Eight local residents threw open their garden gates to visitors from far and wide for the event on October 26.

Dungog Garden Ramblers are the enthusiastic band of green thumbs behind the event which this year raised $5500.

The ramblers recently presented cheques to various organisations to help local children.

The Chances Program assisting children with extra-curricular activities received $1000 and Dungog Public School received $1120 to support special needs children in the cooking program along with $1500 to upgrade the kitchen.

The Dungog Public School P and C received $2000 to purchase sets of books for the literacy program.

There were two new features of the ramble this year, both of which will be part of future rambles.

One is Garden-Aid where volunteer Ramblers help a gardener who can no longer manage to maintain their garden.

"This year's participant was delighted with the outcome and took great pleasure in greeting visitors to her garden on Ramble day," said Ruth Dircks from the Dungog Garden Ramblers.

"The other is the 'phonography' competition where visitors are invited to use their phones to take pictures showing a special moment in any of the open gardens."

Toby Solomon judged the competition and she identified two outstanding entries.

The prize for adults went to Carol Rose and for juniors to Caitlin Parish for her photo of a yellow day lily.

The day after the ramble, the organising committee had the chance to meet up and discuss the previous day as well as to enjoy a ramble around each other's gardens.

Plans are already under way for next year's ramble - with hopes for more pleasant weather.