OWNERS of tea rooms in the heart of the Dales have issued an invitation for visitors to see what an authentic cottage garden looks like.

Lynn Thornborrow and Stephen Housham, of West Winds Tea Rooms in Buckden, say they have used every square inch of their "fairly modest" garden to cultivate herbs, plants and flowers.

The gardens comprise a comprising a flower-border tea-garden, a kitchen vegetable, herb and fruit garden, a greenhouse and wild flower areas.

And there is a 'herb trail' at the tearooms, behind the village's Buck Inn, that takes in around 50 cultivated and wild culinary, medicinal and pot pourri plants.

The open days run from Saturday, July 22, to Sunday, July 30 - except Monday and Tuesday - from 12.30pm to 5.30pm. Entry is free. The tearooms will be open for lunch, snacks and afternoon tea and cakes.

Parking is available in the main National Park car park in the village.

Stephen said: "This is a celebration of cottage gardens and what can be achieved in small spaces.

"What it isn’t is Chelsea Flower Show – not everything we do here works and, like most gardeners, we have our fair share of embarrassments.

"Our celeriac and beetroot, for example, are dismal - perhaps visitors to our open days can give us some advice!”

Notes

West Winds Tearooms are situated directly behind the Buck Inn in Buckden, Upper Wharfedale, Skipton, North Yorkshire BD23 5JA. Parking is available in the main National Park car park in the village. For further information, visit www.westwindsinyorkshire.co.uk or call 01756 760883.

The picture shows Polly Crawley, 15, from Upper Wharfedale getting a preview of the herb trail at West Winds. Parental permission has been granted for publication of this picture. Please credit the picture to Sebastian Oake.