WHEN Joan and Rob Roberts moved back to Bewdley in December 2007, the garden at their new home was nothing more than a pile of grass and rubble.

But after three years of hard graft, the space surrounding Toll House Cottage has been transformed into a haven for artists and wildlife alike, which will open to the public this May and July as part of the National Gardens Scheme.

Complete with an art and craft studio, the 0.4 acre spot is described as “a painter’s garden”, with an informal collection of herbaceous plants and shrubs around a lawn.

It develops into a mini-arboretum with grass walkways, and includes a vegetable patch, as well as a natural pool for wildlife.

Mrs Roberts said the couple combined their love of painting and nature when developing the garden.

She said: “We both paint and we also woodturn. We love nature too and we tried to make the garden reflect that. We’ve tried to show up every plant against the next one, with different colours, leaf patterns and so on which makes it very attractive to paint.”

As passionate gardeners, the couple transformed the grounds surrounding their previous home in Bewdley into a nursery before retirement took them to Devon.

After 18 years down south, they returned to the town to be nearer their family and undertook the challenges a new garden brought with it – including harsher winters.

Mrs Roberts said: “I hate the winters up here. We lost so much stuff so we’re having to replace and rearrange and put a few safer plants in.”

This is the second year Toll House Cottage has featured in the National Gardens Scheme, but its first appearance last year was one of chance.

Mrs Roberts said: “Last year they wanted us as a developing garden which was unusual because I only contacted the scheme initially to get some advice.

“We really enjoyed it and we had lots of people come along over two weekends. We raised £834 so this year’s target is £1,000. We’ll be doing teas as well and the garden is always changing so it's worth visitors coming a second time!”

The garden will be opening on Sunday, July 10, as part of Kidderminster Horticultural Society’s charity garden open day.

Å Toll House Cottage, Stourport Road, near Bewdley, DY12 1PU Open Sunday, May 15, and Sunday, July 17, from 11am to 5.30pm.

Admission £3, children free.

Refreshments.