The 3-metre spider in a Falmouth garden that storms couldn’t stop

She arrives every October. She’s more than three metres tall, her legs reach about five metres, and her name is FANG.

For five years now, one garden on Boslowick Road has turned into a Halloween display for the local community. This year the weather nearly stopped it.

A garden display with a serious purpose

Jo Phelps and her husband Nick run the Boslowick Halloween Fundraiser in Falmouth. Every year they raise money for The Last Chance Hotel, a Cornish animal rescue charity. They’ve been supporting the rescue since 2022.

Over the first four years they raised more than £5,000 in donations, plus Gift Aid. More than £2,000 of that came in last year alone, and Jo is hoping to match it this Halloween.

The couple pay for everything themselves. Most of the display is homemade, and that includes the animatronics and FANG. So every donation goes to the charity.

“We absolutely love seeing the excitement on the children’s faces when FANG makes her annual appearance at the beginning of October,” Jo said. “It’s become something of a tradition for us now.”

Storm after storm

This year the weather wasn’t on their side. After months of preparation, storm after storm hit the garden. Just as they were getting ready to open for their Halloween Spooktacular, the display took some serious damage.

“It’s been heartbreaking at times, watching so much hard work being undone by the weather,” Jo said, “but we’ve picked ourselves up, made changes, rebuilt what we could and carried on!”

The Sensory-Friendly Day nearly fell through as well. A power cut had been scheduled for that day, but National Grid stepped in to help.

“Honestly, you couldn’t make up some of the challenges we’ve faced this year!”

📷Part of the Boslowick Halloween Fundraiser display, Falmouth

The Lifers

This year the couple especially want people to know about the charity’s Lifers. These are animals, often elderly or with extra medical needs, that live in lifelong foster homes. The Last Chance Hotel keeps paying their vet bills.

Jo said smaller local charities are under financial pressure too, just like everyone else.

“If The Last Chance Hotel can keep going through all the challenges they face, then we can certainly find a way to keep our Halloween display going!”

How to visit

The garden is at 136 Boslowick Road, Falmouth, TR11 4QF. It’s free to visit and donations are voluntary. It’s open throughout half-term until this Sunday (1 November).

The Sensory-Friendly Day is this Thursday (29 October). It’s for people who might struggle with a busy Halloween display, and the couple say it matters a lot to them.

You can also donate online through the Boslowick Halloween 2026 JustGiving page.

“We’re still here, still smiling and still determined to raise as much as we possibly can for the animals who need our help.”

📷FANG the spider at the Boslowick Halloween Fundraiser, Falmouth