Manor garden opening for charity for 80th year

Tulips feature throughout the garden, which is Grade I listed

A beautiful "secret garden" is set to open to raise money for a charity for the eightieth year.

The garden at Iford Manor near Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire, is opening for the National Garden Scheme (NGS) on Saturday 20 April.

The scheme gives gives visitors access to more than 3,500 private gardens and supports nursing and health charities with the proceeds.

Iford Manor owner William Cartwright-Hignett said: "We love supporting the NGS but I was astounded to realise this is the 80th year we have opened up for charity".

He added: It's a joy to see people discover us for the first time even thought we have been well known in the gardening world for a century."

The garden was redesigned a century ago by Harold Peto

The Grade 1 listed Italian-style garden sits in a steep-sided valley which accentuates the sunlight on the plants and architecture, particularly in the mornings and evenings.

There has been a garden at the site for at least 400 years. The manor was originally a wool factory; and a pleasure garden and park were first created by the Gaisford family in the 1820s.

Tricia Duncan from the NGS said: "We have a surprise planned for the garden to say thank you for their eight decades of supporting health charities.

"The garden is absolutely stunning, embellished with a collection of classical statuary, pools, fountains, loggias, colonnades, and statues, al with magnificent rural views across the Iford valley."

People were asked to book in advance to see the garden

Harold Pinto designed the garden in its present form in the early 1900s and it features inspirations from Italy and Japan, as well as many traditional English plants.

"Since 1965, when my mother bought the house, my family has been working to restore, conserve and enhances the garden and improve biodiversity," explained Mr Cartwright-Hignett.

"Eighty years ago proceeds of special visitor days went to the nurses at Freshford Cottage hospital and all these years on, we are delighted to share the beauty and tranquillity of Iford with our NGS visitors."

Organisers said people needed to pre-book on the website to visit on 20 April.

The garden is famous for its steep valley sides