THE Countess of Wessex will be visiting the Garden House at Buckland Monachorum officially to open the new Jubilee Arboretum during the morning of Tuesday, April 23.

On what was formerly a two-acre derelict site, a beautiful arboretum has been created to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the Fortescue Garden Trust, the charity which operates The Garden House.

Thanks to individual sponsorship, more than 100 young trees have now been planted, many of them recent introductions from temperate zones of the world, and all carefully selected for their interest and impact through the seasons.

The site is further enhanced by a 50-metre lake with its surrounding paths linked by two ornamental bridges spanning pretty waterfalls.

Sponsorship of the arboretum's 400 metres of gently winding paths by the Plymouth and District Disabled Fellowship, has ensured easy wheelchair access throughout.

The now famous garden at The Garden House has its origins in the passion of Lionel Fortescue and his wife, Katharine, in turning the overgrown grounds of the 19th century vicarage, which they bought in the 1940s, into a superbly designed and imaginatively planted walled garden.

In the ensuing years, successive head gardeners, Keith Wiley, Matt Bishop and more recently, Nick Haworth, have exercised their creative talents beyond the walled garden, to present what is widely regarded as a ten-acre horticultural masterpiece.

Today, the garden is particularly renowned for its diversity of planting, combining both traditional and naturalistic styles to great effect.

During her visit, the Countess will view the garden and meet many of the supporters and sponsors who have helped the trust generate the necessary funding to create the Jubilee Arboretum.

She will also unveil a plaque to commemorate this special occasion.

The trust is delighted that local schoolchildren, some of whom planted one of the first trees last autumn, will be there to meet the Royal visitor.

Although the Garden will remain open to visitors all day on April 23, there will be limited public car parking in the morning.

The Garden House is open daily from 10.30 am to 5pm. http://www.thegardenhouse.org.uk">http://www.thegardenhouse.org.uk