Gardens extra

Local garden designer Jayne Bennetto was the proud recipient of a Royal Horticultural Society Bronze Medal at this year's Malvern Spring Gardening Show, held at the Three Counties Showground. Jayne's design, 'The Lost Garden', was created for Gloucestershire landscape company, Foliation Limited, and based on a lost corner of an English garden, with a Roman theme.

Roman columns, broken walls and overflowing pools helped create an Arcadian atmosphere, and plants used by the Romans such as rosemary, juniper, iris and arbutus unedo were used along with acanthus, whose leaves inspired the carved capitols of the Roman columns.

Jayne said: "The experience of designing and building a show garden was a huge learning curve and I am very grateful to Foliation for giving me this opportunity." She has now created a portfolio of private clients and is working in the Midlands area whilst studying for a degree in Landscape and Garden Design.

BBC GARDENERS' WORLD LIVE

The popular show returns to the NEC from June 14-18, providing entertainment, inspiration and horticultural excellence from top gardening experts including Alan Titchmarsh and Monty Don. The RHS Floral Marquee will display over 40 show gardens created by the country's best designers, inspiring visitors and hoping to win a coveted RHS medal.

One hundred nurseries will also be showcasing their wares, while the Grow Wild! Garden from UK conservation charity Plantlife will feature native flowers in a modern garden design. In a first for 2006, Waterside Nurseries will build a pond in the marquee with a range of aquatic plants.

For information and tickets, call 0870 165 5573 or visit www.bbcgardenersworldlive.com.

CREATE A POND

The Worcestershire Wildlife Trust is encouraging gardeners to take a special interest in garden ponds at this time of year, either by caring for an existing pond or creating one in their own garden. Three quarters of the UK's ponds disappeared during the 20th century, and native amphibians like frogs, toads and newts have declined in numbers - but new ponds will attract insects and birds as well as providing an important habitat for amphibians.

For information on creating a pond and which plants to use, send a stamped addressed envelope to Worcestershire Wildlife Trust, Lower Smite Farm, Smite Hill, Hindlip, Worcester WR3 8SZ.

WATER MUSIC

Exhibiting at the Malvern Spring Gardening Show, Arctic Spas provided entertainment with a unique water music recital, courtesy of accomplished saxophonist Sam Pagett of Stourport. Already an accomplished saxophonist, 13-year-old Sam played a selection of jazz, blues and rock 'n' roll tunes on an instrument that belonged to his father, who died of cancer. His performance raised money for the children's bereavement charity, Noah's Ark Trust, which is Arctic Spas' nominated charity - the company also ran a competition to guess the number of balls in a hot tub and raised nearly £400 in total.

For more information call 01299 250251 or visit www.arcticspas.com.

Pictured: Neil Bates, sales manager of Arctic Spas, Sam Pagett and Sue Smith of Noah's Ark Trust.

HIDDEN TREASURES

The picturesque riverside village of Fladbury welcomes the public to its annual Walkabout and Flower Festival on the weekend of July 9-10 from 12noon -6pm, raising money for the Church of St John the Baptist. Access to more than 20 spectacular gardens combines with the best traditions of a village fete, including stalls, refreshments and entertainment, while the church hosts floral displays with the theme 'This is Britain'. Fladbury Mill, which powered the first electric street lighting, will showcase static engines and offer trips on the River Avon's old wire ferry, and a Family Fun Run takes place on the Sunday afternoon. Entrance £4, under-15s free.

For more information call Andy Parsloe on 01386 860245 or see www.fladbury.com.

KINVER GARDENS

Kinver Horticultural Society will open eight village gardens over the weekend of June 17-18, to raise money for Cancer Research UK. The gardens will be open between 2 and 6pm both days, with entry costing £3 for adults and £1 for children aged five to 16. Programmes can now be obtained from outlets on Kinver High Street, or during the weekend itself from the clock bus shelter.

The weekend of fundraising begins with a Technicolour Quiz Night at the KSCA Community Centre on June 16 starting at 7.30pm. Tickets are available from the High Street Post Office. For more information on both events call Lesley Joyce on 01384 878564 or Margaret Wright on 01384 393412.

Readers who enjoyed our feature on the National Gardens Scheme last time will be pleased to know that £1,051.17 was raised for various charities at Edgewood House Open Garden on April 30.