One of Monmouth's hidden gems is to be opened to the public throughout the summer.

The Nelson Garden, tucked away behind the shops on Monnow Street, is the site of a tea party held to honour Lord Nelson during a visit to Monmouth in 1802 with Sir William and Lady Emma Hamilton.

It was left to deteriorate in the 1980s but has since been restored to its former glory by a team of volunteers.

Over the past few years, the garden has been opened up for a number of fundraising events but now the public will have the chance to exlpore it at their leisure.

It will open every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 23rd May to 7th September, between 12pm and 3pm. Entry is free but all donations will go directly to the upkeep of the garden.

Volunteers from the U3A gardening group, working hard to get the garden ready for viewing, thanked Monmouth Rotary Club for a £250 donation for new tools, and Millbrook Nursery who have donated tools, fertiliser, and sturdy young plants.

A pathway running round the garden is now complete and forms the first phase of the 'Sense of Roots' development scheme funded by Monmouthshire County Council.

The second phase will see the installation of two interpretation panels, which will give visitors a full history of the Nelson Garden and its immediate environs.

The next fundraising event for the garden is a tour of High Glanau Manor Garden, on the road to Trellech from Monmouth tomorrow (Thursday 16th May).

The event takes place between 3pm and 5pm, and tickets are £10, including a cream tea.

This is by kind permission of Helena Gerrish, the owner.

Saturday 1st June is being billed as a 'Britannia Twinning' day.

A new sculpture of Britannia, by Philip Chatfield, will be unveiled on top of the Naval Temple on the Kymin, while the ancient lady from atop the Kymin will be placed in the Nelson Garden on an expertly-crafted wooden plinth designed by John Thorneycroft.