DESPITE the poor weather over the weekend, Dollar Open Gardens attracted a good number of visitors.

Clacks residents and those from further afield had the opportunity to visit 25 beautiful spots in the town.

A huge range of gardens were on display, featuring the likes of a mini orchard, fruit and veg, wildlife pond, secret resting places and an interesting model railway.

There was plenty to see, such as established shrubs, herbaceous planting, a climbing frame, mixed borders and roses, rockeries, a burn and more.

The tenth event – held to raise money for Strathcarron Hospice – ran across Saturday, May 20 and Sunday, May 21.

It was organised by a small committee of Margaret Stephenson, Janette MacMillan, Iseabal Daniel and Patricia Sutherland, along with plenty of help from the community.

The rain prevented Dollar Academy pipers from playing as planned, but ensured teas and coffees were much in demand, and each garden welcomed an average of 50 people.

Margaret said: "It was a very successful weekend considering the weather.

"I think that was the major thing that probably impacted on the weekend, the weather – not a lot you can do about that.

"There was still plenty of visitors around the town.

"We had families and we had people from all over the central belt, it wasn't just Dollar visitors."

The first garden open event was run by the local support committee of Strathcarron Hospice in 1989 when 50 spaces were opened to the public and the sum of £3,200 was raised.

The fundraising event is held every three years and, since it began a decade ago, more than £34,000 has been raised for the hospice which provides specialist palliative and end of life care for people in Forth Valley, along with those in Cumbernauld and Kilsyth.

The weekend brought a spot of circle dancing and there was also the opportunity to buy locally grown flower and vegetable plants at the hall in Dollar Horticultural and Garden Club's biggest ever sale.

This raised a total of £2212.20 for the hospice, with money from the rest of the event still being collated.

Margaret gave thanks to those involved in Dollar Open Gardens, including the ladies who manned the tea room and those from Dollar Parish Church and St James' Parish Church.

Mention also goes to Terry Young, who manages the open garden website, and the gardeners who took part in the event.

Pictures from Dollar Open Gardens will be uploaded on the website, to check them out visit dollargardens.info/