There is no water feature, no decking and certainly no concrete - just acres of Regency greenery and splendour.

Residents and visitors have been enjoying Brighton's Royal Pavilion Gardens in all its forms for 200 years.

Now, after decades of painstaking research, planning and planting, they have been restored to their 19th Century glory.

The gardens may not suit modern-day dandy Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen but in 1802 they most definitely suited the Prince of Wales, later King George IV.

The gardens around his seaside home are now in their full summer splendour. However, visitors expecting a blaze of colour and bowling green-perfect lawns may be surprised.

In keeping with the period, the gardens are green, natural and organic.

Although there are hollyhocks, foxgloves, Michaelmas daisies, day lilies and hydrangeas, they are planted among the shrubs, partly hidden by the greenery.

Lawns are unedged and the grass kept longer than usual so it appears scythe-cut as it would have been in the 1820s. Plants tumble out of railings and some modern garden rules are turned on their head like honeysuckle used as ground cover rather than as a climber.

Meandering carriage drives, irregular beds and serpentine paths have been reintroduced.

Those with a sensitive nose will also be able to pick out treats like mock orange, Persian lilacs and roses. Plants are not dead-headed and seed heads are left in place to be collected later in the season.

The work makes the gardens one of the first major Regency restorations in Britain and has earned them recognition as a place of historic interest with English Heritage.

The faithful copy of the original plan of the Pavilion's architect John Nash has been masterminded by Michael Jones, head of conservation and design for Brighton and Hove City Council, and Robert Hill-Snook, its head gardener.

Unlike most royal gardens, the Pavilion's are open to the public 24 hours a day, which means a constant maintenance challenge.

The gardens were originally planted by royal gardener William Townsend Alton who went on to plant the gardens of Buckingham Palace and St James's Palace.

The council has produced a lavishly-illustrated booklet showing each of the gardens' 145 flowering plants.

The watercolours have been done by Michael and the booklet will be available from September.

Robert is hoping to introduce seasonal tours of the gardens.