success, thanks in no small part to the wide array of guests and stall holders we welcome each year.

“We’d like to thank every one of them for creating this memorable festival, and the public for supporting us each and every year.”

This year’s highlights included Herefordshire-based actor John Challis opening the Festival alongside BBC Radio 2’s gardening guru, Terry Walton.

Terry Walton has been gardening since the age of four, when his dad first took him to his allotment, and by the age of 11 he had his own patch.

Fame came after his retirement in 2001, when he was featured in the Jeremy Vine show, which kick-started a new career in broadcasting.

At the show, visitors were given the chance to attend horticultural masterclasses and take part in forums on sustainability and outdoor learning.

“Everyone at St Michael’s is so grateful to Hellens Garden Festival for their continued generosity,’ said Ruth Denison, the Hospice’s Income Generation and Marketing Director.

She added: “Their support has helped, is helping and will continue to help families affected by terminal cancer in Herefordshire and the surrounding area.

“On behalf of them, thank you for making a difference at such an important time in their lives.”

Next summer may now seem a long way away, but plans are already underway for next year’s Hellens Garden Festival which will carry the theme, ‘Together, We are the Seeds of Change.’

It will take place on June 13 and June 14, 2020.

Hellens Manor is one of the county’s oldest buildings, with parts going back to the 12th century, at least.