The High Commissioner for Australia visited Enfield yesterday to open a garden full of plants from his home country.

Australian diplomat John Dauth officially opened an Australian garden at Capel Manor Gardens in Bullsmore Lane along with Enfield Council leader Doug Taylor and Lady Salisbury.

The permanent garden is a replica of the gold-winning garden at last year’s Chelsea Flower Show, which was designed by Australian landscape designer Jim Fogarty.

The garden is even complete with reddened soil specially shipped over from Australia to make the space as authentic as possible.

The High Commissioner said: “It is really very splendid that the garden is here.

"It is a historic relationship between the two countries, but also a very contemporary one. The link between us is very important and that is what this is all about.

“I am very pleased that am I able to be a part of this garden which will be seen by so many people in London.

“I think it is terrific – this is a tough garden and it is astonishing to see it here.”

He said he would visit again within the next few years to check up on the progress of the garden.

Senior gardener and former Capel Manor College student Tom Wheatcroft has been in charge of building the unusual garden, and is confident the Australian plants will cope with Enfield’s climate.

The more fragile plants will be wrapped in the winter months to keep them warm and a protective canopy will also be installed to shield the garden.

He said: “We are really proud of it. The garden has been a big team effort and I think it looks like a bit of Australia.”

Council leader Douglas Taylor said: “It is a magnificent addition to the gardens at Capel Manor and it is worth a visit by any Enfield resident.”

Australian natives including the Queensland Bottle Tree, several varieties of Grevillea, and the distinctive Firewheel Tree can be spotted.

Seeds of two rare and threatened species, the Fragrant Saltbush and the Hairy Darling-pea are also growing in the garden.