Gardens opened to public after 200 years

Garden and greenhouse enthusiasts are to be granted access to a horticultural attraction for the first time in two centuries.

The grounds at Woburn Abbey in Bedfordshire were designed by renowned Victorian landscape expert Humphry Repton on request from the sixth Duke of Bedford, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) reported.

To celebrate their 200th anniversary, the current owner has elected to welcome members of the public for the first time.

Horticulture fans can expect to find informally planted woodland glades and gardens with views over the Camellia Lake and the church tower of Woburn – a nearby village.

It took Mr Repton eight years to create the site, which originally featured a menagerie with peacocks, antelope and llamas, with work finishing in 1810.

The Duchess of Bedford will begin the celebrations on May 15th and 16th with a weekend of gardening events.

In other news, the RHS has revealed that the National Botanic Garden of Wales is set to undergo a funding review from the Welsh Assembly due to a request for more cash ahead of a predicted drop in visitor numbers.