Champ is show highlight

Budding horticulturists have the chance to see an award-winning gardener at a regional flower show.

Sean Murray, the winner of last year’s BBC/RHS Great Chelsea Garden Challenge, has been added to the programme of Nottingham City Council’s first East Midlands Flower Show.

Sean, whose winning garden was created on Main Avenue at the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show, has appeared on national and local television and radio and will be giving a talk at the East Midlands Flower Show, which takes place at Newstead Abbey on Saturday and Sunday June 25 and 26.

Other celebrities at the show will include Nick Hamilton from Barnsdale Gardens, John Stirland from BBC Radio Nottingham, garden historian Philip E Jones, Jordan Cox from BBC’s The Great British Bake Off and Johnny Pusztai from butcher JT Beedham.

Visitors can look forward to beautiful show gardens, inspiring designs from local nurseries, horticultural colleges and landscapers, a home and garden marquee and the opportunity to buy seasonal plants, gifts, garden furniture and some great local food and drink.

Tickets for adults are now on sale for this new event, which looks set to become a highlight in the horticultural calendar, and children under 16 will be admitted free. An early bird price of £8 plus booking fee is available online at www.eastmidlandsflowershow.org.uk or by calling 0115 989 5555 for the next few weeks, after which it will be £10 plus booking fee.

There are a few spaces left for trade stands, so anyone wanting to have a stall should download a booking form from the website.

Councillor Dave Trimble, Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture, said: “We already had a great line-up for this exciting new event at Newstead Abbey, but securing Sean Murray as well is a great achievement.

“I am sure it will be really interesting to hear him talk about what inspires him and how he goes about designing a garden.

“The backdrop to the show will be provided by the wonderful abbey grounds in June and, overall, this will be a great day out for all the family.”

For more information on the East Midlands Flower show, visit www.eastmidlandsflowershow.org.uk