LONDON’S garden squares may form attractive pockets of greenery within the urban landscape, but many remain mysterious places closed to the general public.

However, an event taking place this weekend will allow rare access to them.

Open Garden Squares Weekend, which is organised by London Parks & Gardens Trust, will also give you the chance to learn more through a series of talks and activities.

Rachel Aked, from London Parks & Gardens Trust, says one of the main aims of the weekend is to make people aware of some of the capital’s hidden gems, either by just looking around the gardens or via the activities.

“If you’re going to gardens in the City, for example, there’s a series of guided walking tours organised,” she says.

“For other gardens they may have produced a leaflet so you could learn more about it, and you could also get ideas for your own open space.

“About 200 gardens are taking part and 130 or so of them are private and not usually open to the public. They’re all community gardens and many are used exclusively by nearby residents, who might have their own keys to the garden.”

Among the venues taking part are Branch Hill Allotments in Hampstead, (open Saturday and Sunday, 2pm to 5pm), which was once the garden of Branch Hill House, an Edwardian mansion occupied for some years by John Spedan Lewis, founder of the John Lewis Partnership.

Also in Hampstead, The Hill Garden and Pergola (open Saturday and Sunday, 2pm to 5pm) features an 800ft-long, Grade II-listed pergola). There will be a collection of old and modern photographs on display during the weekend.

Other venues include North London Collegiate School Gardens, in Canons Drive, Edgware (open Saturday, 1pm–5pm), which will host short, informal talks and films on the house and gardens, and there will be an opportunity to sample historic food.

The Canons Park George V Memorial Garden opens on Saturday, 1pm–5pm, and there will be information on the history and restoration of the garden.

St Lawrence’s Church, in Whitchurch Lane, Canons Park opens on Saturday and Sunday, 2pm–5pm. There will be guided tours of the church on both days.

Roe Green Walled Garden, Kingsbury, will open on Saturday, 10.30am–5pm, and there will be children’s activities, refreshments and plant sales taking place.

Details: www.opensquares.org