Organic treasure is grown at Mostyn Kitchen Garden

The couple behind hidden gem Mostyn Kitchen Garden, near Holywell, are definitely doing the former but there's always plenty of work, albeit a labour of love.

I didn't know what to expect on my visit to the Flintshire garden but I was overwhelmed by the genuine magic of the place - think The Secret Garden meets Tom's Midnight Garden with some Beatrix Potter thrown in (there are hedgehogs but more of that later).

The Victorian greenhouses at Mostyn Kitchen Garden.

Located in the grounds of the stunning Mostyn Hall, Mostyn Kitchen Garden is a beautiful 18th century, restored walled garden, tended to with love and care by husband and wife team, Debbie and Phil Handley, and a few valued volunteers.

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Debbie, 53, explains how everything grown here is put to use. The incredible range of produce - chillies, red currants, apples, asparagus, strawberries, blackcurrants, tomatoes (oh my god the tomatoes!) to name but a few - are either part of some of their pick-your-own range or used in a range of products created in their own kitchens.

Mostyn Kitchen Garden produce.

These include jams, pickles, chutney, honey, cocktail syrups and most recently, vinegars. All grown, picked and preserved by Debbie and Phil, 65, to organic principles.

Most of these can be bought from their honesty box by the hall itself, stocked regularly and of course with what's in season. Taking home a box of cherry tomatoes of various kinds, my other half demolished the lot, declaring them the best he'd ever had. It's best to check their Facebook page for honesty box availability before venturing out

Tomatoes growing inside the Victorian greenhouses.

They also grow a gorgeous array of flowers, all from seed, utilised by a local florist and the highlight of occasional cut-your-own bloom dates at the garden. And to keep things fresh, literally, they always grow something new each year.

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For those looking to pay a visit, the site is open to the public on selected dates throughout the year, including bouquet and wreath-making sessions and the popular upcoming pick-your-own pumpkin patch. The seasonal gourds are well underway, about 3,000, all hand planted from seed by Phil, including the suitably spookily named Ghost Pumpkin (it's white).

Espalier apple tree.

All events and open days at Mostyn Kitchen Garden are well attended and many require booking, so it's well worth keeping an eye on their Facebook page for what's next so not to miss out.

Everywhere you look here, there is something to admire, a personal favourite was the espalier apple trees, which I'd never seen before. Fruit trees growing flat against the red brick walls surrounding the garden.

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But it's not just the natural beauty that is captivating. There is a spectacular row of Victorian greenhouses, in use and in the process of being restored, which garnered an audible 'wow' from me. You really get a sense of a time gone by.

Hedgehog houses at Mostyn Kitchen Garden.

While home to many birds, bees, butterflies and insects, there are other guests here too. Debbie and Phil, working with charity Hedgehog Help Prestatyn, take in hedgehogs that cannot be returned to the wild for various reasons, such as blindness or loss of a limb. These largely nocturnal creatures reside in adorable little 'houses' in one corner of the plot, and have the run of the grounds.

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For Debbie and Phil, Mostyn Kitchen Garden is now a way of life, and they wouldn't have it any other way. Phil, who has been at the garden about 12 years, was previously in the police force, changing direction in career, attending Northop College to train as a horticulturist. He has since gone on to be a Farming Connect mentor. Debbie, with about 10 years at the garden under her belt, previously worked in social housing and community development, focussing on mental health. She later went on to be part of a community food cooperative programme, and is now a director of Slow Food Cymru Wales.

Mostyn Kitchen Garden vinegars

Both are supporters of the movement, which is about "celebrating all that is good, clean and fair about food and drink in Wales and working to make it accessible to everyone". The couple also work with other local suppliers, including Mountain Produce in Minera.

Mostyn Kitchen Garden honest box.

Of course it's not all hedgehogs and pumpkins. The weather can make or break plans at Mostyn Kitchen Gardens, with flooding, frost or extreme heat leading to potential produce loss, and the weeding is constant! But what a place to work - even beyond the walls there is the wow factor, with views out across to the Dee.

Debbie and Phil pour their hearts and souls into Mostyn Kitchen Garden, and it shows. They know every inch of the place and will happily tell you about what's growing, why and what happens to it. They are behind the magic that grows in every corner.

• Mostyn Kitchen Garden, Mostyn Hall, CH8 9HN - 07765933422.