Music at Bexhill Open Gardens

The British weather nearly got the better of us on Saturday.

Five minutes before our performance at The Clinches Garden, the rain arrived. Visitors headed for cover, umbrellas appeared from nowhere, and for a moment it looked as though our audience had vanished. We started singing anyway. As the first song went on, people began to return, and by the end of it, the rain had stopped completely and the garden was full again. This is not the first time that has happened at one of our performances, but we still can't explain it.

We were delighted to take part in this year's National Garden Scheme Open Gardens weekend and perform in Val's beautiful garden. Throughout the day, visitors moved between gardens across Bexhill, enjoying the hard work, creativity and dedication that local gardeners put into their outdoor spaces.

The weekend was also raising money for Warming Up The Homeless, a local charity supporting people without a safe place to live. Every ticket sold, every donation and every visitor helped contribute to that work. We were pleased to be part of an event that not only brought people together but also raised funds for a cause that makes a real difference locally.

For us, these events are always about more than a performance. They are a chance to meet people, catch up with familiar faces and introduce others to Ukrainian music and culture. Many conversations started after the singing had finished. People asked about the songs, about Ukraine and about the work we do throughout the year. Those conversations matter. They are how people get to know us, how new supporters find us, and how connections are built within the community.

Thank you to Joan Ball and the National Garden Scheme team for organising another successful Open Gardens weekend, and to Val for opening her garden and making everyone feel so welcome.

And thank you to everyone who listened, applauded, donated, joined in and stayed with us despite the rain.

In the end, the weather behaved itself, the singing continued, and it turned out to be a very good afternoon indeed.