Shropshire gardens opening for charity

A secret half-acre garden will be opening in Ludlow on Saturday.

This south-facing garden has been developed over 30 years by the present owners.

It has been divided up into different sections: rose garden, herbaceous borders, koi fish pond with gazebo, summer hous, poly tunnel and chickens, and a Mediterranean style terrace garden with views of the Shropshire hills. The garden won the 2017 Heart of England in Bloom Chairman's Award.

Another garden opening up to visitors this weekend is Delbury Hall Walled Garden.

This is a two-acre early Victorian walled garden with large herbaceous borders, a herb garden, shrubbery, demonstration vines and very old fruit trees.

In addition there is a large penstemon and hemerocallis collection. The gardens of Delbury Hall will be accessible unless a private function is being held.

A garden near Shrewsbury will be opening on Tuesday.

This hillside garden has more than 700 steps and a wide variety of styles and plants from formal terraces to woodland paths, plus a large kitchen garden.

The lawn area was redeveloped in 2017 with new statues.

The gardens are part of the National Garden Scheme which raises funds for cancer and caring charities.

For more information visit ngs.org.uk

Gardens opening:

* Saturday, June 23, 12.30pm to 5pm: Secret Garden, 21 Steventon Terrace, Steventon New Road, Ludlow, Shropshire, SY8 1JZ. Admissions is £3.50 for adults and free for children. Call Mr and Mrs Wood on 01584 876037 or email carolynwood2152@yahoo.co.uk

* Sunday, June 24, 11am to 5pm: Delbury Hall Walled Garden, Delbury Hall Estate, Mill Lane, Diddlebury, Craven Arms, Shropshire, SY7 9DH. Admission is £4 for adults and free for children. Call Mr and Mrs Rallings on 01584 841 222.

* Tuesday, June 26, 1.30pm to 5pm: Brownhill House, Ruyton XI Towns, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY4 1LR. Admission is £4 for adults and free for children. Call Roger and Yoland Brown on 01939 261121.