Children watched newts and tadpoles and adults asked about planting when a rarely opened garden unlocked its gates.

More than 60 visitors, from gardeners to families with young children, attended the Open Garden Squares Day held in the George V Memorial Garden in Canons Park.

Henna and art activities were available to children throughout the day, who also enjoyed watching the young frogs and newts that have recently hatched in the pond.

Park keeper Derek Roy, who had spent the past few weeks trimming and pruning, was kept busy all afternoon as he answered questions from visitors.

The Friends of Canons Park stall was also busy, answering questions, taking new memberships and distributing leaflets about the park and its history.

Sharon Graham, of the Friends of Canons Park, said: “All in all, despite the weather, we were really pleased with the turnout and stayed on an extra hour after our advertised time because there were so many people still arriving at the garden.”

The open day was held as part of the Open Garden Squares Day, which sees more than 200 gardens not ordinarily open to the public unlock their gates for a weekend.