Trentham Gardens in Stoke-on-Trent, one of England’s largest formal gardens, has entered the second phase of its £100m redevelopment programme.

It is on schedule to open its Monkey Forest – the first of its kind in the UK – on 19 July.

The attraction will enable visitors to walk through woodlands where around 150 Barbary Macaque monkeys roam freely.

Last year, the 780-acre resort opened its Italian gardens, a visitor centre, a retail village and a 65,000sq ft garden centre, managed by Guernsey-based Blue Diamond Group.

A 120-bedroom hotel and an extreme sport centre will open at the resort in 2006.