Glorious gardens around the county are finally able to open their gates to visitors - some are  opening for the National Gardens Scheme (pre-booking only), while others are opening every day ...

Thursday, June 25
Ivy Croft, near Leominster
Pre-booking only

A maturing rural garden with areas of meadow, wood and orchard, blending with countryside and providing habitat for wildlife. The cottage is surrounded by borders, raised beds, trained pears and containters. Paths lead to the wider garden including herbaceous borders, vegetable garden framed with espalier apples and a pond with willows, ferns and grasses. Each bookable time slot is for 90 minutes. Only people with pre-booked tickets can visit the garden. Picnics allowed. Book at ngs.org.uk

Saturday, June 27 and Sunday, June 28
The Garden of the Wind, Middle Hunt House, Walterstone
Pre-booking only

A modern garden using swathes of herbaceous plants and grasses, surrounding stone built farmhouse and barns with stunning views of the Black Mountains. Special features: rose border, hornbeam alley, formal parterre and water rill and fountains, William Pye water feature, architecturally designed greenhouse and RIBA bridge, vegetable gardens. Carved lettering and sculpture throughout, garden covering about four acres. ngs.org.uk

Sunday, June 28
Rhodds Farm, Lyonshall Pre-booking only
Created by the owner, a garden designer, over the past 14 years, the garden contains an extensive range of interesting plants. Here you’ll discover a formal garden with dovecote housing 50 white doves, mixed borders, double herbaceous borders of hot colours, large gravel garden, several ponds, arboretum, wild flower meadow and 13 acres of woodland. It is a natural garden that fits the setting with magnificent views. Each bookable timeslot is for 90 minutes. You will need to leave the garden promptly at the end of your timeslot so that the next visitors can enter. There will be a 15-minute changeover time between slots. Book at ngs.org.uk

Sunday, June 28
Broxwood Court, Leominster
Pre-booking only

An impressive 29 acre garden and arboretum, designed in 1859 by W. Nesfield for great-grandfather of present owner. Magnificent yew hedges and kilometre long avenue of cedars and Scots pines, the garden offers a spectacular view of the Black Mountains, with sweeping lawns, rhododendrons and gentle walks to the summer house, chapel and ponds. There is also a rose garden, mixed borders, rill, gazebo and fountain as well as peacocks and white doves. Each timeslot is for two hours. No dogs. ngs.org.uk

Monday, June 29
Moors Meadow Gardens
Pre-booking only

An intriguing and eclectic garden, full of appeal to the true plantsman. The seven-acre organic hillside site offers superb views over the Kyre Valley and comprises a variety of environments rich in unusual and exotic plants. There are countless spring bulbs, brimming herbaceous borders, a grass garden, a rhododendron glade, a fernery, a cottage-style garden, a herb garden, and a highly productive kitchen garden. Assorted paths wind through the garden to add a sense of surprise and secrecy. Book at ngs.org.uk

Sunday, June 28
The Vine, Tarrington
Pre-booking only

Mature, traditional garden in peaceful setting with stunning views of the surrounding countryside. Consisting of various rooms with mixed and herbaceous borders. Secret garden in blue/yellow/white, croquet lawn with 18th century summer house, temple garden with ponds, herb and nosegay garden, vegetable/cutting/soft fruit garden around greenhouse on the paddock. Cornus avenues with obelisk and willow bower. Each bookable timeslot is for 1 hour and 45 minutes. ngs.org.uk

Daily from 11.30am to 5pm
Hergest Croft Gardens

Set in the heart of the Welsh Marches, this 70 acre garden has stunning views towards the Black Mountains. Created over 120 years by four generations of the Banks family, Hergest Croft has a unique collection of over 5,000 rare plants, trees and shrubs as well as more than 90 ‘Champion’ trees. There are gorgeous flower borders, an old fashioned Kitchen Garden, Azalea Garden, Maple Grove, and Park Wood. Spectacular spring and autumn colour make this a garden for all seasons. A season ticket, £27, gives admission to the gardens every day of the year; available from the Estate Office on 01544 230160. Hergest Croft is one of eight gardens shortlisted for the Historic Houses Garden of the Year Award. You can cast your vote at historichouses.org hergestcroft.co.uk

Open 11am to 5pm
Westonbury Watermill Gardens

Entrance to the garden will be via the cafe which will be offering take away food , drinks, ice cream etc for picnics on the outside tables and the lawn areas of the car park. For visitor safety the Cuckoo Clock will not be operating and entrance to the garden may have to be limited. After your picnic stroll through the Bog Garden, the Big Pond, flanked by massed groups of moisture-loving plants large and small, and the Cairn Garden, where boardwalks take you over a maze of small channels and luxuriant growth. From here, you cross bridges over the new planting of the Cut and reach the Canal at the edge of the Wild Flower Meadow.
westonburywatermillgardens.com

Open 10am to 5pm
Brobury House and Gardens

The Gardens at Brobury House were originally laid out in the 1880s when the house was built. The setting, on the banks of the River Wye by Bredwardine Bridge, was the perfect site for a terraced Victorian garden, the panoramic views of the surrounding countryside complementing the formal gardens. The present owners, Keith and Pru Cartwright, have been at Brobury since 2001, and have embarked on a programme of restoration and development in conjunction with their garden designer, Peter Antonius. broburyhouse.co.uk

Queenswood Country Park and Arboretum
Queenswood is the only designated country park in the county. It includes an arboretum (a 47-acre tree collection with over 1,200 rare and exotic trees from all over the world) and 123 acres of semi-natural ancient woodland which is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Local Nature Reserve (LNR). The cafe is now open, offering take away drinks and snacks only. Please note that there is no customer seating or tables. The main car park is open (not the woodland car park) and car parking charges apply as normal. Please note that the cafe is unable to give change so please bring coins with you. If you do not wish to touch the parking machines you can pay on arrival using RINGO. Alternatively, annual permits are available via the website. queenswoodandbodenhamlake.org

Credenhill Park Wood
With a past as a Roman army depot, medieval deer park and the site of an Iron Age tribal centre, Credenhill Park Wood is steeped in history. Add to that a range paths to explore, terrific views of the Black Mountains, stunning woodland flowers and a variety of wildlife, and this is simply too good a wood to miss. woodlandtrust.org.uk

Malvern Hills
Whether you want to stretch yourself or take a gentle stroll, the Malvern Hills has something for everyone, whether it’s the historian fascinated by the rich cultural heritage of forts, castles and priories, or a nature lover delighting in the wealth of wildlife among the ancient woodland, rolling pastures and wild, wide open commons. Not to mention views to take the breath away. Car parks are now open. Public toilets remain closed at the Wyche Cutting. Limited facilities at British Camp.
malvernhills.org.uk