AN EVENT showcasing the splendour of Hexham's green spaces will take place this weekend.

Visitors will be able to take a self-guided tour around the town and peek into a total of 13 private gardens and public gardens they may not have seen before during the Hexham Hidden Gardens open day.

The event, organised by Hexham Community Partnership, will take place on Sunday, May 22 from 1pm to 5.30pm.

One of the gardens which will be on display belongs to John Richards, who lives at High Trees on South Park.

A woodland garden, it is home to around 80 small trees and "hundreds and hundreds" of different plant species, said John, a professor of botany at Newcastle University before he retired.

"It's more a collection than a garden in many ways."

John said he and his wife grow a lot of alpine plants - John is a past president of the Alpine Garden Society - along with many woodland plant species.

He added: "A lot of the rhododendrons are in flower now. There are red ones and yellow ones and pink ones, it's a magnificent show."

Hexham Courant: John Richards' garden at High Trees, South Park.John Richards' garden at High Trees, South Park.

Rachel Ladd, communications and marketing manager at Hexham Community Partnership, said: "We are excited to have Hexham Hidden Gardens back again this year, it’s a lovely event and a chance to explore Hexham in a new way.

"There will be a variety of entertainment along the route including music, refreshments and plant sales, and of course a chance to have a good old nosy at someone else’s garden!”

Tickets (priced at £6) can be purchased at https://www.queenshall.co.uk/events/hexham-hidden-gardens Under 16's go free.

Anyone who buys a ticket online goes into a draw to win one of five prizes donated by the Beaumont Hotel, Hexham Waitrose, Hexham Homebase and Harlings Garden Centre.