Hyde Hall Gardens in Rettendon will soon boast a new visitor centre.

An old timber-framed barn is to be converted to provide information about the gardens.

The centre, which should be finished by next spring, is being made possible thanks to a three year sponsorship deal between the hall and Essex and Suffolk Water.

The cash injection will also pay for a full-time education officer and two new gardens. One, a farmhouse-style area, is already open but the other, a water-saving garden which will teach people how to use resources wisely, is about to be created.

Mike Calver, property manager for the Royal Horticultural Society which took over the gardens six years ago, said: "We have invested £13.m in the place since we have been here, but this extra funding means we can accelerate our improvement programmes.

"We will begin work on the visitor centre when we close in the autumn and hopefully it will be complete by the spring."

Sir Simon Hornby, president of the Royal Horticultural Society, joined Chelmsford mayor and mayoress Michael and Patrica Mackrory, at the gardens in Hyde Hall Road to mark the sponsorship.

Roger Griffin, from Essex and Suffolk Water, said: "By creating gardens and an education centre in the heart of our supply area, we hope gardeners will be able to take away with them new methods and practices which will help them conserve water."

The gardens are open from 11am-6pm everyday until August then 11am-5pm until October.

Attending the launch - John Cuthbert, managing director of Essex & Suffolk Water, Sir Simon Hornby, the Mayor and Mayoress, Joyce Stewart from the Royal Horticultural Society and Roger Griffen, director of customer services for the water company

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