NEW gardens at Mount Grace Priory have been officially opened by celebrity gardener Chris Beardshaw – who was also the creative mind behind the design.

Fresh from his recent win at RHS Chelsea Flower Show for Best in Show, Mr Beardshaw has been supported throughout by the new Mount Grace gardening team and volunteers.

Thanks to English Heritage and a grant awarded by the Wolfson Foundation, the gardens capitalise on the terracing to the front of the house, with the addition of a variety of new beds, paths and improvements to access.

Mr Beardshaw said: “The reawakening of the garden has been a huge, exciting and complex task. Character and detail for planting has been drawn from the work of some iconic designers, from architect Philip Webb to designer William Morris."

Mount Grace Priory is open every day 10am to 6pm.