CRANBORNE’S Manor Garden will be opening its garden gates for the spring and summer every Wednesday until September 1.

And the gardens will be open to visitors on Mother’s Day this Sunday, with the cafe at the garden centre serving set lunches and afternoon tea.

Cranborne Manor Garden boasts acres of glorious grounds with a thriving collection of fruit trees, wild plants, sculptures and manicured lawns plus topiary and an enviable vegetable garden. The gardens surround the manor house, which was originally one of King John’s hunting lodges, and were designed by Salisbury’s garden designer John Tradescant during the reign of James I. Cranborne Garden Centre will officially be launched during the May Bank Holiday weekend.

Owner Claire Whitehead said: “The Manor Garden at Cranborne Manor Estate is a spectacular display of a quintessential English garden with incredible design and landscaping throughout.

“It’s always exciting when they open the doors to the public once again and we take much inspiration in the Garden Centre from the Manor Garden.”

She added: “We’re very excited about the launch of Cranborne Garden Centre, we have been working hard over the previous months to restore it to its former glory and we’re looking forward to sharing our plans for the future with the public.”