A SECRET garden will open its doors to offer an oasis of calm for art lovers from the bustle of Brighton.

A new sculpture park in a walled garden hidden away in Bristol Gardens has been created in time for this year's Brighton Festival.

The former pleasure garden and tennis courts, once linked by a tunnel to its owners' property in desirable Sussex Square, has been transformed in a unique project led by The Anthony Dale Trust.

Sculptor Hamish Black is the first artist to be selected for the garden space where his ten metre-long artwork Black Blackbird - of 200 semi-circle discs - will take centre stage.

The work modelled on the sound wave of a blackbird and made from a charred elm blown down in Brighton during the 1987 storm will sit alongside other sound-inspired pieces by the artist.

It is hoped the garden will come alive with art every year for the festival and will also feature work by emerging artists in future.

Mr Black said he was first approached about the possibility of exhibiting his work there almost two years ago.

The East Chiltington-based artist rose to prominence in the city after winning a national competition to build a piece of art from the elms levelled in 1987.

The remaining wood had been stored in his studio for 29 years before being used in the Secret Garden commission.

He described the garden as “a special place for Brighton” and “an oasis in the middle of Kemp Town”.

As an original member of stage show Stomp, gardener Nick Dwyer hopes to have created a theatrical moment when visitors first walk into the secret garden.

After 18 months working on the site, he said he hoped to bring a little bit of Provence in his flower beds and a little bit of California in planting what he believes to be the first Redwood tree in the city.

He said: “The garden was underworked, it needed a lot of planning and shaping, there was a derelict shed, logs left lying around and there was not even a lawn.

“I want to create a year-round garden but the challenge will be to bring it alive in May and September when it will be most seen.”

Trustee Jackie Fitzgerald said: “It’s terribly exciting, there really is nothing like it in Brighton.

“We were very pleased to get Hamish, his work lends itself so beautifully to the garden.”

For more information visit secretgardenkemptown.co.uk.