NEIGHBOURS, everybody needs good neighbours, as the long-running TV soap believes, and one tiny Herefordshire hamlet manages to take that advice on board by nurturing strong links with the people next door.

Neighbours living in Aulden, near Leominster, will be throwing open their garden gates as part of the National Garden Scheme next month with all money raised going to a series of charities. For them the open weekend from June 29 to 30 is a joint venture and visitors will be able to pop between the four gardens taking part.

This example of a working relationship between neighbours began when the people of Aulden lost a popular member of their community to cancer in 2009. They got together to organise an evening in his memory with all proceeds going to a cancer charity.

From that point, the locals decided to pool their gardening efforts and stage Aulden Arts & Gardens every other year. The NGS booklet describes this particular attraction as “Lost in the back lanes of Herefordshire, four gardens looking to celebrate art in our gardens.” These are said to vary from the “traditional to the more zany – as does are art!”

Thus Jill and Alun Whitehead will be steering visitors around Aulden Farm gardens and an art display in their barn, and across the road Jack and Jennie Hughes will offer a chance to see their peaceful cottage garden designed to encourage wildlife with a pond and numerous nestboxes as well as Jennie’s inspired watercolours. Nearby Oak House has two-thirds of an acre of evolving garden with amazing views towards Upper Hill, while Tricia and Andrew Mitchell will open their tranquil gardens at Hill View with an opportunity to see Tricia’s art.

Refreshments will be available on both open days.

*Aulden Arts and Gardens will be open at Aulden, postcode HR6 0JT on June 29 and 30 from 2pm to5.30pm. Admission £7 (children free).