GREEN fingered couple Pam and Alistair Thompson are once again opening their beautifully tended Worcestershire cottage garden to visitors this year.

And, known for their quirky garden surprises, the pair have added a memorial in the shape of a stone cairn to mark the 70th anniversary of VE Day this year.

The garden will be open as part of the National Gardens Scheme on Saturday May 30 and Sunday May 31 from 11am to 6pm.

Pear Tree Cottage – a grade II listed building – is at Wichenford and has south-west facing gardens and far reaching views across orchards to Abberley clock tower. The gardens extend to approx three quarters of an acre and have gently sloping lawns with mixed and woodland borders, shade and plenty of strategically placed seating. The garden exudes a quirky and humorous character with the odd surprise.

Pam, a former West Mercia Police traffic officer, said: “Our newest feature is a stone cairn to commemorate the 70th anniversary of VE Day.

“I didn’t do all the building but I did every bit of sculpting the mortar around the stones. The building was done by our friend and expert Chris Genever.

“I did inscribe the slate plaque. It was rather different from the calligraphy I used to do for the Ministry of Defence when I used to inscribe all the medal certificates for the British Army.

“Instead of a nib, I used a metal punch and it will remain permanently legible. We also put in a time capsule with names and dates.”

Last year Pam and Alistair installed a 1935 fully restored red telephone kiosk - complete with working Bakelite telephone - in their garden.

This particular version of the red phone box which was a familiar sight in Britain until about 15 years ago was designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott to mark the silver jubilee of King George V.

Pam explained they had looked for a traditional telephone box to restore but soon realised it would be too big a job for them so they acquired one from a company supplying them for the film and TV industries.

The kiosk arrived from Reigate and a garage using a lorry mounted crane placed it in the garden. “It just happens the main telephone line is very near the kiosk and we were able to get it connected, so I now have a fully working Bakelite phone just like it used to be,” said Pam.

The garden also has a series of sculptures and memorabilia including a buoy and anchor salvaged from Cornwall. There’s plenty to keep visitors amused.

Pear Tree Cottage, Witton Hill, Wichenford, WR6 6YX will be open this weekend and for the biannual Wichenford Open gardens event on Saturday June 20 and Sunday June 21 when proceeds will go to St Richard’s Hospice and village organisations.

For more information about next weekend visit http://www.ngs.org.uk/gardens/find-a-garden/garden.aspx?id=29776 and for the open gardens weekend in June visit http://www.wichenfordopengardens.com/