STEPPING into the stunning surroundings of Helmsley Walled Garden it is easy to imagine the Victorian lady of the house enjoying the late summer sunshine as she selected the floral decorations for Duncombe Park.

Originally built in 1758, the gardens initially produced fruit, vegetables and cut flowers for the stately home, but was washed away in a flood the following year.

It was rebuilt on higher ground, nestling between the Grade One listed landscape of Duncombe Park and the scheduled ancient monument of Helmsley Castle.

By the mid 1800’s the walls contained glasshouses and structures for growing exotic fruits not normally found in England.

At that time there were about 20 full time gardeners working within its walls, supplying the house when the Duncombe’s became Lord Feversham’s and then Earls of Feversham.

After all this good fortune, the early years of the 20th century brought about a number of unfortunate changes.

In 1914 the gardeners responded to the call to serve their country and went off for their great adventure, safe in the knowledge they would be back by Christmas, but none of them returned.

The story continued when the first Earl died in 1915, the second earl was killed in the war the following year and so the third Earl inherited the Estate at the tender age of ten.

His mother felt that her son should not be brought up in the big house, and so the Trustees arranged that it was let out as a girl’s school from the early 1920’s, and since the school had no need of a walled garden requiring 20 gardeners, it was abandoned.

After the war, there had been some attempts to use the walled garden. A market garden had operated from within it’s walls and a local greengrocer had also used some of the buildings to grow fruit and vegetables to be sold from his shop in the market place.

But in 1984, it was abandoned once again and fell into dereliction. And so it may have remained if it wasn't for the vision of local nurse Alison Ticehurst.

Alison was looking for a place that could not only be a beautiful garden but could also provide healing and therapeutic horticulture.

Barely able to walk into Helmsley Walled Garden in July 1994 she found an overgrown wilderness that most people would have dismissed as a lost cause, but Alison was undeterred.

Tricia Harris, marketing manager at Helmsley Walled Garden said it was very much a labour of love.

"Together with a band of friends and helpers Alison began the process of turning the jungle into a garden," she added.

"The diary she kept from the first day until her untimely death in March 1999 show just what was achieved in reclaiming the garden in that short time alone. It was her vision and determination that encouraged everyone involved in the garden to carry on with the project and make it what it is today."

Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, the five-acre garden now has a team of trained staff including two horticultural therapists.

One of their missions is to conserve and restore the fabric of this historically important walled garden and to return it to full productivity, conserving old, rare and endangered garden plants, using environmentally sustainable and where possible fully organic techniques.

However, the garden also space for people looking to step away from the world and gain the support they need to get back on their feet.

"We offer a caring environment which has really helped bring people back from some dark places," Tricia added.

"It is amazing how horticulture can help people suffering from mental health issues, social isolation or a disability and really help them to move forward and gain confidence."

Tricia said: "Being outdoors in this fantastic surroundings it is amazing the affect it has on people."

Helmsley Walled Garden is a registered charity and social enterprise which relies on donations as well running a plant stall and cafe.

"The plant sale side is something we are looking to develop supported by our volunteers who are co-coordinating the growing," she added,

This year the aim has also been to raise the profile of the garden and encourage more people to visit and support its work.

"We have visitors from all over the world including France, Spain, Ireland and even Australia which is fantastic," Tricia said.

"Everyone here is really proud of the garden and what we have achieved and continue to achieve."

She added: "Helmsley Walled Garden is a real hidden gem and we want more people to discover what is on offer and helps us in our work and supports vision for the future."

* For more information on Helmsley Walled Garden phone 01439 771427 or visit www.helmsleywalledgarden.org.uk