A NEW head gardener is in charge of Lydney Park's extensive gardens. Des Howe (55) has arrived from Jersey to look after the valley garden created by the 2nd Viscount Bledisloe, Benjamin Bathurst, and the gardens around the house.

"Although I was born and bred in a Hampshire village, I was not seriously interested in gardening until my late 20s and early 30s," says Des. After a three-year horticultural degree course at Kent's Wye College, he worked at private estates including that of Michael Heseltine near Banbury.

When the Lydney Park job became vacant it was the ideal opportunity. "I like herbaceous plants, and I'm not so keen on bedding displays," he says.

The eight acres of woodland sloping to the stream are underplanted with a profusion of rhododendrons, azaleas and other flowering shrubs. The ponds and surrounds provide water and bog gardens.

The upkeep includes dead-heading the rhododendrons once they have finished flowering – a massive job in view of the great size of many of the bushes. He is helped by assistant gardener Jane Bröer, while a gamekeeper and his team look after the deerpark.

The gardens are open Sundays (£3, children free) and Wednesdays (£2), and the whole of the Easter and late May bank holiday weeks. A visit also includes admission to the small museum with its exhibits from the Roman Temple including the world-famous Lydney dog. Teas are served in the house's dining room with its portraits of the Bathurst ancestors.

The estate opens the last Sunday of this month and following Wednesday for the National Gardens Scheme when proceeds are donated to the NGS charity.