IT is a gem in the Test Valley countryside.

Now, county bosses are getting ready to mark 40 years in charge of Sir Harold Hillier Gardens.

The gardens, on Jermyns Lane, near Ampfield, has been in the sole care of Hampshire County Council as the trustee since 1978.

As part of the celebrations on July 17, ten couples from Hampshire have been invited to mark their 40-year wedding anniversary on the day.

A tree will also be planted to commemorate the milestone in the presence of the celebrating couples, schoolchildren from around the area, and leader of the county council, Roy Perry.

Under the trusteeship of the authority, the visitor numbers have grown to more than 200,000, welcoming more than 15,000 education users all to further the charity's aims of horticulture, conservation, education and recreation.

In 1997, the gardens were also included by English Heritage on the Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest.

Cllr Perry will also be accompanied on the day by the director of the gardens, Wolfgang Bopp.

The tree planting ceremony will begin at 2.45pm.