FOR the first time, Sherborne School has generously agreed to open up four of its gardens to the public, as part of this year’s Hidden Gardens of Sherborne event.

A key attraction will be the access being given to the Shell House, a Grade I-listed, 18th century shell grotto, situated in the garden of one of the school’s houses in Hound Street. This painstakingly decorated shell grotto was only listed in 2008 but is rarely seen except by prior arrangement for specialist groups.

The headmaster’s wife, Innes Davis, is keen to allow wider access.

She said: “This really is a hidden gem in Sherborne and the Hidden Gardens weekend is the perfect opportunity to allow the public to view it while supporting some good causes at the same time.”

Following the popular success of the first-ever Hidden Gardens of Sherborne event last year, details are now available for the follow-up open gardens weekend. This year, 14 private gardens will be on display over the weekend of Saturday and Sunday, June 25 and Sunday 26, a completely new set of gardens barring two from last year’s selection.

The variety of gardens is huge: from a small garden in Richmond Road that makes use of every inch of space to a spacious, park-like garden hidden behind Long Street. There are fascinating gardens that feature sculptures and one garden that incorporates Gothic window heads in its 18th century wall.

The event runs from 2pm to 5pm on both afternoons and all of the proceeds are in aid of Rotary charities.

The event is being sponsored by The Garden Group and tickets are available from Castle Gardens as well as the Tourist Information Centre in Sherborne. Weekend tickets are priced at £8 and allow entrance to all 14 gardens on either day. Entrance to any individual garden is available at the garden gate for £1.50.

The Hidden Gardens of Sherborne is an initiative of The Rotary Club of Sherborne Castles in aid of two international charities: first, for street children in Bolivia, and second, for the schooling of children in Afghanistan.

“The idea is to use these beautiful English gardens to help generate shelter and support for children who have no home and no schooling, let alone a garden,” explained Peter Harrison, Chairman of the International Committee for the Rotary Club of Sherborne Castles.

“At the moment, the gardens are a bit ahead due to the warm weather we’ve had but there will still be plenty of interest in late June.”

The Rotary Club of Sherborne Castles works to raise funds for local charities and causes which forms the greater part of its activity. Nevertheless, about a quarter of its output is in aid of international charities. This year it has sent Shelter Boxes and Water Survival Boxes to Pakistan and Japan, contributed to the End Polio Now campaign, funded a small sewing project in Mexico and donated and installed a maize storage facility in a village in Malawi.