THERE is a real buzz of excitement around a Worcestershire countryside garden which is throwing open its gates to visitors again this summer.

The three-and-a-half acre garden at Gladderbrook Farm just west of Stourport is blooming this year having already hosted record numbers of visitors enjoying the good weather.

Eight years in the making, the lush greenery, shrubs and flower beds are starting to mature, according to owners Mike and Sue Butler. This year they wanted to introduce something a little different and have since welcomed bee hives to their country retreat.

“We read so much in the press about the seeming decline of bees in this country and we wanted to do something about it,” said Mrs Butler, who enlisted the help of Kidderminster Bee Keepers Society.

“It’s become very successful and the bees seem to be doing very well.”

The garden has come a long way since the year 2000, when the couple had to start the garden from scratch, moving 70 tonnes of top soil and crushed rock onto the site.

Since then, Mrs Butler has created an English country garden with twists and turns for the green-fingered explorer with a surprise around each bend.

There are flowers all year around including a riotous purple and pink bed packed with irises and hardy geraniums.

Following a cooler winter, the wildflower meadow is blooming with cowslips, cuckoo flowers and buttercups.

“We’ve been here nine years and it’s filling out, we add something every year.

“There’s astrantias, we’ve got hardy salvias, polyganums and sanguisorba,” said Mrs Butler.

During opening, homemade cakes and teas will be provided by the ladies of Heightington Church.

Gladderbrook Farm, High Oak, Heightington, DY12 2YR. 01299 879923. sue.butler4@btinternet.com.

Admission £3, children free. Open Sunday between noon and 5pm.