24 June 2011 Last updated at 12:28

In pictures: Hidcote Manor Garden restoration completed

The old garden, at the National Trust's Hidcote Manor

Hidcote Manor Garden, one of the jewels in the National Trust's crown, is back as it was originally designed after a 10-year restoration project costing £3.5m.

Many of the key historic structures have been reinstated at the world-famous garden, near Chipping Campden in the Cotswolds, including a newly-restored semi-tropical plant house, a bathing pool and a summerhouse mural.

Head gardener Glyn Jones said the project had been a "huge undertaking" but he felt they had managed to bring the original vision of Major Lawrence Johnston - an American-born horticulturist - back to life.

Inside the new plant house at Hidcote Manor Garden

Mr Jones said: "Visitors will be able to imagine Johnston and his guests enjoying the gardens, tennis courts and bathing pool back in the 1920s, 30s and 40s." The plant house, pictured, has been given a new lease of life and filled once again with semi tropical plants. Panels will be used to fully glaze the house in the winter and then removed in the summer to turn it into a "floral arcade".

The bathing pool at Hidcote was rebuilt five years ago

Elements of the 10 acre garden fell into disrepair during the 1950s. The National Trust began the recreation project 10 years ago and it has included rebuilding an outdoor bathing pool which would have played host to the guests at Johnston's exclusive tennis parties.

A thatched "Italianate" summer house has also been revived with a brand new mural created by artist Michael Dillon which aims to capture the spirit of Johnston's garden.

Major Lawrence Johnston's creation was built around outdoor "rooms" linked by views and design features influenced by the "Arts and Crafts" style. It has taken 10 years of research to track down the plants he would have used and reinstate former beds and planted areas.

Creation of the garden began in 1907. It became the first garden to be taken on by the National Trust, in 1948, purely on its own merit alone. It now attracts about 150,000 visitors every year.

Gloucestershire

In pictures: Hidcote Manor Garden restoration completed

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