Cream tea in a Herm garden. (0591549)

IF YOU’VE ever wondered what Herm residents get up to when they disappear behind a gate marked ‘Private’, or what really goes on up at the gardeners’ potting shed, now is your chance to find out with our new ‘Behind the Scenes’ island walk.

It is the brainchild of long-time resident Lesley Bailey and aims to raise funds for the Herm Britain in Bloom campaign. Described as ‘a unique opportunity to visit residents’ gardens’, the first walk took place this week and was a huge success with hotel guests, many of whom have been visiting the island for many years.

Penny and Geoffrey Davies of Jersey have been coming to Herm for the last 24 years.

‘Each time we’re here, we have to visit every

part of the island,’ said Geoffrey. ‘It’s been lovely today to visit places we haven’t encountered before.’

Starting outside The Ship restaurant, the walk leads up The Drive, through the white gate at the top of the path and to the potting shed.

Here Head Gardener Brett Moore and assistant James Cordingley talk guests through the work they have been doing and show off the new rose garden.

From there, a short walk through the garden leads to Lady Perry’s House, home of Pennie and Adrian Heyworth. Guests are able to admire the gardens and partake of Pennie’s elderflower cordial.

At the bottom of the Heyworths’ lawn is Garden Field, which leads round to the Old Mill Tower (this can normally only be seen from the spine road leading to the campsite).

Sisters Fran and Ann Moody have stayed at the White House every year for the past 23 years.

‘I liked being able to look at the views from a different perspective,’ said Ann, ‘and from a direction you wouldn’t normally see them from.’

Next is Forge Cottage, home of Lesley and Andrew Bailey, and a visit of the garden there. Through the self-catering courtyard, the tour then leads to the private courtyards of Bramble Cottage (home to the island engineer and his family) and Cherry Cottage (home to the gift shop manager and family).

Jenny and Bill England from Bath particularly enjoyed seeing the gardens.

‘It’s interesting how gardens here are so much more developed because of the warmer climate,’ said Jenny.

At the end of the hour-and-a half-walk, guests are taken to Lower Belvoir garden where Yolandi Visser (with baby Harry) and Leslie Pimblett (with baby Alfie) had worked hard to lay on a cream tea for visitors to enjoy in the sun.

Carolyn and Jeremy Mace, who have visited annually for 26 years, loved seeing different parts of the island.

‘We’ve had a wonderful time,’ said Carolyn, ‘and for the families to open their gardens to us really is above the call of duty.’

‘It’s lovely to see everyone working together to make this happen,’ said Danel Munday.

Sheila Williams from Herefordshire said it was a ‘most fabulous tour, and certainly worth doing’.

Everyone’s favourite part of the tour was, without exception, the garden of Lady Perry’s House, which isn’t normally seen by visitors. But the cream tea was a close second.

‘Such a delightful walk,’ said Gaynor Luckett,’ and so lovely for it to culminate in an English country tea.’

The walk will continue for the rest of the summer and can be booked through the White House Hotel.