Montpellier Gardens are owned and actively cared for by Cheltenham Borough Council, for both town residents and visitors to enjoy.
In 1994 a community of local volunteers, the Friends of Montpellier Bandstand and Gardens (FOMBAG) was established to help the council with maintaining and enhancing this beautiful space.
Since then, we have played a significant rôle in the development of the gardens’ restoration plan, and have contributed many volunteer hours assisting the Borough Council to keep the gardens in tip-top condition for everyone to enjoy.
We help with planting and tidying the garden borders, litter picking and general maintenance. We continue to raise substantial amounts of money for local charities – including local food banks, cancer support groups, and children's organisations.. Several of our members are local residents, and they also act as the eyes and ears of the gardens.
In addition - and most visibly - we organise and promote a programme of seven free summer concerts every year, at our historic bandstand here in Montpellier Gardens. The programme offers a varied range of live music for the local community and visitors, including jazz, pop, swing and brass bands, youth bands and choirs, including children’s choirs. We normally publish the programme early in the year, as we need to arrange to synchronise with other events in the gardens, once their dates are published.
An annual Musical Celebration of Christmas at the bandstand is a hugely popular family fundraising event for charities including Sue Ryder, Maggie's, The Butterfly Garden, and Cheltenham Food Bank.
