BURIED in glorious countryside, surrounded by four acres of wild, informal but beautiful gardens and woods, Lewis Cottage at Spreyton (EX17 5AA) will be open this weekend as part of the National Garden’s Scheme gardens open for charity.

The owners, Michael and Penny Pell and Richard Orton, used informal planting and natural formal structures to create a garden that reflects the souls of those who garden in it, it is an incredibly personal space that is a joy to share.

A Spring camassia cricket pitch, newly planted rose garden and iris bed, perennial wild meadow, dew pond, woodland walks, bog garden and hornbeam rondel planted with late flowering narcissi, are all special features for visitors to see.

The garden will open tomorrow, Saturday, May 21 and Sunday, May 22 from 11am to 5pm. Admission is £4 for adults (children free) and home-made teas will be available.

Further opening dates that Lewis Cottage gardens will be open this summer will be Saturday and Sunday, June 18 and 19; Saturday and Sunday, July 16 and 17 and Saturday and Sunday, August 13 and 14.

Since its foundation, the National Gardens Scheme has donated more than £45 million to nominated beneficiaries, of which nearly £23 million has been donated within the last 10 years.