THE world-famous Highdown Gardens will next week celebrate 50 years in the ownership of Worthing Borough Council.

It is rare that a garden of such importance is under council control.

The council is placing a memorial bench in the Millennium Garden on the anniversary of the day 50 years ago that Lady Sybil Stern handed over the gardens on the wishes of her husband, Sir Frederick.

The Sterns created the world’s first chalk garden high up on Highdown Hill at the beginning of the 20th Century.

Sir Frederick sponsored swashbuckling plant hunting expeditions to China and the Far East to bring back exotic plants which thrived on the chalk and are still there today.

Sir Frederick, who died in 1967, stipulated that the council should look after the gardens using his famous book A Chalk Garden as a reference.

Ever since then a succession of head gardeners and their staff have been dedicated to keeping his legacy alive.

Worthing Borough Council’s executive member for the environment, Cllr Diane Guest, said: “Every visit to the gardens fills me with pride and gratitude to those who work hard to maintain Sir Frederick’s vision.

“It’s a true gem and without the passion of the Highdown team and the volunteers the integrity of Stern’s legacy would be lost.”

The landmark anniversary on Monday follows the first Highdown 50 event in June 2017 which marked the 50th anniversary of Sir Frederick Stern’s death.

The Mayor of Worthing, Councillor Alex Harman, will be there.

He said: “Highdown is a very special place to come whether to enjoy a day out in nature or visiting to explore Stern’s impressive ability to grow in seemingly impossible conditions.

“It’s a testament to the amazing efforts of the Highdown team to stay true to Stern’s growing techniques since Sir Frederick’s widow Lady Sybil handed over the gardens to the people of Worthing.”