THREE beautiful Malvern gardens will be opening their gates to the public next weekend as part of the National Garden Scheme.

The gardens, two on Layton Avenue and one on nearby Pickersleigh Road, are all very different but their owners have one thing in common, a real love of plants and gardening.

The gardens are colourful, packed with plants and beautifully kept. There are water features in all the three gardens, interesting designs, wonderful colour combinations and a productive vegetable plot.

At 10 Layton Avenue David and Pauline Ranford have a secluded and inviting garden which wraps around the house and has seating areas and a courtyard fish pond. At 22 Layton Avenue Brian and Jenny Bradford have a garden with a stream running through it and a feature gazebo. And at 159 Pickersleigh Road Karen and Phil Hopkinson have a garden with two distinct areas including a stream and waterfalls and a fruit and vegetable plot.

Mr Bradford and his wife, who are now retired, spend a lot of time in their garden.

“There is always something that needs doing. We created two new flower beds this year,” said Mr Bradford. He said the garden included a broad range of planting including acers, ferns and grasses.

He said everything was ready for the NGS opening on Saturday, June 13, and Sunday, June 14, and he and his wife were now busy preparing and labelling plants for sale.

Last year, when the two Layton Avenue gardens opened for the first time, plant sales went well.

“People could see plants in the garden that they liked and take one home with them,” said Mr Bradford.

The two Layton Avenue Gardens attracted 175 visitors and raised £720 for charity last year and with the addition of a third garden they are expecting this year to be even busier.

“People spent a long time looking round and just sitting by the stream enjoying the garden,” said Mr Bradford.

Family and friends have been roped in to help make cakes and to help serve teas and coffees on the open garden days.

The gardens are listed in this year’s Yellow Book and are open from 11am until 4pm on both Saturday and Sunday. Admission to all three gardens costs £3.50. Teas and coffees will be on sale along with a selection of plants.