MORE than 500 people were welcomed on to Creedy Park estate on Sunday for a fundraising walk around its picturesque grounds.

For the first time in ten years, the private estate near Crediton opened for visitors, raising more than £1,600 for Marie Curie Cancer Care.

The woodlands were filled with the fresh greens of beech and oak trees and the rhododendrons, azaleas, bluebells, primroses and wild garlic added vibrant colours.

The more interesting trees were all labelled to give visitors an insight into the range of specimens brought in from around the world over the past 200 years.

Young Nye Werner, James Cox and Laura Cox won the woodland quiz and gardeners browsed around the home grown vegetable and flower plants on sale.

Visitors snapped up treats from the cake stall and delicious cream teas were served on the terrace to the music of the St Albans Quintet, which included Creedy Park resident Betty Ship.

Ian Strange, chairman of the residents group, said “Creedy Park would like to thank all those who came and spent their money so generously for such a good cause and it was a pleasure for us to see so many of you enjoying our woodlands.”

By the end of the successful day, more than £1,600 was raised for Marie Curie Cancer Care.