The sun was shining, the garden was looking beautiful and we couldn’t have asked for a lovelier setting for our Summer Evening in the Garden. We were joined by Lydia Laughing, who provided the perfect soundtrack to the evening with their beautiful, atmospheric folk music. With harp, cello, guitar and vocals, their performance was undoubtedly the highlight of the evening and created a really special atmosphere in the garden.

It was lovely to sit back, listen to the music and enjoy such a talented group performing in our Step Outside garden.

There was plenty of time to enjoy the allotment, have a chat, tuck into some delicious food and simply spend time together. Our guests had the chance to see where our Step Outside gardening group grows vegetables, fruit, herbs and flowers, as well as enjoying the fresh air and peaceful surroundings. It was also a lovely opportunity to share more about the work we do and the difference it makes to older people and those living with dementia across Dorset.

And we certainly didn’t go hungry! Jenny had been busy baking and brought along a delicious selection of homemade cakes, including coffee and walnut cake, Victoria sponge and double chocolate brownies with strawberries. There were also savoury nibbles and plenty of refreshing drinks, with Brendan doing a brilliant job behind the bar. A huge thank you to them both for giving their time and talents so generously.

We were also incredibly grateful for everyone’s generosity on the evening. Thanks to donations on the door, we raised an amazing £500, which will help us continue our work supporting older people and those living with dementia across Dorset.

A huge thank you to everyone who came along and made the evening so special, and a very big thank you to Lydia Laughing for treating us to such a wonderful performance. We couldn’t have wished for a better soundtrack to a summer evening in the garden.

We'd love to see you at our next Summer Evening in the Garden on Friday 18 September, from 5pm to 7pm, at Kingston Lacy Allotments Growing Spaces.

If you'd like to join us, please contact Sarah at sarah@injollygoodcompany.com or call 07884 333117.