GARDENS across Gloucestershire will be opening to raise money for charities supported by the National Gardens Scheme.

The National Gardens Scheme, which will run from June 11 to 16, supports charities like Macmillan Cancer Relief and Marie Curie, giving 82p of every pound raised to charitable causes.

Saturday 11 June

Atcombe Court in South Woodchester, GL5 5ER, opens just once a year for the scheme.

Open from 2pm to 6pm, the garden has 12 acres of grounds around John and Josephine Peach's 17th-century house, enjoying views over a valley with lakes, mature trees and paddocks.

The formal garden is terraced and has herbaceous borders, lawns and extensive shrubberies.

Sunday 12 June

Eight gardens will be open in the hillside village of Blockley, GL56 9DB, displaying a range of styles.

Home of Wendy Dare, a former assistant county organiser for the National Gardens Scheme, Mill Dene is celebrating 30 years of opening for the charity.

The centrepiece of Wendy's garden is what is believed to be a 10th-century mill, with a pond and a stream.

Other features include a woodland walk, a rose walk and a cricket lawn with a herb garden looking out over the hills and the village church.

Rodneys, a historic Georgian house, is new this year. The house has a large walled rear garden with wisteria covered pergola, terraced lawns and formal borders offering views over the surrounding countryside.

The front garden has a large terrace and patio with roses and a variety of shrubs. There is also a vegetable garden and greenhouse.

The Old Chequer at nearby Draycott, GL56 9LB, is a cottage garden set in a two-acre orchard with original ridge and furrow.

A shuttle bus will take visitors to and from the other Blockley gardens from 2-6pm: Church Gates, Landgate, The Manor House, Snugborough Mill and Woodruff.

Matara Gardens of Wellbeing, Kingscote, GL8 8YA, is dedicated to the symbolic, spiritual and cultural role of trees.

The gardens have themed rooms which include a Chinese scholar garden, a Japanese garden, Shinto woodland, Celtic wishing tree, labyrinth, woodland walk and a Chinese cloistered courtyard.

Homemade teas are served, but you are also welcome to picnic in the gardens which are open from 1pm to 5pm.

White House, Chapel Lane, Mickleton, GL55 6SD, is encircled by an Arts & Crafts cottage garden.

Arranged in a series of informal rooms are a rose garden, holly-pop walk, sunken terrace and a topiary collection.

There are lots of peaceful sitting areas to enjoy the garden which is open from 11am to 4.30pm.

Monday 13 June

Berkeley Castle, GL13 9PJ, site of the gruesome murder of King Edward II, is a unique historic garden with wide views over the River Severn.

It is a garden with rare plants that thrive in the micro-climate provided by the castle walls.

Used as a film location for the BBC’s Wolf Hall, the place also presents woodland, terraced borders and a butterfly house.

It will open from 11am to 4pm.

Also open in the week is Trench Hill in Sheepscombe, GL6 6TZ on Wednesday, June 15, from 2pm to 5pm.

On Thursday, June 16, Campden House, GL55 6UP, and Ernest Wilson Memorial Garden, GL55 6DL, both in Chipping Campden will open from 2pm to 6pm.