THE owners of Otterington Hall, near Northallerton, have decided to throw open the topiary garden to the public for the first time this weekend after a spot of precision clipping by experts.

Regarded as one of the best topiary gardens in England, it consists mainly of yew and includes 38 sculptures, most of them depicting birds, with many long yew hedges. It also includes a feature believed to be unique, a gallery with four walls forming an open air "room".

The gardens are normally open once a year in spring for the British Red Cross Society, but on Sunday from 2pm to 5pm St John Ambulance will benefit from visitors viewing the newly-trimmed topiary. Admission is £3.50 and there is wheelchair access to all main areas. The hall is three miles south of Northallerton on the A167, there is ample parking and teas will be available.

The present gardens are more than 150 years old but have been progressively remodelled and updated. They are being restored by Mike Heagney and a team from Gardens Revitalised, based at Guisborough. The firm specialises in restoring large country house gardens across North Yorkshire and South Durham.

Mr Heagney said: "This is one of the best topiary gardens in England and certainly the best in Yorkshire. Most topiary gardens are in the South and there are not many in this part of the world.

"This special opening has been timed to coincide with the annual precision clipping of the topiary and visitors are in for a real visual treat. It's absolutely amazing."

For many years, Otterington Hall was the home of the Furness family, who planted much of the topiary garden from the 1920s, but is now owned by Mr and Mrs Andy Preston.