A giant fairy door, believed to be the world’s largest, has been unveiled at Furzey Gardens in Minstead to begin the charity’s centenary fundraising appeal. The Special Years Appeal aims to raise £500,000.

The unveiling ceremony took place on 13 April and was attended by garden visitors and the people with learning disabilities who helped build the eight-foot door. They are supported by local charity Minstead Trust, which runs the gardens, to learn new skills in its woodwork workshops and elsewhere.

Iesha, who helped with the construction, said: “I loved making the fairy door, it was a lot of fun. I think it looks really good here.”

The centenary year aims to tell the pioneering story of the gardens – from the intrepid plant hunters who filled the gardens with rare species to its more modern history as a place of support and education for people with learning disabilities.

Over 220 people are supported by the Minstead Trust across Hampshire to live more independent and fulfilled lives.

The giant fairy door houses a smaller door that allows visitors to enter a bamboo maze. They join more than 40 tiny fairy doors that are hidden around the garden and have proved popular with young visitors.

Matt Stroud, head of Marketing at Minstead Trust, said: “The woodwork instructors and people we support have done a remarkable job building this giant door. With a little help from the fairies of Furzey Gardens of course…

‘We hope visitors of all ages will enjoy entering our bamboo maze through the door and marvelling at the ceramics and artwork that adorn the door. It is a fitting celebration of our centenary as we seek to raise crucial funds in our Special Years Appeal.”

To find out more or make a donation to support the centenary visit www.minsteadtrust.org.uk/furzey-centenary