Nine private gardens around Salisbury Cathedral Close normally inaccessible to the public will open to all for a special event during the last weekend of May.

Friends of Salisbury Cathedral’s Secret Gardens of the Close, on Sunday, May 28, will showcase a host of flowers, shrubs and trees normally not visible.

Friends of Salisbury Cathedral chair Duncan Glass said: “We are eagerly awaiting the end of May when we hold our flagship event, which is made possible by the generosity of residents of the Cathedral Close who kindly open their beautiful gardens for us.

“The Friends’ charity is the cathedral’s fan club and we look forward to welcoming visitors to our Secret Gardens of the Close event, safe in the knowledge that the money raised from ticket sales will fund important maintenance and preservation work at our wonderful medieval masterpiece.”

Tea and cake will be available in the Bishop’s garden at South Canonry and there will be an exhibition of botanical art in Sarum College.

The artwork will be for sale, along with cards and the book Secret Gardens of the Close, produced by Salisbury Florilegium Society and featuring its members’ paintings.

The event runs from 1pm to 5pm and the entry fee is £10 per person (under 16s free), payable on the day at the tent on Choristers’ Green.