Gardens of Easton Lodge to hold spooky October open day

The open day will take place at the gardens in Little Easton from 11am to 5pm on Sunday, October 13.

Children can enjoy a spooky trail in the Lime Wood and have a go at pumpkin bowling and guessing the weight of a pumpkin.

There will also be other family garden games - including croquet on the historic croquet lawn - face painting and Halloween craft activities for children.

Bishop's Stortford Ukulele Society will play from 1pm. The ukulele society is celebrating a successful year of raising money for charity and helping to organise the first ever UkeFest in Bishop's Stortford.

On the day, visitors can try their luck at the jam and jelly tombola, for a chance to win produce made from the soft fruit harvested in the gardens - from early season gooseberries and blackcurrants through to late season raspberries.

Squashes and pumpkins will be on sale as well as the last produce from the kitchen gardens, which is likely to include fresh ripe chillies. There will also be other craft stalls - including a local wood turner.

The Gardens of Easton Lodge Preservation Trust (Image: The Gardens of Easton Lodge Preservation Trust) At this time of year, visitors can enjoy the last of the summer's flowers in the gardens - among which are dahlias, roses, verbena and Michaelmas daisies - while watching the trees adopting their autumn leaves.

Tickets are available at a discount if bought online in advance from the Gardens' website or Facebook page, or directly from trybooking.com.

Adult entry costs £5.50 for tickets bought in advance, or free for children under 16.

Tickets can be bought at the gate on the day for £6.50 for adults, and free for children.

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Volunteers from the Gardens of Easton Lodge Preservation Trust will provide hot and cold drinks, bacon, cheese or hummus rolls and homemade cakes.

Dogs are welcome but must be kept on leads.

Frances Evelyn 'Daisy' Greville, Countess of Warwick, inherited Easton Lodge in 1865, and commissioned famous landscape architect and garden designer Harold Peto to redesign her gardens in 1902.