TICKETS are booking fast for the re-opening of a Basingstoke National Trust venue next week.

The National Trust has announced a phased reopening of its gardens and parklands in England next week, with advance booking needed to limit numbers and maintain public safety.

The Vyne, in Sherbone St John, is one of those re-opening from Wednesday, June 3, and bookable slots are already filling up fast after becoming available today.

The announcement from the National Trust comes after the UK government updated its advice on ticketed garden venues on May 23, confirming people in England can now visit gardens and land maintained for public use.

Bookable slots at The Vyne are free for Trust members with normal admission fees for other visitors.

It will open to around a third of its normal capacity at any one time, and visitors arriving by car will be asked to show pre-booked tickets through their vehicle window before parking.

Those arriving on foot will have bookings checked by a small team of staff who will adhere to social distancing.

The Vyne’s house and shop will remain closed.

Hilary McGrady, director general of the National Trust, said: “We want to provide safe, local, welcoming spaces for people, and wherever possible we will open our gardens and parks, and coast and countryside car parks.

“The fresh air, bird song, big skies and open spaces people have missed will be there, but things will be very different, particularly at first. We want to thank people for their patience and support while we gradually begin reopening and welcoming our visitors.”

The charity is urging visitors to limit how many visits they book, and to stay local if they can to avoid busy hot-spots.

Signage will be in place to advise visitors of how to stay safe during their visit, and routes will be marked out.

The booking system will be available on individual property web pages via www.nationaltrust.org.uk.