Mayor takes tea in tiny garden

They have planted many delicate plants from the southern hemisphere

One of the smallest gardens in the National Garden Scheme is being visited by the lord mayor of Bristol.

The courtyard town house garden, at 28 Kensington Road, is in the St George area of Bristol and is on two decked levels with Italianate features.

The garden measures 15ft (4.5m) by 7ft (2.1m) and can accommodate five adults.

The Victorian house and garden is owned by Grenville Johnson and Alan Elms and was inherited by Mr Johnson from his grandparents.

'Ruins of Pompeii'

The house has been in Mr Johnson's family for over 100 years and he and Mr Elms started building the garden in 1976.

They designed the Italianate courtyard in the 1970s as it was easy to maintain.

They decided to clear and redesign the garden in 2004 when a mature magnolia tree started to lean dangerously over the whole courtyard.

Mr Johnson said that they wanted to create a garden with a 'wow factor'.

"We've created a wildlife pond catering for the needs of frogs and toads and other fauna.

"We've also got a lovely water cascade with a grotto for the needs of shade-loving plants and exotic ferns.

"We have the Italianate garden with a temple folly ruin, which was inspired by the ruins of Pompeii.

"We've flanked it with very neatly clipped box trees to make a lovely symmetrical area," he said.

They joined the National Garden Scheme (NGS) in 2006 and they claim to be the smallest open garden.

The garden is open for daytime visits, by appointment, during the summer months.

The National Garden Scheme was founded in 1927 and asks private owners to open up their gardens to the public for an admission fee.