VISITORS to Exmoor later this month will have a once in a year opportunity to walk around a number of secret and private gardens.

The occasion is the open gardens event held annually in Dulverton when some of the residents invite in the public for just the one day.

Last year, a dozen residents took part and helped to raise £1,250 which was presented to the town’s Moorland Food Bank charity.

The event is organised by Visit Dulverton volunteers and this year will be held on Sunday, June 22.

The ‘Secret Gardens of Dulverton’ runs from 10 am to 4.30 pm with all of the gardens ‘within a comfortable walking distance of each other’.

A Visit Dulverton spokesperson said: “The Dulverton community is extremely grateful to these green fingered residents who have generously volunteered to showcase their gardens for an excellent charitable cause.”

Tickets at £5 per person are available to purchase in advance from Dulverton’s Post Office or the Tantivy shop and café, or on the day for £7 from Dulverton Town Hall, where light refreshments will also be available.

Many of the town’s eateries and shops will also be open for event.

Visitors will be issued a map of Dulverton with their admission tickets showing the location and details of each of the gardens.

Children under-16 will not be charged, and ‘well-behaved dogs are welcome on leads’.

The event is being sponsored by Seddons Estate Agents, of Bampton, and full details are available on the Visit Dulverton website.

Visit Dulverton organises several events in the town throughout the year, including the autumn Dulverton Exmoor Literary Festival which this year runs over the long weekend of November 14 to 17 and will include author Raynor Winn, whose book of her South West Coast Path walk has been turned into the recently-released movie ‘The Salt Path’.