Hidden away behind the narrow front of a semi-detached house in Acomb Chris and Sheila Downes' semi-detached house in Acomb is a wonderful secret garden.

But it is not going to be secret for much longer as the owners, Chris and Sheila Downes, have invited visitors to enjoy their home-grown paradise through the National Gardens Scheme, which raises money for various charities including the Cancer Relief MacMillan Fund and the Gardeners' Royal Benevolent Society.

And they have also entered the York In Bloom 98 competition, which is sponsored by the Evening Press and the City of York Council.

The competition is an integral part of the paper's Proud to be York Campaign.

The judges - top gardening experts, previous winners and organisers - will visit the gardens during the two weeks from July 6 and private gardens will be judged in the evenings.

"Visitors to our garden are always so amazed that a garden of this size and variety could be here," said Sheila, who has been developing the garden with her husband for the last 20 years.

The garden, which boasts four greenhouses, a pond, fruit garden and rockeries, is also home to many rare and unusual plants.

And those who would like to visit the Downes' secret garden can take advantage of another chance to do so on Sunday, July 26, when it will be open once again for the National Gardens Scheme from 10am to 5pm.

To enter for York in Bloom 98, simply fill in the application slip printed in the Evening Press and send your completed form to York In Bloom 98, John Coombes, Leisure Services, City of York Council, 18 Back Swinegate, York, YO1 8ZD. The team of judges will visit your garden some time during the two weeks from July 6.

The winners will be announced at the end of July and the awards ceremony will take place towards the end of August.

The categories are as follows: A) Small/Medium (single or double fronted) business, shops, restaurants etc in the Inner City area. (*).

B) Small/Medium (single or double-fronted) businesses in Outer City areas.

C) Large Businesses, shops, offices, large hotels etc in the Inner City area.

D) Large Businesses in Outer City areas, including large hotels/pubs with gardens.

E) Small/Medium industrial premises in Greater York.

F) Large Industrial Premises in Greater York.

G) Inner City pub (*).

H) Outer City pub (*).

I) Guest House/Small Hotel, Inner City (*).

J) Guest House/Small Hotel, Outer City (*).

K) Best Public Building in Greater York (hospital, library etc).

L) School Garden/Floral Display.

M) Street/Shopping Centre.N) Private Garden (front/rear/both) in Greater York (beyond the Outer Ring road).

O) Private Garden (front/rear/ both) in Greater York (beyond the outer ring road)

P) Small Floral Display at a private dwelling, eg backyard, roof garden, window boxes, tubs, hanging baskets etc.

Q) Vegetable Garden or Allotment Plot (*). Inner City covers the area within and including both sides of the Inner Ring-Road, Outer York is the area between the Inner and Outer Ring Roads, Greater York is the new York Local Government area.

SPECIAL AWARDS:

A special award for the Garden of the Year will be made to an entrant from categories N, O and P at the discretion of the judges.

The best overall Pensioner's Garden will be selected from categories N, O, P and Q.

Also in the private gardens section prizes will be awarded for the most improved garden and the best new entrant.

The closing date for entries is Monday, June 29.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.