A public garden maintained by dedicated trustees is facing a “dire” financial situation.

Braintree and Bocking Public Gardens costs about £26,000 a year to maintain - the biggest single expense.

It relies on donations and revenue from events and an endowment provided by Sydney Courtauld, who bequeathed the gardens to Braintree in 1888.

But trustee Terry Ward said reserves have been halved, after £40,000 was spent on upgrading the gardener’s lodge and £11,000 was spent on drain repairs.

See this week's Times for full story.