Staff at Waterperry Gardens hope to build on the huge success of last January’s Open Day by offering visitors even more to see and do at the 2009 event.

Sunday, January 25, will mark the second open day at Waterperry, when the whole estate will be opened up to the public, giving visitors the chance to see places they are not normally allowed to visit.

The aim of the open day is to educate people about what goes on at Waterperry Gardens and allow them to go behind the scenes with free tours of orchards, plant nurseries and historic ornamental gardens. A number of wildlife charities have also been invited to the 2009 event, giving them the chance to raise awareness about the work they do.

Among those attending will be the RSPB for Oxfordshire, the Berks, Bucks and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust and the Northmoor Trust.

Representatives from Waterperry’s Charity of the Year, Maggie’s Cancer Caring Charity, will also be there. They will be on hand to tell visitors about their £3m appeal for a new cancer centre on the site of the Churchill Hospital in Oxford.

Waterperry’s Horticultural Manager Rob Jacobs, pictured left, during a recent Apple Day, said he was excited about the opportunity being offered to visitors and hoped they would take advantage of finding out more about one of Oxfordshire’s most beautiful gardens.

“Few people are aware that the majority of the plants sold in Waterperry’s plant centre are grown in on-site nurseries by our team of expert staff,” he said.

“We also produce around 13,000 bottles of our famous apple juice every year and this new event will give people the chance to find out so much more about Waterperry.

“It’s also a great opportunity to solve any mysteries you may have in your garden. Our team of experts will be happy to help identify pests or problems and to give advice about any aspect of gardening.” The Waterperry Open Day will run from 10.30am until 4pm.

Timetable for free guided tours is l 10.30am – 11.30am Choose between a tour of the orchards or the plant nurseries l 11.30am – 12.30am Choose between a tour of the saxifrage collection or the ornamental gardens l 1.30pm – 2.30pm Tours of all four areas above There will also be tours of the Waterperry frescoes at 1.30pm and 2.30pm for about 40 minutes each, and mulled apple juice tastings and a winter warmer menu in the teashop.