Burrswood Church of Christ The Healer at Groombridge hosted its first ever flower festival as part of a weekend of events in support of the Burrswood Hospital.

The festival was formally opened by Cllr Julian Stanyer, the Mayor of Tunbridge Wells, with more than 50 displays that spread out of the church and into the grounds involving over 40 local flower arrangers and thousands of individual blooms.

There was a concert of West End hits from the Crowborough Jubilee Choir and a vintage tea party, with waitresses - and some guests - dressed in Forties’ costumes, and tea served in bone china cups on lace tablecloths.

CEO John Ashelford said “We are delighted to be the Mayor’s chosen Charity, and hope that events such as this Flower Festival will help us to be better known in our local community.”

The flowers attracted nearly 2,000 visitors, many of whom had never been to Burrswood before.

Helen Winning, head of fund-raising, said: “We are keen that more people should visit and get to know us - we really have been Groombridge’s best kept secret since 1948.

“We measure the success of our events on two factors, the footfall and the amount raised.

“This was a very successful weekend on both counts with more than 2,000 visitors and £8,000 raised.”

For more information about the Hospital visit: www.burrswood.org.uk