WITH prices that have been pruned back to their roots, and a list of 23 separate gardens and nurseries to visit, tourism officers in the county are hoping that their latest Glorious Gardens leaflet will tempt visitors back into the gardens of Herefordshire.

The leaflet offers holiday makers the chance to stay for two nights in Herefordshire from just £40 per person. The 'Garden Short Breaks' are also being promoted by a new web site: www.gloriousgardens.org.uk.

New leaflet

The new leaflet was launched last weekend at the London Garden Show, at Alexandra Palace, where Herefordshire tourism staff were promoting the county to a wide audience of potential visitors.

The leaflet, however, not only lists the finest gardens in Herefordshire, but also contains details of seven separate accommodations across the county - each one of which possess gardens of interest, which are run by individuals who share a common love of gardening.

All of the accommodations offering special short breaks are clearly marked on a map within the fold-open leaflet - along with 11 gardens to visit, and a further 12 nurseries, garden centres and specialist plant collections. The leaflet also lists all opening times, admission prices, directions, and disabled access information.

Herefordshire is 'home' to over 10 national collections, including clematis, Michaelmas daisies and herbaceous campanula - and the new leaflet advises visitors where to find these collections, and the best time to visit.

"We obviously see this as another means of helping to promote to holiday makers the fact that Herefordshire is very much 'open for business' during the foot and mouth crisis', explains tourism marketing officer, Kate Tudge. "But I'm sure the leaflet will also be of equal interest to any 'green fingered' residents of Herefordshire."

Copies of the full colour Herefordshire's Glorious Gardens 2001 leaflet are available from all tourist information centres within the county, and can also be obtained free of charge by telephoning 01432 260621.