Thousands enjoy bloomin' day out

Sep 3 2007 By Poppy Brady, Birmingham Mail

WE might be city dwellers but there's nothing we like better than making our gardens blooming lovely.

That fact was colourfully under-lined by 20,000 visitors who flocked to Kings Heath Park for one of the city's most popular events of the year - Birmingham Gardeners' Weekend.

But one of this year's biggest attractions was not a plant, but TV gardening guru Christine Walk-den, of BBC's Christine's Garden.

She won a deafening round of applause at the end of the show for all her helpful advice. Also on hand revealing the secrets of his green fingers was gardening writer Steve Bradley.

Another crowd puller was the award-winning Australian beach scene, sponsored by Akamba Exotics, which included a beach hut, boardwalk and the wreck of a fishing boat. The white sand "beach" was planted with tropical blooms which, due to climate change, can now be grown successfully in Birmingham.

This year's floral display was sponsored by the company that supplies mowing machines to the city, Ransomes Jacobsen Ltd, which is celebrating its 175th anniversary.

The display featured both old and modern lawn mowers, including a mower created entirely from plants.

Visitors also had the chance to stock up on delicious goodies from the finest producers in France who set up their own French market over the weekend.

Coun Ray Hassall, cabinet member for leisure, sport and culture,said: "Gardeners' Weekend is one of the most popular events in Birmingham's annual programme.

"Visitors return each year to buy bargain plants and bulbs, get friendly advice from expert gardeners and grow-ers, and enjoy a day out with family and friends."