New Shropshire garden opening for charity

Visitors can browse a sea of bluebells in the county at Lower Brookshill, high in the south Shropshire Hills at Shelve, near Minsterley, which is opening this month to visitors.

The scheme enables private garden owners across the country, to open their gardens to the public, raising money for cancer and nursing charities.

The creation of the 10-acre hillside garden at Lower Brookshill was started by owners Robin and Patricia Oldfield in 2010.

A project that they both describe as “challenging”, as it is within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) at 950 feet above sea level, conditions are harsh and extreme, particularly in winter.

The once derelict stony site now includes a “pocket park”, four ponds, borders and lawns as well as its woodland walks through the bluebells.

Mrs Oldfield said: "It was our aim when we came here to see if we could create a garden that would be accepted by the National Garden Scheme.

"The county organisers came to see us last autumn and said yes it would be acceptable, so we were very pleased.

"We've already had our first group of people around today, they certainly seemed to enjoy the garden and the cake and sausage rolls too.!

Lower Brookshill will welcome National Garden Scheme visitors by arrangement throughout May.

Anyone wishing to visit should contact Robin and Patricia through the National Garden Scheme website at ngs.org.uk

Admission is £4 each, under 16s free, and homemade teas are available.

All proceeds from visits go to National Garden Scheme charities including Macmillan, Marie Curie, Hospices UK, Parkinson’s UK and many other causes supported by the scheme.

Lower Brookshill will also be open to National Garden Scheme visitors on July 1 from 2-6pm, more information is available at ngs.org.uk

If you would like a free leaflet with all the gardens open in Shropshire for the National Garden Scheme this summer, email Allison Walter at allison.walter@ngs.org.uk