THE head gardener at Hanbury Hall will today be giving an evening tour of the gardens as part of the Worcester Three Choirs Fringe Festival.

Neil Cook will be giving visitors an insight into the gardens which have been recreated to look as they did when the house was built in the early 18th Century.

The tour also takes in the orangery, mushroom house and the variety of summer plants.

"In terms of light and setting the garden looks totally different. As the sun sets there are shadows and you can see different textures," said Mr Cook.

The tour, which lasts an hour to an hour-and-a-half, will be followed by drinks in the Long Hall where visitors can look at the Hanbury Hall's Tercentenary Exhibition.

Tickets which cost £8, the price to include a glass of wine, must be booked in advance from Hanbury Hall on 01527 821214.

The tour starts at 7.30pm.

From tomorrow, Worcester Gilbert and Sullivan Society will perform a compilation of favourite songs and choruses.

The show, called Wicked Waxworks, runs at the Conquest Theatre, Bromyard, from Thursday, July 18 to Saturday, July 20. Tickets are available on 01885 488575.

Holiday fun for children

CHILDREN will be able to turn their hands to pottery, painting, music-making and circus skills during two weeks of activities at Worcester Arts Workshop.

There are still some places left on the Melt Down workshops for youngsters aged five to seven and eight to 12.

The activities run from 10.30am to 12.30pm, Monday to Friday, between July 22 and August 2, price £4.50 per day or £20 per week.

To book, call 01905 21095.