MORE and more Cotswolds gardens are opening to the public this year as part of the National Gardens Scheme whose new president is TV cook Mary Berry.

Founded to help raise money for charity, including Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie and Carers Trust, the events allow green-fingered residents the chance to showcase their own gardens while supporting good causes.

In the Cotswolds there is no shortage of residents with horticultural know-how, keen to show their gardening mastery. On each of their open garden days they will be on hand to discuss their own gardening methods and pass on their knowledge to keen visitors.

This month, the National Gardens Scheme is highlighting a burning contemporary issue around increasing concerns with climate change and the delicate balance of our ecosystems. The topic has seen a surge in interest in gardening for wildlife.

One wildlife-friendly gardening to open its gates is that of the LLoyd family, at Pasture Farm, Upper Oddington.

The garden will be open for two days over the May Bank Holiday, Sunday and Monday May 29 and 30, from 11am to 6pm.

This medium-sized, informal country garden has evolved over 30 years, and now has mature mixed borders, informal and formal hedging and topiary. It also has a very large spring-fed pond inhabited by a collection of ducks.

Another open garden is that of Charingworth Court, at Winchcombe, which will be open on Saturday and Sunday May 21 and 22 from 11am to 5.30pm. The garden has a wide lawn, with a magnificent fringe of trees, some mature, others planted by the present owners, most at their peak in May. There are also woodland beds, a vegetable garden and a Japanese-inspired pond garden right against the house. Of particular interest is the annual sculpture exhibition, curated by local gallery Winds of Change. Media used for the exhibits include bronze, glass, wrought iron and stone.