WHEN Julia and Will Scott moved to the Walled Garden 14 years ago the entire site was an overgrown jungle covered with sprawling brambles and dead trees.

There was a pig sty close to where the pool and the pleached limes now intersect old paths. But underneath lay an enchanting Victorian retreat – a tranquil oasis in the midst of a city, always quiet except for birdsong and the cathedral bells ringing out.

Mr Scott said: “To our delight, as we started to hack and burn back the jungle, we discovered the original garden still in place.

“The garden you now see is based on the original design.”

An 1886 Ordnance Survey plan of the garden, off Fort Royal Hill in Worcester, was soon discovered and its history researched by Dr Pat Hughes of the Worcester Records Office.

It was once part of a farm, connected to Rose House, the big Georgian property next door.

There was once an astronomical observatory in the garden – the remains of which were unearthed by the Scotts. The building once enclosed a telescope mounted on the central pillar and had a metal roof that opened and closed.

Today the Walled Garden has just as many layers.

The couple have built upon the original plan using topiary and new trees as focal points.

“There are also tributes to gardens we love,” said Mr Scott.

“In summer, areas of nasturtiums remind us of the wonderful garden at Girverny. The curved hedge is a reflection of the great hedge at Hidcote and the window in the hedge was inspired by the hedges in Sir Roy Strong’s garden. The pleached limes remind us of our two visits to Sissinghurst, and the peacock was inspired by a visit to Great Dixter. In the past the peacock, who is currently getting a new head, has been home to wrens, and a pigeon has taken up residence in its tail.”

The herbs grown in the garden are used in the kitchen and medicinally at times. Food is harvested all year round, and includes rhubarb, elderflowers, apples, nuts and winter vegetables.

This healing, herbal garden is changing throughout the seasons.

“The exceptional winter has taken its toll,” said Mr Scott.

“We have lost a great number of plants on the margin of hardiness, particularly the rarer varieties of rosemary. It will take a season to restock from plants that were sheltering in the greenhouse. Our heavy clay soil has not been helpful to the collection of thymes, and some shrubs appear to have succumbed to the weather but are still in place as we wait to see if they will regenerate.”

The Walled Garden is open to the public on Saturday, May 8; Saturday, June 12, and Saturday, August 7. Admission is £2.50, children free.