THE annual 'Mythic Garden' sculpture exhibition at Stone Lane Gardens in Chagford opens to the public on May 8.

The exhibition, entitled 'Art in Nature', runs daily from 2pm-6pm until October 3. The exhibition will show a selection of work by West Country artists, placed in the peaceful backdrop of the gardens.

Stone Lane Gardens is a five acre arboretum that holds important national collections of wild birch and alder trees.

In 2010, the garden was voted 'best garden to visit in the South West' by readers of Gardener's World magazine.

The non-profit organisation conserves and researches birches and alders for the enjoyment and education of the public.

The trees are underplanted with a tapestry of shade and moisture-loving plants, including stunning displays of euphorbias and gunneras.

During the last year, there has been much change at Stone Lane Gardens, following the death of Kenneth Ashburner, creator of the woodland garden, last July.

A charity was formed to ensure a safe future for the garden, which is the culmination of decades of hard work by Kenneth, whose passion for birch and alder trees took him around the Northern hemisphere in search of wild species.

Kenneth's wife June saw the potential of the gardens as a backdrop for outdoor art, and so the sculpture exhibition was born.

For more details, call 01647 231311 or visit http://www.stonelanegardens.com">www.stonelanegardens.com.