Garden opens for cancer unit (From Darlington and Stockton Times)

Garden opens for cancer unit

3:24pm Friday 26th June 2009

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A MAN who survived cancer is opening up his magnificent garden to the public to raise money for the staff who helped care for him.

Mike Heagney has been fascinated by the garden for more than 50 years and has transformed it into one of the most stunning in the region.

Twice featured on Gardeners’ World, it is filled with plants and trees from around the world.

Mr Heagney, who runs a landscaping business mainly for stately homes, has spent years working on the abundant garden behind the walls of Tudor Croft, in Guisborough.

He is opening the garden to raise money for the Holistic Cancer Care Centre, at James Cook University Hospital.

“Exactly five years ago, I suffered from colon cancer and, following surgery and chemotherapy, I have been clear ever since,” he said.

“I am grateful to everyone at the hospital for giving me my life back, and this is just a small way of repaying those at the Holistic Centre who were a special part of my care.”

The garden, which was begun in the 1930s, is the only large garden built on Teesside in the 20th century and should become a distinctive part of the area’s heritage.

The gardens at Tudor Croft, Stokesley Road, Guisborough, are open from noon until 5pm on Sunday.

Entry costs £5, accompanied under-16s free.

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