WE’VE finally got the warm weather that we’ve all been waiting for.

The garden has sprung into full bloom, waking from its deep winter sleep and flourishing in the sunshine.

There are lots of things to see in the garden at any time of the year, but June and July are our favourite months here. Birdsong and the sweet scent of mock orange fill the air, whilst shades of purples, pinks and blues give a cottage garden feeling.

Throughout the garden there are lots of benches and hidden places where you can sit back to soak in the atmosphere. We love to see people enjoying the garden, and are always pleased to see people sitting in a quiet spot with a book.

There are some great opportunities to learn more about the garden here, and two different talks will run weekly until the end of July.

Every Monday there are tours of the Culpepper-inspired herb border between 1pm and 2pm. These are led by our experienced volunteer who’ll encourage you to get close, touch, smell and taste the herbs.

Herbs have long been used medicinally and in cooking, and this herb border was traditionally the family’s medicine cabinet and pantry.

You’ll hear about the wonderful properties of the herbs growing here and watch a demonstration of them being put to good use after. The talk is £2 per person and tickets can be bought from the shop upon arrival.

As a conservation charity, it’s really important to us to keep our gardens looking beautiful without causing harm to the environment or to wildlife. We don’t use slug pellets, we only use organic fertiliser on the flower beds, and we’d love to share the secrets of our organic techniques with others.

The Greener Gardening tour will take place every Tuesday between 2.30pm and 3.30pm. A relaxed approach will be taken with this tour and visitors will discover just how easy it is to use these methods at home to help their own garden become wildlife friendly.

This June we’re getting ready to bash some balsam – an annual task that we appreciate help with. Himalayan balsam is a non-native species that prevents traditional wild flowers from growing and flourishing, removing it is a fun and easy activity for the whole family to get involved with.

The sessions will run every Saturday in June from 10.30am to 12.30pm. No specialist equipment is needed, just suitable outdoor clothing (long sleeves and trousers), sturdy footwear and a pair of gloves (these can be provided if needed).

East Riddlesden Hall is now open six days a week from Saturday to Thursday, 10.30am to 4.30pm. General admission prices apply, and entry is free for National Trust members and under-fives.

Visit nationaltrust.org.uk/east-riddlesden-hall or call 01535 607075 for further information.