Students at Bearwood College have been taking part in a regular Saturday gardening activity to renovate a hidden 
garden, and then open it for charity.
Visitors to Bearwood’s Open Garden event on Sunday 19th May can see the result of student efforts whilst also exploring a hidden garden, and part of the Mansion house.
In the late 19th century, the site formed part of a larger estate and was owned by John Walter III, the last private owner of The Times newspaper.
He built a state of the art Victorian country house, and surrounded it with gardens, a landscape park and large lake. The estate still boasts woodland walks, colourful rhododendrons, and a traditional icehouse.
However the focus of student work has been a hidden rock and water garden. Built by Pulham and Company between 1879 and 1885, the garden mimics natural rock formations, but is actually made from cleverly designed Victorian concrete.
The garden is hidden because it was sunk in a large clay pit which provided the basis for some of the bricks for the main house.
The water originally circulated around the garden using a pumping system (some of which is yet to be discovered) and features waterfalls and pools which meander throughout the garden.
Pulham built gardens for a number of historic houses including Sandringham, but this is one of the most extensive discovered.
The garden is considered important, and a few years ago it was listed by the government on the National Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest.
Students have been uncovering the rock formations and removing overgrown trees and shrubs which had broken up some of the concrete.
Elsewhere on the estate they have planted more rhododendrons, especially varieties which would have been available at the turn of the 20th century when the Walter family still lived there.
The main house and site is now used by Bearwood College, a co-educational nursery, prep and senior school. A number of rooms in the Mansion itself, including its fabulous Golden Staircase, will also be open providing a fitting setting for cream teas.
The Open Garden is part of the National Garden yellow book scheme. The House and gardens are open 2-5pm. Entry costs £4 with no charge for children under 14, and free car parking. Party tours can also be arranged on other dates.
Last year alone, the National Garden Scheme gave more than £2.6 million to a range of charities including Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie Cancer Care, Help the Hospices and a range of other charities. The NGS is the biggest single donor to both Macmillan Cancer Support and Marie Curie Cancer Care.
Bearwood College can be found off the B3030. Follow the NGS yellow signs from the Winnersh crossroads, and from the junction of Bearwood Road and Barkham Road B3349.
Because of its design, disabled access in the gardens is very restricted; the water garden involves uneven narrow paths and small bridges, and a number of estate paths are gravel. The Mansion is only accessed via steps.