THE Malvern Autumn Garden and Country Show goes from strength to strength. Attendance boomed as crowds streamed in and the car park filled by mid-morning on the first day.

No doubt the late September sunshine proved an added bonus as the wonderful Indian summer of 2003 was reluctant to leave us.

Early predictions of an attendance that could outstrip last year's record of 48,000 were more than vindicated. The final count was no less than 64,000 - another record exceeding all expectations.

Diversification has paid off for the Three Counties Agricultural Society. Just as farmers are having to supplement their incomes by diversification, so the society has imaginatively capitalised on its incomparable showground by hosting wide-ranging events throughout the year as well as the main agricultural show in June.

Gardening is all about working with nature just as farming is. Most of us are gardeners at heart, whether we have scope only for pot plants, window boxes, a pocket-sized garden or more extensive lawns, flower beds and vegetable plots, or perhaps an allotment.

There is a special atmosphere at the garden show because the vast majority of visitors are participating themselves with living plants.

The Spring Gardening Show, launched in 1985, had grown year by year. Its success was attracting national attention and the Royal Horticultural Society joined in five years later, raising the prestige of the event.

The Malvern Autumn Show, launched in 1995, attracts more people each year and from a wider geographical area. It is establishing as a national show, with keen competition for trade stands from all over the country.

"We are happy that the show's success is good news also for local businesses," said TCAS chief executive, Gareth Davies. "The TCAS want to stimulate prosperity for the Malvern district as well."

Stephen Bennett, RHS shows director, praised the superb quality of the exhibits. "Many more nursery trade exhibitors would like to be here. We had to turn down 30 per cent of applicants, ensuring that those who came did not have their market flooded," he explained.

"With no less than 17 gold awards and 11 silver-gilts, the floral exhibits marked the best standard since 1999."

Best in Show Award went to Knoll Gardens of Wimborne, Dorset, for their display of grasses and grass-like plants, showing the subtle shades of autumn. The Countess of Mar, TCAS president, handed the trophy to Neil Lucas.

Neil said: "We have exhibited twice before at the spring show and once before in the autumn show. Ours is a family business established 10 years ago. We grow a wide variety of plants on our five acres, but have specialised at shows with grasses and related species."

The harvest pavilion had a breath-taking assortment of vegetables, showing what amateur gardeners can produce, from choice perfection to grotesque shapes and gigantic sizes. It took no less than six men to lift the biggest pumpkin into place on its pallet!

There was even an award for the five biggest apples in the apple and pear show for commercial growers. It went to Colin Broomfield of Holt Heath. His five Bramley's Seedlings weighed in at 8 lbs 8 and three-quarter ounces.

An inescapable attraction was the potato exhibit of Margaret and David Chappell of Coldicot, Monmouthshire. "Taffie Tattie", as Dave Chappell styles himself, is an irresistible attraction to children, as well as keen gardeners, as he expounds on the history of the potato from its origins in Peru, to the distinctive qualities of the host of varieties he has grown for display.

"We have three allotments and two gardens and we grow plots of 240 varieties," he told me, as he described the attributes of Harmony, Osprey and Rooster.

The autumn show, with its displays of country skills, vintage cars and farm tractors, provides a great family attraction as well as opportunities for shopping for top quality food and every aid for gardeners. It gives scope for local and national farmers and growers.