RESIDENTS in Ellesmere will be able to learn more about a country estate in the town with an open day at the Oteley Estate on Sunday, May 9.

Visitors will be able to explore 10 acres of gardens running down to The Mere, including a walled kitchen garden, a boathouse, a wild woodland walk and views across the water to Ellesmere.

The private estate is run by Robert, Ian and Clare Mainwaring who rear cattle and sheep on their 2,000-acre farm, and has remained in the same family since the 1500s and has undergone a few reincarnations in that time, from being a lavish country house to a war-time hospital camp.

Clare said that with the loosening of restrictions, it was a perfect time to open the gardens back up to visitors to enjoy.

“With the garden bursting into life and restrictions now easing, it feels like the perfect time to have an Open Day and welcome visitors back into the garden," she said.

"We are selling tickets for the event to limit numbers due to Covid restrictions and to raise money for charity.

“We have opened the garden most years since 1927 when the National Garden Scheme began – ours was one of the original gardens on the scheme.

"Our last garden open day, despite Covid restrictions, managed to raise over £3,000 from one day so we’re hopeful about raising lots of money for charity again this year.

"We hope our open day is a lovely day out in the fresh air for all.”

The garden open day has been facilitated by the National Garden Scheme, which has raised over £60million for charity since 1927.

The gardens will be open from 1-5pm on Sunday, May 9, with two sessions available to book via the National Garden Scheme website at ngs.org.uk/view-garden/254

Tickets cost £5 per person, with children going free.

The Oteley Estate has recently released a range of premium beef and lamb boxes which can be purchased from their freshly launched website at www.oteley.com.

The boxes contain a mixture of cuts, including slow cooked joints, steaks, and mince.

Clare Mainwaring added: “Here at Oteley our animals grow at their own pace.

"All of our livestock enjoy our lush pasture at their leisure. Being slow grown produces the tender, flavoursome meat that has our customers returning time after time."