THE walled garden at Kilruddery House and Gardens, Bray, Co Wicklow, will open to the public on Sunday for the first time ever – even though the formal gardens have been open since Victorian times (currently from May to September, 9.30pm-5pm). But visitors shouldn’t expect to step into a perfectly ordered space.

“It’s very much a work in progress,” says Fionnuala Ardee, who’s overseeing the restoration of the walled garden with her husband Anthony Ardee, a member of the Brabazon family, who’ve lived at Kilruddery for 400 years.

“There are weeds that still have to be tackled, the footpaths are quite rough and the pigs are clearing areas that are overgrown. I like the idea that it’s a 10-year project so people can picnic there and witness its growth.”

Magnolia trees are currently in full bloom in the garden which is being restored under the guidance of Finola Reid, a leading Irish expert in walled gardens who will speak at the launch this Sunday at 5pm. “She helped us prune the old orchard and we use the apples to make our own juice for the tea rooms.” The old fruit room has been turned into a room for arts and crafts workshops for two-to-eight-year olds every Sunday.

Fionnuala describes the Brabazons as a hands on family who’ve got stuck into all aspects of the project. They make their own honey from eight hives in the garden and sell it in the tearooms

“There’s a lot of interest now in going back to nature; and every day we have salad from the kitchen garden on our menu and we use Wicklow strawberries in our jam.”

** kilruddery.com