All the secret gardens within a short drive of Wirral this summer

DOZENS of secret gardens across Cheshire and Merseyside will be opening their gates this summer allowing visitors to enjoy the green open spaces filled with flowers.

The National Garden Scheme gives unique access to more than 3,500 private gardens in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands, raising money for nursing and health charities.

This year, visitors can enjoy 14 gardens in Wirral with venues in Upton, Bebington and Heswall.

Dozens more green and colourful spaces will be welcoming people across Cheshire and Merseyside if you want to travel a little further afield for a day out.

Around £67million has been raised over the years for Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie, Hospice UK and The Queen’s Nursing Institute, with £3.1million being donated last year thanks to the generosity of garden owners, volunteers and visitors.

Here are the 14 secret venues in Wirral open to visitors this summer followed by a list of the other Cheshire and Merseyside gardens opening this summer:

Inglewood

Inglewood, 4 Birchmere, Heswall, Wirral, Cheshire, CH60 6TN

By arrangement

A beautiful half-acre garden with a stream, large koi pond and 'beach' with grasses as well as wildlife pond and bog area. It's brimming with shrubs, bulbs, acers, conifers, rhododendrons, herbaceous plants and hosta borders. Interesting features include a hand cart, wood carvings and a bug hotel as well as Indian dog gates leading to a secret garden. There is lots of seating to enjoy refreshments.

Admission: Adult: £5 Child: Free

Rosewood

Rosewood, Old Hall Lane, Puddington, Neston, Cheshire, CH64 5SP

By arrangement

A year-round garden with thousands of snowdrops in February and camellias in autumn, winter and spring. Rhododendrons can be seen in April and May and unusual flowering trees from March to June. Autumn cyclamen in quantity from August to November. Perhaps the greatest delight to the owners are the two large Cornus capitata, flowering in June.

Admission: Adult: £4 Child: Free

Oakland Vale

6 Oakland Vale, Wallasey, Merseyside, CH45 1LQ

By arrangement

A very small walled town garden densely filled with tropical and exotic style plants. Bananas, tree ferns, cordylines and bamboo along with tetrapanax and paulownia form the backdrop to more unusual ‘exotic’ plants and a pond. The terraced front garden overlooking the Mersey is filled with grasses, ferns, phormiums and echiums along with drought tolerant plants.

Admission: Adult: £4 Child: Free

Framley

Framley, Hadlow Road, Willaston, Neston, Cheshire, CH64 2US

Monday, May 1

This five- acre garden holds many hidden gems. Comprising extensive mature wooded areas, under planted with a variety of interesting and unusual woodland plants - all at their very best in spring. A selection of deep seasonal borders surround a mystical sunken garden, planted to suit its challenging conditions. Wide lawns and sandstone paths invite you to discover what lies around every corner.

Admission: Adult: £5 Child: Free

18 Dee Park Road

18 Dee Park Road, Wirral, Merseyside, CH60 3RQ

Sunday, June 11, Wednesday, June 14 and Sunday, June 18

A long suburban garden backing onto private woodland. Mature garden laid to lawns, with mixed borders, leading on to numerous seating areas. The garden features a very unusual triple hexagonal greenhouse, which was originally purchased from the Liverpool Garden Festival site, c1984, before taking you through to a shaded wooded area where there are numerous different types of hosta on display.

Admission: Adult: £4 Child: Free

Willaston Grange

Willaston Grange, Hadlow Road, Willaston, Neston, Cheshire, CH64 2UN

Saturday, June 17

Willaston Grange is an Arts & Craft property. Thirteen years ago, the house and gardens had been derelict for three yrs. After months of detailed planning, the significant restoration work began. The gardens extend to six acres with a small lake, wide range of mature and rare tree species, herbaceous border, woodland and vegetable gardens, an orchard and a magical treehouse.

Admission: Adult: £5 Child: Free

24 Old Greasby Road

24 Old Greasby Road, Upton, Wirral, Merseyside, CH49 6LT

Sunday, June 18

A multi-interest and surprising suburban garden. Both front and rear gardens incorporate innovative features designed for climbing and rambling roses, clematis, underplanted with cottage garden plants with a very productive kitchen garden.

Admission: Adult: £4.50 Child: Free

Maggie's Wirral

Maggie’s Wirral, Clatterbridge Road, Bebington, Wirral, Merseyside, CH63 4JY

Sunday, June 18

Maggie's Wirral invites visitors in via a winding path through sun loving planting sheltered by wavy stone wall. The centre is set within varied colourful gardens with a peaceful woodland area that attracts wildlife. The Mediterranean garden has a shallow pool and sensory plants, paved areas for quiet contemplation and more active therapeutic activities. The greenhouse and growing area encourages involvement.

Admission: Adult: £5 Child: Free

The Coach House

The Coach House, The Village, Burton, Merseyside, CH64 5TE

Sunday, June 25

On a south facing sandstone hillside overlooking the Dee Estuary, this revitalised garden is just over an acre. There are sunny herbaceous borders and shady spaces, something for everyone.