TWO local charities will dig into the proceeds when four village gardeners open their work to the public this month.

Christian Aid and St Rocco's Hospice will benefit from the sixth annual Four Gardens in Glazebury open weekend on June 27 and 28.

Hundreds of green-fingered enthusiasts are expected at the four sites: John Bent's Weeping Ash; 4 Hesnall Close, belonging to Jill and David Scattergood; 24 Hurst Mill Lane, the property of Judith Budworth, and Delia Caswell's Lea Hurst.

Each of these gardens has its own distinctive characteristics and many new features this year include a scarecrow trail.

Nurseryman John Bent's garden is influenced by his visits to faraway places - the foothills of the Himalayas, the Austrian high alpine meadows and the islands of the Mediterranean.

The Scatterwood's front and back gardens are totally different. The front is open-plan and the back totally private surrounded by trees which were planted when the house was new.

Judith would even turn away TV's 'Surprise Gardeners' if they turned up to remodel her secret space - unless they could come up with a simple and slug- resistant planting scheme.

Delia's two and a half acre plot was laid out in 1906 by her grandfather, James Hindley. The main frame has not changed and many of the original trees still survive.

The gardens will be open from 2pm to 5pm and entry is £2.50, under 16s free. There is free parking at Bents Garden Centre.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.