OXTON'S secret gardens will be open to the public again for charity this Sunday.

Twenty-two gardens – large and small – will reveal their summer delights to raise cash for cancer sufferers, youth work and mother and child victims of violence and abuse in.

Organised by the Oxton Society, the Secret Garden scheme took root in 2001 with just a handful gardens raising around £2,3,00 for Arrowe Park Hospital's Scanner appeal.

It has raised £264,000 since then.

Along the way the society, local businesses, schools and countless volunteers have won official recognition with awards from Civic Voice and Wirral Council.

Sixteen years ago Patrick Toosey 'press-ganged' a handful of friends into opening  their gardens.

He said: "Looking back I think it is fair to say some might well have had few misgivings and even one or two doubts about our chances of success.

"Never in our wildest dreams did we imagine how the idea would blossom.

"The garden owners love it and everyone involved is proud to have helped so many deserving causes."

There will be something for everyone with arts, craft and plant stalls, music, family entertainment and local restaurants and pubs offering food and hospitality to garden visitors.

The 'Secret Gardens' project was so named because most of the gardens on view are normally hidden to the public behind high walls of sandstone cut from local quarries. 

But alongside the grander Victorian and Edwardian examples will be their equally popular much smaller cottage, courtyard and terrace cousins.

Its chairman, Rhiannon Evans said: "The Oxton Conservation Society was formed to conserve, protect and promote Oxton village.

"Secret Gardens enables us to focus on its three main features, our trees, sandstone walls and period homes in an interesting variety of streets reflecting Oxton's heritage. 

“Over the years the scheme has brought the community together, given pleasure to thousands and enabled us to help some very worthy causes.”

And she added: "We do not select the gardens.

"Large and small, they choose to participate and reflect what can be achieved through a love of gardening." 

Last year the lure of Oxton’s 'flower power' raised £17,000 for four local charities, with 2,418 tickets sold.

Tomorrow's event takes place from 10am until 5pm.

Tickets are from www.oxtonsociety.org.uk/wp