Head gardener Michael Darvill at Arley Arboretum

Nature lovers will find plenty to enjoy this summer in the picture perfect summer borders at a Shropshire arboretum.

Visitors to Arley Arboretum in Bridgnorth over the next few weeks will not only be able to enjoy the Italian garden, woodland walks, secret pools and tearoom, but will also be just in time to see the herbaceous borders reach their peak of beauty.

Planted with scent and colour in mind, these borders are at their best in mid summer and will continue to produce stunning combinations of flower until early August.

The borders feature cottage garden planting with roses and peonies currently taking centre stage.

Also flowering are poppies, delphiniums, penstemons and angelica amongst many others, making the borders a perfect spot to see insects including bees and butterflies.

Although these borders are mature, staff say that this kind of planting is easily achievable by the average gardener.

And on most days, the gardening team is on hand and happy to answer any questions from visitors.

The arboretum is to be found between Kidderminster and Bridgnorth on the A442, just over a mile from the hamlet of Shatterford, and is brown signed from this road.

It is also accessible from the Bewdley to Highley Road (B4194) via the footbridge over the River Severn at Arley.