SUPPORTERS and regular visitors to famous gardens are being invited to an open day to find out about progress on exciting plans for its future.

The Worthing Borough Council-owned gardens, a nationally important site, are currently the subject of a bid for a Heritage Lottery Fund grant to help preserve its future.

Highdown Gardens was bequeathed to the council by Highdown owner Sir Frederick Stern 50 years ago after a pioneering horticultural experiment which saw him confound critics by growing a stunning garden on chalk soil.

The council wants to bring the story of the gardens to life and begin plans to propagate many rare plants as well as create an archive of all materials, letters and plant records concerning Stern’s project for the use of garden researchers and visitors.

Plans are also being developed to catalogue the number of different species in the garden, protect the valuable plants from damage, improve disabled access, extend opening hours, refurbish the greenhouses and provide activities for families.

Now the council is inviting people to come to the gardens on Thursday between 11am and 3pm to learn about how plans are progressing.

Visitors will be greeted at the entrance and will be given updates by those working on the project to secure funding.

More details on the background story of Highdown Gardens can be found at www.highdowngardens.co.uk