A NATIONAL Trust garden near Trowbridge has been praised for the way it passes on information to its 20,000 annual visitors.

The Courts, the seven-acre garden in Holt, has been named joint overall winner in the 2001 Interpret Britain Awards organised by the Association for Heritage Interpretation.

Judges were impressed by the clear, understandable way garden information is presented.

They said: "We feel we are being treated like privileged country house guests, so sensitive is the interpretation. The sort of questions that arise in the mind of the visitor are precisely the questions that the interpretation of the garden addresses.

"Modesty and discretion are the virtues of the interpretation. What needs to be said is said: no more."

Head gardener Troy Smith has compiled a plant survey, introduced a newsletter and new guidebook and collated information for the interpretation panels in the Orchard Room.

The Courts, bought by the National Trust in 1943 and often described as one of Wiltshire's best-kept secrets, boasts more than 5,000 plant varieties, topiary, water features, garden ornaments and an arboretum.

The garden, which opens for the summer on March 24, shared its Interpret Britain Award with Tyneside's Segedenum Roman Fort and was up against more than 70 entries including museums, galleries, historic houses, gardens and environmental sites.