A married couple have received an award for a garden they have kept open for ten years in memory of his late wife.

The garden is at Dent Hall in Trawden and the couple, Chris Whitaker-Webb and Joanne Smith received an engraved trowel from the National Garden Scheme in recognition of their hard work over the past decade.

Chris opened his wife’s treasured garden located in 2014 after his wife Jules died in August 2012.

Jules was a passionate gardener and the garden located at Dent Hall in Trawden was her pride and joy so Chris decided to open the grounds as part of the National Garden Scheme.

Pendleside Hospice provided Chris with one on one bereavement counselling after the death of his wife so the hospice is one of the many charities that receives the funds as part of the scheme.

He said: “We’re reopening in May. It’s something we’ve done for ten years now so we’re excited because it’s all for a good cause and we do it so we can give back to these amazing charities.

“My first wife died ten years ago so that’s why I did this because gardening was her passion.”

Chris and Jules purchased Dent Hall in Trawdenin 2008  and it was Jules who transformed the area around 400-year-old Grade II listed building, situated at the ‘Top O’Trawden’, into the beautiful garden that stands today.

Chris continued: “My wife, Joanne was at the opening in 2014 which is how we actually met so that’s a nice link there.

“We’ve been looking after it together and we’re very pleased to be able to contribute in a small way to such a good set of causes so if anyone wants to come along, it’s open to the public.”

The Dent Hall garden will be open again this year on May 27 and 28.