For more than 40 years he carefully tended to the beautiful beds, pristine plants and bright borders of one of Norfolk's most treasured attractions.

Norwich Evening News: Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden's 40th anniversary year. The restoration of the West Garden.The first phase of the project is the restoration of a candelabra primula bed, which has been eroded over a number of years by the high tides that find their way up the dykes into the garden. Volunteers working in the West Garden.Picture: James BassFairhaven Woodland and Water Garden's 40th anniversary year. The restoration of the West Garden.The first phase of the project is the restoration of a candelabra primula bed, which has been eroded over a number of years by the high tides that find their way up the dykes into the garden. Volunteers working in the West Garden.Picture: James Bass (Image: Archant Norfolk © 2015)

And green-fingered expert George Debbage has now returned to his roots at Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden to start work on a special project to mark 40 years of the tranquil grounds in South Walsham.

George is a former head gardener and manager of Fairhaven and has dug out his tools once more to mastermind the first phase of the celebratory project to restore the West Garden.

His work started last Friday when he began to refurbish the candelabra primula bed, an area he worked on when he first joined Fairhaven in 1963 as a gardener.

And as he set to work with his spade he even found some mementos of his early work - the original plant name tags he had dug in decades ago.

Norwich Evening News: Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden's 40th anniversary year. The restoration of the West Garden.The first phase of the project is the restoration of a candelabra primula bed, which has been eroded over a number of years by the high tides that find their way up the dykes into the garden. George Debbage (manager and Head Gardener from 1975 - 2007) has come back to help with the restoration.Picture: James BassFairhaven Woodland and Water Garden's 40th anniversary year. The restoration of the West Garden.The first phase of the project is the restoration of a candelabra primula bed, which has been eroded over a number of years by the high tides that find their way up the dykes into the garden. George Debbage (manager and Head Gardener from 1975 - 2007) has come back to help with the restoration.Picture: James Bass (Image: Archant Norfolk © 2015)

George said: 'The bed that I have been restoring was in fact the job that I was given on my first day here, 13 March 1963.

'It was a freezing cold day and the head gardener sent me down into the garden to weed the bed.

'After a while I realised I was the only gardener out and about. The rest of them were doing jobs indoors, because it was so cold, and sent the novice into the West Garden to see what he was made of!'

The restoration work will also include stabilising of the dyke edge, which has eroded over a number of years due to creeping high tides.

Norwich Evening News: Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden's 40th anniversary year. The restoration of the West Garden.The first phase of the project is the restoration of a candelabra primula bed, which has been eroded over a number of years by the high tides that find their way up the dykes into the garden. George Debbage (manager and Head Gardener from 1975 - 2007) has come back to help with the restoration.Picture: James BassFairhaven Woodland and Water Garden's 40th anniversary year. The restoration of the West Garden.The first phase of the project is the restoration of a candelabra primula bed, which has been eroded over a number of years by the high tides that find their way up the dykes into the garden. George Debbage (manager and Head Gardener from 1975 - 2007) has come back to help with the restoration.Picture: James Bass (Image: Archant Norfolk © 2015)

The project has been kick started with a grant from New Anglia LEP and ongoing funding from garden entry gift aid donations will help pay for future phases.

Louise Rout, Fairhaven Garden manager, said: 'We have really valued George's knowledge and expertise as we begin our West Garden restoration project.

'We will gradually restore the area, as funds allow, over the next three to four years.'

George became manager of the charitable trust, set up to open the garden to the public after Lord Fairhaven's death, in 1975. He retired from his post in January 2001.

Norwich Evening News: Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden's 40th anniversary year. The restoration of the West Garden.One of the first plants ever planted in the West Garden by George Debbage.The first phase of the project is the restoration of a candelabra primula bed, which has been eroded over a number of years by the high tides that find their way up the dykes into the garden. George Debbage (manager and Head Gardener from 1975 - 2007) has come back to help with the restoration.Picture: James BassFairhaven Woodland and Water Garden's 40th anniversary year. The restoration of the West Garden.One of the first plants ever planted in the West Garden by George Debbage.The first phase of the project is the restoration of a candelabra primula bed, which has been eroded over a number of years by the high tides that find their way up the dykes into the garden. George Debbage (manager and Head Gardener from 1975 - 2007) has come back to help with the restoration.Picture: James Bass (Image: Archant Norfolk © 2015)

He added: 'I am very pleased that Louise has invited me back to help on this project. This was the more formal part of Lord Fairhaven's woodland garden, closest to South Walsham Hall, where he lived.

'Visitors in May will start to see the fruits of our work, as the candelabra primulas come into flower.'

Most of the materials for the restoration of the primula bed have come from the woodland, except for the poles used to shore up the dyke edge.

A new Hydrangea Walk is also being created in the West Garden to add colour in the summer, with all of the flowers for this new bed being grown locally at Viking Nurseries.

The garden is open daily to visitors. For more information about opening times visit www.fairhavengarden.co.uk or call 01603 270449.