A CAMPAIGN to save an historic walled garden has passed its £50,000 target after generous donations flooded into to an online appeal.

Staff and volunteers at Helmsley Walled Garden appealed for the public’s help in raising funds as the lack of visitor income during the coronavirus lockdown put the garden’s future into jeopardy.

The charity behind the garden is reliant on entry fees, grants and donations to keep the facility running and knew that it would struggle to cover its costs without vital admission income during lockdown.

A fundraising campaign was launched in March offering people the chance to adopt a square metre of the garden in return for a donation.

It raised £45,000 within four weeks and the total raised now stands at £55,033.

Reaching the target is a relief for everybody associated with the garden which was picked to feature in a 2020 film version of ‘The Secret Garden’ starring Julie Walters and Colin Firth.

Garden staff thanked all who helped secure its future and say they are now working hard to reopen the grounds to visitors on August 1.