THE new Jubilee Arboretum at The Garden House in Buckland Monachorum was officially opened by the Countess of Wessex on Tuesday.

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

Thanks to individual sponsorship, more than 100 trees have now been planted, many of them recently introduced from temperate zones of the world.

The site is further enhanced by a 50-metre lake, waterfalls and gently winding paths.

The Countess was welcomed to the garden by acting chairman of the Fortescue GardenTrust, David Incoll, and head gardener, Nick Haworth.

Following a tour of the garden, she unveiled a plaque at the entrance to the Arboretum.

A posy of flowers gathered from the garden was presented to the Countess by eleven-year old Madeline Hewes, one of a group of schoolchildren from St Andrew's Primary School at Buckland Monachorum, who were at the garden for the royal visit.