Open Garden Supporting Red Balloon Educational Trust
Unique Garden open to the public in Cambridge city centre
Annual Open Garden in support of local charity Red Balloon Educational Trust to hold 26th and final event.
On the 6th and 7th of June, Dr Carrie Herbert MBE will be opening her beautiful Cambridge garden to the public in support of local charity Red Balloon Educational Trust for the final time.
Starting in 2000, the Open Garden event has been held annually to allow members of the public to view and enjoy the usually private gardens. For a weekend in June each year the gates are opened and refreshments provided, welcoming anyone who wishes to come and relax in this beautiful green space in the heart of Cambridge. Entry is free but donations are taken in aid of local children’s charity Red Balloon Educational Trust.
Red Balloon helps children who are out of school because of trauma, mental health difficulties and other special educational needs which couldn’t be met in a traditional school setting. They create a calm, nurturing space where young people can rebuild their confidence, reconnect socially and rediscover the joy of learning. The focus on wellbeing, social development and community belonging as prerequisites to successful learning is an approach unlike any other, enabling learners to confidently move on to college, apprenticeships and the workplace.
Dr Herbert founded Red Balloon nearly 30 years ago at this same Cambridge location. Since then, it has grown to support hundreds of children across the south and east of England.
Today, instead of 20 teenagers learning and playing on the grounds, Dr Herbert’s property houses three gardens, complete with a pond, beehive and immaculately cared for collection of flowers and plants. Thanks to her meticulous planning, the garden will be in full bloom for the public weekend showing. This will be the last time Dr Herbert puts on a public showing of the gardens.
Located at 49 New Square CB1 1EZ, the gardens will be open from 10am-5pm on the 6th and 7th of June 2026. Admission is free although a donation to help the young people of Red Balloon is greatly appreciated. There will be refreshments available and children are most welcome!
After 26 years and over 12,000 visitors, the garden doors will be open for the final time, a true gem in hidden in the middle of Cambridge, this is not an event to miss!
