RARE plants will be sold in the stunning gardens of Quenington Old Rectory near Cirencester for a good cause.

A total of 21 well-known nurseries will be selling a wide range of unusual and special plants at the popular annual event on Sunday, April 9.

Lucy and David Abel Smith will be opening the gardens and homemade refreshments will be available and provided by volunteers at Cobalt.

Half of the proceeds of the admission price will be donated to this charity, a Cheltenham-based leader in MRI scanning, to buy a new scanner.

Julia Jenkins, head of fundraising at Cobalt, said: “It’s wonderful of Lucy and David to throw open their beautiful grounds to welcome visitors in support of Cobalt.

“It’s a rare opportunity to gain access to these fantastic gardens, buy quality plants and get first–hand advice from growers about the plants they sell.”

The Old Rectory garden has been developed over eighty years and is run on organic lines with much of the planting created by the late Esme Bradburne, a former head gardener and founder member of the Soil Association.

There will be a small collection of sculptures on show at the gardens, which contain a pool garden, a large vegetable garden and mature trees planted by a vicar’s wife at the end of the 18th century.

Admission is £5 per adult, with free entry for under 16s.

The event will be open from 11am-4pm.