PLANT and flower lovers can take their time to explore a magical garden when it opens its gates for charity.

Tudor Croft on Stokesley Road, Guisborough, east Cleveland, features plants from across the world alongside fountains, a stream, bridges and a secret garden.

The home of Mike Heagney, which has already appeared on BBC's Gardeners' World on two occasions, has often been described as being surrounded by one of the best gardens in North Yorkshire.

The Northern Echo: Mike Heagney's magnificent garden at Tudor Croft in Guisborough. Picture by Stuart Boulton.

Mike Heagney's magnificent garden at Tudor Croft in Guisborough. Picture: STUART BOULTON

And the only way to enjoy the true beauty of the five acre site is to take advantage of one of the open days and spend time searching out the hidden gems.

Mr Heagney, who has lived at the property with her sister Gel (Geraldine) for more than 50 years, has dedicated decades of his life maintaining the garden's unique character.

"The garden is looking better than ever and we are hopeful that the weather will be good at the weekend," he said. "There is so much work that goes into keeping the garden in pristine condition and that is why we like to share our space with people while raising money for our chosen charity.

"Over the years, I have collected rare and interesting species of plants from around the world. There are so many different little gardens within the garden that there really is something for everyone to enjoy."

Mr Heagney and his brother, John, ran a dozen convenience stores across the Teesside area before selling up in 1999. And it was this sale that gifted him the opportunity to concentrate on his real passion – gardening and plant collecting.

And the evidence of his passion is clear throughout his beautiful garden where traditional English roses share the same space as New Zealand ferns to hardy but delicate Himalayan flowers. While, the specially designed fernery, with its limestone walls and newly-replaced glass roof, takes you to places where the humid atmosphere creates a variety of plants that cannot be found anywhere else in the world.

The house and garden was originally built in the Thirties by Ronnie Crossley, a prominent Yorkshire brick manufacturer and evidence of his craft can be found scattered throughout garden. And the garden was created over a ten year period, includes arbours, fountains, lily ponds, curving paths, old medieval stonework, streams and follies.

As well as the brick pillars, built using some of Crossley's finest work, you will spot unusual masonry tucked away throughout the garden. Carved stones from Gisborough Priory, which have all been catalogue by English Heritage, can be found scattered around the sweeping garden.

The Northern Echo: Mike Heagney's magnificent garden at Tudor Croft in Guisborough. Picture by Stuart Boulton.

Mike Heagney's magnificent garden at Tudor Croft in Guisborough. Picture: STUART BOULTON

And Mr Heagney has also collected artifacts from around the area to incorporate into his designs, including glazed stone bathtub belonging to John Vaughan, the man who discovered iron ore in the nearby Eston Hills which triggered the industrialisation of Middlesbrough and the surrounding area. There is also a collection of stone farm troughs that are now filled with flowers and plants.

A team of volunteers help Mr Heagney get the garden into pristine condition before the open days and he says without their help the task of carrying out all the essential maintenance would be mammoth.

He said: “Tudor Croft gardens are special, unique and beautiful. They are part of the heritage of this area and we love to enable everyone to enjoy them.

“The gardens are very much an integral part of my life and I always feel that it is my responsibility to maintain and improve them for future and present generations.

“We have a team of nine volunteers, many of whom come in every week, and their work is absolutely invaluable. They come in every Friday and carry out so much work to make the garden as presentable as possible.”

The garden is also a destination for many gardening groups from around the country who visit the site to see it in all its glory and learn how much work is required to ensure it looks impressive all year round. And this year, there is also two visits planned by organisations based in Switzerland who are touring the country taking in some of the most memorable gardens.

And the specialist garden designer will be opening his garden on Saturday, July 1, and Sunday, July 2, between 11am and 4pm, with all proceeds going to the Tees Valley-based Great North Air Ambulance Service.

And it is on these occasions where his sister, Gel, who lives in a house nestling in the bottom of the garden, originally built for the gardener and his his wife, really comes into her own when visitors will be able to enjoy her homebaking and refreshments.

"There is a lot of work involved but it is so rewarding to see people relaxing and enjoying our garden," she said. "While Mike spends his time looking after the flowers and plants, I'm down in the vegetable patch or potting shed doing all the real work."

The pair are hoping to attract thousands of people over the weekend but are reminding visitors that parking is limited at the site and Guisborough residents are urged to walk.

  • Entry costs £5 for adults, children go free.