What a turnout for the Chilli Festival! It’s been lovely to see old friends and new friends from all corners of our community trying delicious cakes, bakes and savouries, making mini chilli hats and listening to mellow music. And our fashion-fabulous scarecrow costume winner got a garden goodie bag to fill up.

A massive Abbey Gardens thank-you to singer Anna Aarons and guitarist James Tony Bennett. Applause, too, to all of our event volunteers, lending their time, energy and skills to organisation, cooking, publicity, activities, setting up and clearing up.

If you’ve visited the event and would like to join in with our free drop-in gardening sessions, there’s still plenty to do before the end of the season. Sessions are on Tuesdays 1pm-3pm, Thursdays 4pm-7pm and Saturdays 11am-4pm. Drop by at any point in the session; tools and gloves are provided.

Pictures: Cath French and Lydia Thornley