Raveningham Gardens will be open to the public free of charge next Friday, April 17, as part of the first National Open Gardens Day organised by The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS).

Set in a glorious parkland setting near Hales, visitors will be able to enjoy daffodils, viburnhams, hellebores and cornus and some tulips should also be in flower.

There is a working Victorian walled kitchen garden, with glasshouses and a stocked conservatory, and an arboretum. More recent additions include a herb garden and a garden designed around Francis Bacon’s essays based on the passage of Time, plus contemporary sculptures and a new lake that was created to mark the Millennium. The 14th century Raveningham Church will also be open.

Sir Nicholas Bacon of Raveningham Hall, who is also president of The RHS said: “We are very pleased to be taking part in the first RHS National Open Gardens Day. Spring is such a wonderful time to visit gardens. National Open Gardens Day is an excellent way for visitors to some of the UK’s most beautiful gardens, to get a taste of how horticulture can enrich their lives.”

The garden will be open from 11am to 4pm and tea and cake will be available in tearoom.

Raveningham Gardens is 10 miles south east of Norwich, signposted off the A146 at Hales, then B1136.

The gardens opened for the season on Tuesday and will stay open until August 27, Tuesday to Thursday from 11am to 4pm.

A series of special feature weeks are also being staged. The next one will be Spring Flowers Weeks from May 11 to 22 (closed Saturday and Sunday). Garden entry costs £5 for adults, £4.50 for concessions £4.50 and under 16s are free. Dogs on leads are welcome.

For more information call 01508 548480 or visit www.raveningham.com.

National Open Gardens Days is part of RHS National Gardening Week which runs from April 13 to 19. For more details visit www.nationalgardeningweek.org.uk.

Are you organising a special event? Email the details to amy.smith@archant.co.uk or call 01502 712502.