CHIPPENHAM NEWS: AN OPEN day at a rarely visited private garden has raised £400 for the Royal Horticultural Society.

Lady Farquhar and husband Sir Michael threw open their quintessentially English garden in West Kington to the public on Sunday for just one afternoon. Their garden stretches for over an acre and surrounds their Georgian farmhouse.

Lady Farquhar, who has lived at Manor Farm since 1978, and looks after the garden almost single handedly, said: "I'm delighted with the amount it's raised. We thought we would get about 20 people and be able to send them £100."

She hopes helping the RHS raise money will help ensure a healthy future for gardening.