The rambling informal gardens at Altamont, outside Tullow, Co Carlow, were a special secret, an ever-changing hidden wonderland of foliage, flowers, fowl and fragrances. Now the gardens, farm and house have been handed over to the State and reopened under the control of Duchas - The Heritage Service, in line with the wishes of Altamont's late owner, Corona North. The 40-acre Altamont Gardens fall away from the 18th-century house towards the Slaney river, with views beyond to the Wicklow and Blackstairs mountains.

As well as having a fine selection of trees, Altamont is also home to shrubs of all colours and sizes.

A lake which occupies two-and-a-half acres rejoins the Slaney by means of a rivulet with a series of bridges and bank-side plantations. Various inter-linking courtyards provide shaded areas away from the main garden and the two wonderful lines of beeches which make up the Nun's Walk. A walk through an ancient oak-wood and ice-age glen leading down to the river Slaney is another wonderful feature believed to have been created by renowned garden designer William Robinson. There is also a recently planted arboretum of oak. Altamont House is believed to have been built in 1740 on the site of a convent, replacing an earlier fortified farmhouse dating from the 1600s. Originally known as Rose Hill, and later Soho, the estate came to be called Altamont in the late 18th century.

The late Mrs North was the last remaining member of the Quaker Watson family who bought Altamont House and gardens in the early part of the 20th century. Altamont House requires huge restoration work to bring it back to its former glory.

"Mrs North was keen that the house have an educational role. Once we have completed the remedial work over the next few years, we will be open to suggestions from groups in the Carlow area who would see a use for it that is relevant to the gardens and the property itself," says Paddy Friel, Duchas's parks superintendent.

Corona North's father, Feilding Lecky Watson, and his wife were responsible for restoring the gardens, and his daughter inherited his love of gardening. "Corona North's family is famous for killing Mount Leinster's last wolf and starting foxhunts in the area. She didn't realise that she herself was the greatest in her line for what she achieved here," says Colm McElwee, a former employee of Mrs North who now remains at Altamont as caretaker and guide.

Mrs North was zealous about maintaining the gardens in her own style, and head gardener Paul Cuttler and other staff have fond memories of the many tasks completed under her direction, with much energy, inventiveness and often a minuscule amount of money.

These included putting a garden centre into the old walled garden, the construction of a pergola/wisteria walk along the riverbank and positioning the Temple of the Four Winds in what is known as Sunset Field.

"Mrs North loved informality and using foliage colour. She was a gatherer of plants, and spent all her time collecting and planting things she found in Irish nurseries and on her travels to England," explains Paul Cuttler. "If she had a choice between buying a daffodil or buying a slate for the roof of the house, she would have bought a daffodil," he continues. "She had an incredible knowledge of wildlife and encouraged wildlife to stay at Altamont. She pursued gardening in an ecological fashion," adds Colm McElwee.

There are otters, badgers, ducks, swans, grey and red squirrels here. "She knew where all the birds were nesting and she created some wildlife areas in boggy parts. She also had one area of the riverside as an otter sanctuary, where no one could go."

The challenge which now lies ahead for Duchas is to hold on to the charm of Altamont Gardens, while opening it up to sightseers.

For current opening times at Altamont Gardens telephone Pauline Dowling at 0503 59444.