WHOEVER coined the phrase "From little acorns mighty oaks do grow" certainly wasn't thinking of Malvern Spring Gardening Show, but they could have been.

Because the green metaphor describes exactly the outstanding success of this springtime event on the Three Counties Showground.

What started off as little more than a local flower show 20 years ago, has now developed into the first major outing in the national horticultural calendar.

Next weekend well over 90,000 visitors are expected over its three days, television crews will be there, as well as writers from all the top gardening journals and a host of household name presenters.

In fact the Spring Gardening Show is rapidly closing on the traditional June Three Counties as the most popular event on the showground.

BBC Gardeners' World will be broadcasting from the show on its first day.

Jointly organised by the Royal Horticultural Society and the Three Counties Agricultural Society, the extravaganza has as its centrepiece the 1.6 acre Malvern Floral marquee.

Among the famous names attending will be Alan Titchmarsh (on Friday) and Chris Beardshaw (on Sunday), both of whom will be holding sessions in a new Interactive Design Theatre.

Chris is patron of The Children's Garden, a joint venture between the TCAS and the Young Gardener Co, which is aimed at showing children how to make the most of the great outdoors.