GREEN fingered visitors to Hanbury Hall can pick up some top tips from National Trust experts at its Meet the Gardeners Day.

Staff and volunteers will be on hand next Wednesday to talk about their work and answer questions at the historic estate near Droitwich Spa. Visitors can enjoy a rare opportunity to see inside the walled garden, where volunteers tend hundreds of plants that are sold at Hanbury and other National Trust properties in the area. The trust has a peat-free policy and visitors can find out how using peat-free compost can benefit the environment.

There will be free guided tours of the spectacular gardens and a special leaflet with profiles of the people who care for them, as well as fascinating facts about the plants which grow there.

Visitors will also have the opportunity to enter a competition to win a Hanbury plant.

Head gardener Neil Cook says: "The gardens are ablaze with summer colour and it's a great time of year to come along and take a closer look. This event is a chance for our visitors to find out more about the plants we grow and the gardening methods we use. The team will be happy to offer gardening advice or answer questions about their work."

The garden, tearoom and shop will be open from 11am and the house will be open from 1pm. Normal house and grounds admission prices apply.