A JUNGLE paradise awaits visitors to a garden in the heart of Astley, near Stourport-on- Severn. It has proved particularly popular with children, who like exploring among the bananas and palms and along the overgrown pathways of Tim and Lesley Smith’s handiwork.

Originally a cottage garden, Mr Smith began to transform it with sub-tropical planting after growing tired of seeing it peak by July.

He said: “We’ve got palms and different types of bananas.

“There are lots of traditional perennial plants but with large leaves so they look exotic and sub-tropical and we’ve got all the different shades of green.”

Bright red begonias add a dramatic splash of colour and a treetop safari lodge completes the effect which has been a hit with youngsters during treasure hunts.

However, today’s outlook is a far cry from when the couple first moved to Astley Towne House 17 years ago to discover they were faced with a big gardening challenge. Mr Smith said: “When we moved in there was nothing here. It was completely overgrown.

“The grass was 2-3ft tall and we had to hack our way into a vegetable garden.”

Since then the garden has evolved dramatically and now also includes extra delights such as a stumpery garden, plus a woodland temple and a revolving summerhouse, both based on neo-classical designs.

Mr Smith said he created the sandstone columns from materials which came from St Michael’s church in Stourport. His latest project has been a grotto which opened on Sunday, August 17.

The grotto is based on the myth of the river Styx, a river than ran around the underworld, and Charon, the ferryman of the dead who ferries souls across.

Visitors can also see other figures, including Neptune and Triton, made out of shells inside the grotto.

Astley Towne House, Astley, DY10 0RH. 01299 822299.

Admission £3.50, children free.

Open 1-5pm on Sunday, August 31 and Sunday, September 28.

GARDENS TO VISIT

Harrells Hardy Plants Nursery Garden, Rudge Road, Evesham, WR11 4JR, 07799 577120 or 07733 446606.

Admission £2.50, children free.

Open between 1pm and 5pm on Sundays, August 31 and September 14. An informal garden overlooking the cricket ground and the river Avon with large collections of hemerocallis, grasses and hardy perennials.

Red House Farm, Flying horse Lane, Bradley Green, B96 6QT.

01527 821269.

Admission £2, children free.

Open every Thursday. Paths wind through borders planted with mature trees, shrubs, roses and climbers.

Hiraeth, 30 Showell Road, Droitwich, WR9 8UY.

Friday, September 5, 2-8pm.

Admission £2.50, children free.

A traditional cottage garden which boasts a pool, waterfall feature, 200-year-old wooden stile and sculptures.