IT was time for a garden spruce up at one of County Durham's castles this week as it marked the end of the summer season.
Gardeners were given the enormous task at the home of Lord Barnard at Raby Castle, near Staindrop, in Teesdale.
A team used shears, hedge trimmers and a cherry picker to cut the curvaceous, evergreen Old English Yew hedges that date back to the 18th century and dominate the ornamental walled garden of the medieval fortress of Raby Castle.
The annual job took four weeks to complete but means the grounds are now ready for the winter season.
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