A NUMBER of gardens in the county will be open as the National Garden Scheme celebrates its 90th birthday.

Gardens open for the anniversary of the scheme include 68 Windsor Avenue in Worcester, a large and tranquil garden of almost one acre behind a 1930's semi detached house.

The garden includes bog gardens, flower beds, 'oriental' area, vegetable patch, five greenhouses and a koi pond plus three other ponds each in very different styles. There are also chickens and ornamental pheasants.

The gardens are open between Saturday May 27 and Monday May 29, with the Windsor Avenue garden open from 11am until 4pm on the Saturday and Sunday.

Four gardens in Eckington will also be open including Brook House in Manor Road, a one acre garden that has cottage style planting with a koi carp pond and a new summer house and patio area.

Next there is Mantoft which is a thatched manor house with formal walled garden with fish pond, topiary and dew pond, with ducks and geese.

There are hedges and stone paths with a gazebo overlooking the garden and a new dovecote.

The third garden is Hilltop, another one acre garden with a sunken area and pond, rose garden, herbaceous borders and formal hedging which has 'windows' cut out to enjoy the views over beautiful countryside and the River Avon.

The final garden is Nafford House, a two acre mature natural garden and wood with slopes to the River Avon.

The four gardens can be viewed in any order and the combined admission price is £6.

The gardens will be open from 11 am until 5pm on all three days.

The National Garden Scheme has raised over £50 million for beneficiaries such as MacMillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie, Hospice UK and the original recipient of funds, the Queens Nursing Institute.