LUDLOW’S secret gardens will be a secret no more.

After the disappointment of having to cancel last year’s event, the organisers are delighted once more to offer a selection of gardens, not normally open to the public, for Secret Gardens of Ludlow.

Nine delightful private gardens, all within walking distance of the town centre, will open their garden gates for this year’s popular fundraising event. Diverse in setting, style and size, the gardens range from a small, colourful courtyard to a meadow sweeping down to the river Teme, and much in between.

Herb plants from Chelsea Gold winners The Cottage Herbery, plants from Mellington Nurseries, refreshments, ices creams, Prosecco and a bumper raffle with a fine foods hamper and a bottle of champagne as two of the prizes, will all be available in selected gardens. Visitors should bring cash as card payments will not be available at some of the stalls or at the garden gate.

This event has been organised with safe Covid practices in mind for the visitors, including some social distancing measures, plus the use of face coverings in one or two venues where access to the garden is through a property.

Ticket /map £10 giving entry to all gardens, is now available online at ludlowassemblyrooms.co.uk until noon on Friday, July 2, or during normal shop hours at Castle Bookshop, cash only, and at the gardens on the day, also cash only.

The Ludlow Assembly Rooms that benefits from the fundraising has just reopened after a major refurbishment that resulted in a long period during which it was closed although during much of the time the Covid-19 restrictions would have made it unable to open anyway.

When work started it was discovered that a lot more needed doing than had been anticipated.

There was funding from the Arts Council and Shropshire Council.