ONE of the most beautiful gardens in the West Country, Springhead at Fontmell Magna in North Dorset, is open over the May Day bank holiday weekend for visitors to admire the blossom.

The gardens will be open on Sunday 2nd May and Monday 3rd, from 11.30am to 4.30pm. There is no charge, but donations are welcome.

The gardens around the ancient mill house, with its beautiful lake, were created by Marabel Gardiner and her husband Rolf, the parents of international conductor John Eliot Gardiner. More recently they were restored by his late sister, Rosalind Richards.

The property is run by the Springhead Trust as an environment and arts education centre. For more information and details of the bank holiday Blossom Days, visit springheadtrust.org