It raises money for charities and good causes by encouraging gardeners to open their private gardens to the public for a small fee. Dorothy and Andrew, who live at "Greenacre", 157 Ribchester Road, Clayton-le Dale (BB1 9EE), will open their garden on Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday, August 24th and 25th, from 1-30 to 5 p.m. each day.

Joining them this year are their friends Sue and David Brown, who live opposite at 142 Ribchester Road and will open their garden at the same times, meaning two gardens to visit for the price of one.

Sue and David are keen to encourage birds in their garden and have noted 30 different species visiting them. They also have a still pond, herbaceous beds and a growing tree collection.

Dorothy and Andrew have an enormous collection of plants, some very unusual. Dorothy is a keen collector and has done the Royal Horticultural Certificate in Horticulture. She has 11 different beds in the back garden alone and each one has a different theme. There is a sub-tropical bed, a white bed, a sculpture bed and a gravel bed.

Both gardens are suitable for wheelchair users and push chairs and the single adult admission fee is £3.50 (children free). Tickets will be at Greenacre. For more information and directions visit the National Garden Scheme website (www.ngs.org.uk) and use the Garden Finder facility, or contact Dorothy and Andrew on 01254 249694. There will be plant stall, which will have for sale some of the plants growing in the gardens, and refreshments.