THREE secret gardens in Runcorn and Widnes will be opening their gates this summer allowing visitors to enjoy the flora and fauna of the season.
The National Garden Scheme gives unique access to more than 3,500 private gardens in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands, raising money for nursing and health charities.
This year, visitors can enjoy three gardens in Widnes, Dutton and Daresbury.
Click here to see dozens more green and colourful spaces will be welcoming people across Cheshire and Merseyside, if you want to travel a little further afield for a day out.
Around £67million has been raised over the years for Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie, Hospice UK and The Queen’s Nursing Institute, with £3.1million being donated last year thanks to the generosity of garden owners, volunteers and visitors.
Here are the three secret venues open to visitors this summer:
Bluebell Cottage Gardens
Bluebell Cottage Gardens, Lodge Lane, Dutton, Cheshire, WA4 4HP
Saturday, July 1 and Sunday, July 2
South facing country garden wrapped around a cottage on a quiet rural lane in the heart of Cheshire. Packed with thousands of rare and familiar hardy herbaceous perennials, shrubs and trees. Unusual plants available at adjacent nursery. New walled garden with greenhouse and raised vegetable beds.
Admission: Adult: £5.00 Child: Free
The Wonky Garden
The Wonky Garden, Ditton Community Centre, Dundalk Road, Widnes, WA8 8DF
Sunday, April 23, Sunday, July 2 and Sunday, September 10
The flower garden is our show garden, the focus for horticultural therapy/nature based activities. It has large herbaceous borders, trees and shrubs, planting focussing on the senses and wildlife. We grow masses of edibles and cut flowers in the allotment garden, 80% is donated to support food poverty. The children’s ‘explorify’ garden nestles between the two and is used to support young families.
Admission: Adult: £5.00 Child: Free
Hall Lane Farm
Hall Lane Farm, Hall Lane, Daresbury, Warrington, Cheshire, WA4 4AF
Sunday, June 18
The two-acre private formal garden was originally designed by Arabella Lennox-Boyd and is arranged in a 'gardens within gardens' style to create a series of enclosed spaces each with their own character and style. The gardens include a vegetable garden, an orchard and Koi pond as well as lawns and a treehouse.
Admission: Adult: £5.00 Child: Free
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here