In the centre of Worthing, the owners of 14 homes in a Grade II-listed Regency terrace have been preparing their gardens to open to the public.

Described as “ordinary people with extraordinary back gardens”, the amateur garden owners of the architectural jewel Ambrose Place have created “a horticultural phenomenon” that “rivals Chelsea”.

The 14 gardens appeal to the average town gardener looking for ideas but equally they make a riveting day out for anyone interested in what you can do in a small garden.

Opening for the 32nd consecutive year for charity as part of the National Gardens Scheme to benefit charities including Macmillan Cancer Support and Marie Curie Cancer Care, the gardens are all different, some drawing inspiration from such exotic diversity as Morocco, Provence and the Alhambra to the more traditional sources of the English cottage and Victorian gardens.

Their sizes are typical of town centre terraced homes, measuring approximately 80ft x l9ft, yet several have managed to incorporate water features and feature “a rich panoply of styles, plantings and layouts”, says the NGS.