Knighton on the Powys/Shropshire border is the place to head for this weekend. Here you’ll find two very different gardens are open for charity.

Hebron is a surprising Victorian town garden open both Saturday and Sunday afternoon. The garden is divided into a number of ‘rooms’ by yew and beech hedges. Trees including large silver birches and weeping willow as well as many shrubs provide colour throughout the season. There are heathers, herbs, vegetables and flower beds to enjoy. Garden art adds further interest and a slate/stone letter cutter/carver will be present. This garden at Hebron, Ludlow Road, Knighton, LD7 1HP is open from midday to 6pm both Saturday and Sunday (11th and 12th August). Admission is £3.50 for adults; children free and homemade teas will be available.

The garden at Hill House Farm, 4 miles from Knighton, is completely different. This is a very peaceful garden surrounded by pastureland with distant views of the Black Mountains. You won’t find a straight edge and the only level lawn - the old tennis court – is now used as an imperfect croquet lawn. All the paths through the shrubbery and among the trees are curved so that as you walk you are continually being presented with a different vista. The Oak Pool - created by damming a small stream in 1976 - at the bottom of the garden benefits from five magnificent 200 plus year old oak trees which you see as you walk on the paths that go rround it. The house stands at just over 1000 feet above sea level and the bottom of the garden is 750, making growing fruit a hazardous pursuit but the soil, overlying red sandstone is fertile and shrubs and trees grow well. This is not an ideal garden to visit on a windy day and only limited access for wheel chairs, although transport is available from the bottom of the garden. Hill House Farm is open from 2 to 5pm on Sunday 12th August; admission is £5 for adults; children free. You’ll find Hill House Farm if you head out of Knighton on the Ludlow road, post code LD7 1NA; it is just over the border 200m into Herefordshire.

Both these gardens and two others in Knighton open by arrangement. So, if you are busy this weekend, or would like a more exclusive visit with a group of friends why not arrange a visit to a Knighton garden at a time to suit you. Hebron – contact Kevin Collins & Anita Lewis on 01547 529576; Hill House Farm - contact Simon & Caroline Gourlay on 01547 52854; 1 Ystrad House – contact John & Margaret Davis on 01547 528154; and Pont Faen House – contact Mr John & Mrs Brenda Morgan on 01547 520847

Gardens open by arrangement (please contact owner to arrange a visit)

All year: Llysdinam, Newbridge-on-Wye, LD1 6NB tel. 01597 860190

February - October: Fraithwen, Tregynon SY16 3EW tel. 01686 650307

March - August: Abernant, Garthmyl SY15 6RZ tel. 01686 640494

March - September: Plas Dinam, Llandinam SY17 5DQ tel. 07415 503554

March - September: Pont Faen House, Knighton LD7 1LA tel. 01547 520847

April - August: Tyn y Cwm, Beulah, Llanwrtyd Wells, LD5 4TS tel. 01591 620461

April - October: Hill House Farm, Knighton, LD7 1NA tel.01547 528542

May - September: 1 Church Bank, Welshpool SY21 7DR tel. 01938 559112

May - September: Ceunant, Old Hall, Llanidloes, SY18 6PW tel. 01686 412345

May - September: Hebron, Ludlow Road, Knighton, LD7 1HP tel. 01547 529576

May - September: The Neuadd, Llanbedr, Crickhowell, NP8 1SP tel. 01873 812164

May - September: Bryn y Llidiart, Cefn Coch, Llanrhaeadr ym Mochnant, SY10 0BP

tel. 01691 780080

May - October: Caer Beris Manor Hotel, Builth Wells, LD2 3NP tel. 01982 552601

June - September: 1 Ystrad House, Church Road, Knighton LD7 1EB tel. 01547 528154

June - August: Hurdley Hall, Churchstoke, SY15 6DY

e-mail simon.cain@westbourneconsulting.com