VISITORS to Mathern House, Mathern, which is opening to the public on May 30 under the National Gardens Scheme, can walk in the footsteps of King Tewdric and the bishops who once inhabited nearby Llandaff Palace.

Current owner Paul Webb is justifiably proud of the 'managable' borders he has created over the past 20 or so years, fitting the gardening in with a busy working life, but he's also very mindful of the place's fascinating history.

His home is close to (and once formed part of the grounds of) the ancient Bishops of Llandaff Palace. They acquired the land in the seventh century from the son of Tewdric, King of Glamorgan who was killed in battle and was buried in the nearby church which bears his name.

In the late 19th century the palace was owned by historian and gardener H. Avary Tipping, who also laid out the grounds. Mathern House originally adjoined the Palace and the spring where Tewdric died was in the grounds.

Mathern House as it now stands has existed from early 1600 and its gardens until recently were quite extensive. 'For Sale' particulars from 1902 show some "11 acres of grounds including lawns and pleasure gardens".

Old photographs from 1914 show the layout of the front garden including the 60 yard long wisteria which still exists, and an eight sided Japanese pagoda tea house in the rear garden, which sadly has not survived.

Today the garden is two acres, and it has been lovingly refurbished and developed by the current owners. Many large mature trees include evergreen oak, yew, robinia, holly, sycamore and silver birch. Extensive hedging, topiary and box hedging parterre add permanent structure.

Immediately in front of the house a large lawn is surrounded by overflowing herbaceous borders which in turn lead to a small white garden with hesperis and digitalis. The robinia trees at the entrance are under planted for winter and spring with hellebores, euphorbia and pulmonaria and nearby is a newly planted pink and blue border of delphiniums, new English roses and viburnum.

The main rear garden is also surrounded by mature trees, and comprises a large lawn and brimming mixed borders, together with a small vegetable plot maintained by the grandchildren.

This is a family garden, so younger visitors will be able to take advantage of the children's activity play area.

The Bishops' Palace is owned by the former Llanwern Steelworks company Corus, more recently taken over by Indian firm Tata.

Visitors to the Mathern garden can also take in Tewdric's church.

The open gardens day will be supporting cancer charities.