Explore a National Garden Scheme open garden this Bank Holiday Weekend in Halam, or Whatton in the Vale

For those interested in a relaxed Bank Holiday Weekend, a number of stunning gardens are hosting open days as part of the National Garden Scheme.

This Sunday (August 25), The Old Vicarage, on Halam Hill, Halam, will be opening up its gardens once again from 1pm to 4.30pm.

The venue has been opening for many years remains a firm favourite among returning visitors.

Set across two acres of hillside, the garden is planted with an artful design, plenty of colour and texture, and a variety of unusual plants and trees.

There is also new planting at bottom of garden which attracts diverse wildlife.

The site is wheelchair accessible and dog friendly. There will be parking available as well as plants and refreshments for sale, and cashless payments accepted.

Then on Bank Holiday Monday (August 26), there will be a combined opening of two gardens in Whatton in the Vale from 11am to 4pm.

Firstly, 5 Burton Lane is home to an organic cottage style garden, which is productive, highly decorative and wildlife friendly.

It is filled with colour from spring to autumn, featuring several distinct areas and large beds with over 600 varieties of plants surrounded by paths to wander around.

There is seating as well as a gravel garden, pond, shade planting, pergola with grapevine, and a wildflower lawn.

Plants and refreshments will also be for sale.

Green fingered enthusiasts can then head over to Cedarwood, on Burton Lane, which is a third of an acre plantswoman's garden, which has been developed over the last 13 years.

It is planted for year round colour and plants are chosen for their attractiveness to both people and wildlife.

The garden features mixed borders, a formal pond, bog garden, raised alpine bed and a cedar alpine greenhouse.

The traditional rose garden has been replaced by a formal area focusing on foliage.

It is a re-designed wildlife friendly garden with free range hens, hedgehogs, newts, and frogs.

The National Garden Scheme is also appealing for garden owners in Nottinghamshire who would like to open up their carefully curated green space to the public and help support charities in the process.

Anyone interested in getting involved is asked to contact Andrew Young, assistant county organiser, by email at: andrew.young@ngs.org.uk