STONE Lane Gardens has plenty of reason to celebrate this year as its Mythic Garden sculpture exhibition celebrates its 20th year.

The garden near Chagford is a five-acre arboretum that holds national collections of wild birch and alder trees. The trees are underplanted with a tapestry of shade and moisture-loving plants, including stunning displays of euphorbias and gunneras.

More than 1,700 trees from 140 provenances now grace the garden, collected from around the Northern hemishpere by the garden's creator, Kenneth Ashburner.

Kenneth and his wife June began creating the garden over 40 years ago. June felt the trees would make an inspirational setting for outdoor art, and so the Mythic Garden sculpture exhibition was born.

The exhibition opens for the summer from May 6 with this year's theme of 'Birds'. The garden will be open daily from 2pm to 6pm.

On Saturday May 26, the gardens host an evening of gypsy storytelling, music and food round the camp-fire with Tom Hirons, Rima Staines and Lisa Rowe. Two traditional gypsy caravans will be at Stone Lane Gardens throughout the weekend.

Tickets cost £12.50 for adults, £6.25 for under 16s and free for under fives. They are available from Sally's Newsagents and the Courtyard in Chagford as well as at Stone Lane Gardens

by email [email protected]">[email protected] or by phoning 01647 231311.

The gardens will also be open for the National Gardens Scheme on Sunday May 13, raising money for a range of charities.