Wad a garden

Mega-rich Stephen Hester — on £1.2million a year at the bailed-out bank — hoped to show off his 350-acre Oxfordshire estate, with the fees going to charity.

But the open day was a washout. One of Hester’s EIGHT full-time gardeners at Broughton Grange blamed pelting rain as he said sadly: “We usually get about 500 people but it’s really tipping down so we’ve only had one or two.”

Those who did brave the downpour enjoyed the BONUS of having the spectacular landscaped gardens to themselves.

They wandered among plant pots where the RBS chief, who took over from shamed Fred “The Shred” Goodwin, gets to ponder his PENSION POT.

And Hester’s HEDGE FUNDS provided for shrubbery-lined pathways leading visitors to a carp pond, water meadow, orchard and a castle-style tree house with turrets and a bridge.

Pots of money ... mansion's lawn

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Dad-of-two Hester, 51, who split from his wife and is now engaged to hedge fund sales manager Suzy Neubert, 47, bought the property in 1992.

Spectacular ... one of flower beds

SIMON JONES/ THE SUN

The mansion boasts tennis courts and a swimming pool, plus cheeky garden features including a pair of gargoyles displaying their manhoods.

Censored ... gargoyle

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Parts of the grounds were developed by celebrity gardener Tom Stuart-Smith.

Splish splash dosh ... water feature

SIMON JONES/ THE SUN

Expert Charles Dowding said: “The gardens are incredibly well designed, with wonderful colours and attention to detail.”

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Branch manager ... avenue

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Rosy salary ... Stephen Hester