OPEN gardens are starting to open up post lockdown. It will be done on a strictly pre-booked basis through the National Open Garden Scheme website.

On Saturday June 6, West Lavington Manor on Church Street is opening with a £10 entry fee.

It has a 5 acre walled garden first established in C17th by John Danvers who brought Italianate gardens to the UK.

It has a herbaceous border, Japanese garden, rose garden, orchard and arboretum with some outstanding specimen trees all centred around a trout stream and duck pond. There is a white birch grove and walk along southern bank of the stream. Picnics are welcome but there is only limited areas of garden accessible by wheelchair.

And on Sunday June 7, Ark Farm at Old Wardour, Tisbury, Salisbury opens. It is an informal hidden garden in beautiful setting with small wooded area, pond, water plants, lakeside walk, views of Old Wardour castle. This is a very difficult garden for wheelchairs.

Also a new one on the books, Fovant House, a former rectory set in about 3 acres of formal garden takes part in the scheme for the first time.

In 2016 the garden was redesigned by Arabella Lennox Boyd. The garden includes a 60m herbaceous border, terraces and parterre.

Hyde’s House in Dinton will be letting people who have pre booked in. It has three acres of wild and formal garden with series of hedged garden rooms.

See www.ngs.org.uk for timed slots.