AN East Lancashire couple are hoping to sow the seeds of success as they gear up for a blooming weekend.

Andrew and Dorothy Richards will open their garden gate for the first time to the public on bank holiday Sunday and Monday, raising funds for charity in the process.

The retired lecturers' pristine plot is at Greenacre, Ribchester Road, Clayton-le-Dale, will be a feast for any gardening enthusiasts.

The decision to showcase their horticultural efforts has been made in conjunction with The National Gardens Scheme and its Gardens Open For Charity initiative.

The charity's patron is the Prince of Wales and it raises money for nearly a 1,000 charities nationwide.

By charging the public a small fee to enter the gardens, £2,50 in this case, the charity raised £26,000 in Lancashire alone last year.

Mrs Richards said: "We decided to go with the scheme to make some money for charity.

"We are enthusiastic about buying plants and we appreciate going to look round other gardens. We always get ideas wherever we go.

"We've been to a couple of other gardens and I've thought that mine was as good as the other ones I've seen."

A number of groups have already been round the garden but Mrs Richards said a two day event will pose different problems.

"We knew they were coming whereas on an open day it could rain and we will have 400 cakes just sitting there," she added.

Visitors will be able to walk round the one acre garden from 2pm to 5pm on both days and will be treated to talks about the plot and what the couple aim to do with it.

Mr Richards said: "People who have visited here liked it and said why not open it to other people?

"You get to meet a lot of really nice people and it rings different people in to the garden."

The couple's attention is now turning to trestle tables to cater for their guests and they admit to feeling a pang of trepidation before their weekend event.

Neither of them are officially trained in horticulture but Mrs Richards is starting a course at Myerscough this Autumn on the subject.