A new book by Winchcombe author Vanessa Berridge is set to be released this month, as Kiftsgate Court Gardens in Chipping Campden celebrates its centenary year.

The book, called ‘Kiftsgate Court Gardens: Three Generations of Women Gardeners’ tells the history of the gardens, and the stories of the women who created and maintained it over the years.

The gardens will also be opening to the National Garden Scheme on Monday 15th April, with visitors able to take in the historic gardens featured in the book.

Vanessa Berridge launched ‘The English Gardener’ magazine in 1997.

Since then, she has gone on to write several books on gardening and UK gardens, and is currently the county organiser for Gloucestershire with the National Garden Scheme.

She told The Local Answer: “For the last twenty or so years most of my time has been spent writing about gardens and gardeners.

“Gardening plays a big part of our national identity. The climate in the United Kingdom lends itself well to growing. If you live in a very hot or cold country, it’s hard to grow things. Our climate is perfect, there’s hardly a day in the year when you can’t get a spade in the ground.

“I’m in the garden every day of the year, it’s where I’m happiest.”

Vanessa will also be at Upton Wold in Moreton-on-Marsh on Sunday April 14th for a very special presentation to Ian and Caroline Bond, who have opened their garden for the National Garden Scheme for 30 years.

For more information on the National Garden Scheme visit www.ngs.org.uk