AN OPEN garden day will be held on Saturday, June 27 at Borwick and Priest Hutton, just off the A6 north of Carnforth. Wander among the blooms and enjoy the peace and quiet of ten different private gardens opened to the public for the occasion from 11am to 5pm. Lunch and afternoon tea will be available at the Memorial Hall. Tickets are available on the day and cost £3 for an adult and £10 for a family ticket. All proceeds will be shared between St John's Hospice and the North West Air Ambulance.

n THE Volunteer Centre South Lakeland is organising a walk from Market Place, Kendal, starting at 2pm next Thursday, June 3, during National Volunteers Week (June 1-7). Several voluntary organisations are taking part and there will be live music throughout the walk together with South Lakeland storyteller Taffy Thomas. The riverside walk (1.5 miles) will be led by volunteers from Walking the Way to Health and anyone seeking futher information should contact Samantha on 01539-742636.

Also during volunteer week, the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers will be improving access across a boggy area of the Brantwood estate, Coniston, from Tuesday, June 1, to Thursday, June 3. The volunteers will be using materials available on site such as Birch Brash and sheep fleeces.

On Wednesday there will be a walk up Wetherlam starting from Tilberthwaite car park at 10am. For more details call Sue Thurley on 01229-580234.

n CHILDREN with dyslexia will be juggling, plate-spinning and unicycling on June 16 at a workshop aimed at improving balance and co-ordination. A local circus performer will be leading the event organised by the South Cumbria Dyslexia Association. It runs from 6pm to 8pm at Queen Katherine School, Kendal, and is aimed at dyslexic children of all ages. Places cost £1.50 and can be booked with Dawn Elsworth on 01229-820998 or by e-mailing scuda.kendal@talk21.com.

n COMMUNITY groups using Cumbria County Council land buildings could soon get the chance to buy their sites at knock-down prices. CCC cabinet members have agreed to employ new powers from the Government, which could allow it to sell off some properties at 50 per cent of market price if it benefits the community. Officers will now draw up a new policy to allow so-called "well-being" powers to be used. CCC said it expects to come under pressure to sell from some groups using its land and buildings, including users of the Castle Street Centre in Kendal, Ford House and Ford Park in Ulverston, the Shire Hall in Appleby, and the former infant school at Hawkshead. Some land could even be sold at discount prices to provide affordable housing.

n A FUND-RAISING event "Hats at the Heaves" raised more than £500 for Save the Children. The event at the Heaves Hotel, Sizergh, was organised by the Kendal branch of Save the Children. Janet Bobbett and her team from the hat shop in the New Shambles provided the hats and four of the six models were drawn from the Kendal branch committee of Save the Children.

n THE Kirkby Lonsdale and District branch of the NSPCC held a flag day in the town on May 8 and raised £358.79.

n A SOUTH Lakeland charity which helps young people expand their horizons through travel is holding a cross bay walk to raise much-needed funds.

The Roy McMechan Memorial Trust has given out some £120,000 to over 1,000 secondary school children in the South Lakeland area since its inception in 1986, but now needs to raise more funds to continue its work.

The walk from Arnside to Kents Bank will be held on June 12 at 2pm and led by Queen's Guide to the Sands Cedric Robinson.

Organisers are looking for sponsorship of £10 for individuals and £25 from families, but hope more can be raised.

Anyone who would like to take part in the cross bay walk in June should contact Mrs Sue Jackson on 01524-761915.