THE organisers of Malvern’s Spring Gardening Show, the first major outdoor event of the gardening year, are looking for expert amateurs to take part in the next event.

A panel of gardening enthusiasts, drawn from those who open their gardens for charity, is being invited to share its horticultural expertise in the Plants and People Arena Theatre when the event returns to the Three Counties Showground next May.

The idea is the brainchild of plantsman and award-winning garden designer Paul Hervey-Brookes.

Mr Hervey-Brookes said: “We have all been to shows where celebrity gardeners and well-known experts talk about their gardens.

“When I was asked to be involved in the Spring Gardening Show in 2012 I thought it would be a great idea to ask gardeners who open their gardens for charity to have an opportunity to talk about their gardens, how they developed them, plants they particularly enjoy and the charities they support.

“I love the idea that ordinary gardeners who work very hard and have this huge bank of knowledge could come along and share what they know.”

Mr Hervey-Brookes, who will be compèring the gardening sessions in the show’s Malvern Theatre on Friday, May 11, is inviting keen gardeners to tell him about their gardens and why they open them to the public.

He is looking for all kinds of gardens and is interested in hearing about the various charitable causes that gardeners support.

To join Mr Hervey-Brookes at next year’s Malvern Spring Gardening Show, e-mail isobelcoulter@threecounties.co.uk by Wednesday, February 1.