SIR BERNARD`S GARDEN RENAMED

One of Cheshire`s Gardens of Distinction is changing its name to honour its creator.

The Quinta Arboretum will now be known as The Lovell Quinta Arboretum in memory of Sir Bernard Lovell.

The 28-acre garden in Swettenham was created by the founder of Jodrell Bank from open grassland he bought in 1948.

Now entrusted to the Tatton Garden Society, it features more than 800 species and 2,500 trees and shrubs, including two national collections.

There is also 12 and a half acres of wild wood owned by Cheshire Wildlife Trust and meadows filled with wild flowers.

Visitors can enjoy views over the valley of the River Dane from the arboretum, which contains a collection of endangered conifers sponsored by The Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh.

Sir Bernard, who was president of Tatton Garden Society until his death, died in August 2012 leaving behind a huge space age legacy.

The professor of radioastronomy created the 76- metre Lovell Telescope which tracked the rocket that carried Sputnik 1 into orbit in 1957.

Colin Hurrell, of Tatton Garden Society, said: