We have opened our garden for the National Gardens Scheme since 2011, which has been great and has raised money for the worthwhile charities supported by the NGS and funds for Claire House Hospice who provided refreshments at the Open Days We decided not to have a traditional woodland area, and are in the process of creating a 'bold' planting area, using plants such as Ligularia and Rodgersia which have large interesting leaves We lost a lot of shrubs and trees in the winter of 2011, so we have been replanting in 2012 As we look out onto this area from the house, we try to have interest throughout the year