THE garden of a church in South Zeal is to reopen next month after a restoration project. A renovation and restoration project has transformed the appearance of the garden attached to St Mary's Church, and it is to be officially reopened on Saturday, May 3. The renovation has been carried out by volunteers, and funding from the Dartmoor National Park Authority's Sustainable Development Fund and South Tawton Parochial Church Council has enabled the interior of the surrounding wall to be repaired and repointed using traditional skills by stonemason Steve Compton. Blacksmith Dave Denford kindly repaired the broken railing near the garden's cross. Sarah Chesters from RHS Rosemoor will be opening the garden in the morning, and South Tawton Parochial Church Council will hold a coffee morning at the Victory Hall from 10am to noon. Susan Freeman, one of the lead workers of the garden restoration, said: 'All are welcome to come for refreshments and have a walk around the garden. Thanks to the very generous donations of labour, time and plants from Fi Reddaway, friends and neighbours, the garden is an inviting place to sit and enjoy the spring sunshine. 'As part of our research into the history of the garden, we hoped to find out more about Group Captain P R Walker CBE, DSO, DFC, to whom there is an inscription on one of the two seats in the garden. We would really like to invite any of his friends or relatives to the opening. If anyone has any information, please let us know.'