Radio team arrives – after 10-year wait

May 23 2008 by Rebecca Edwards, Chester Chronicle

Radio team arrives – after 10-year wait

PROBLEMATIC plants and horticultural horrors were aired as BBC Radio 4’s Gardeners’ Question Time came to Kingsley.

Kingsley Garden Club was delighted when, after a 10-year wait, programme makers finally accepted their invitation to host a visit from panellists Eric Robson, John Cushnie, Anne Swithinbank and Pippa Greenwood.

Tickets were snapped up for the special event at the community centre on Monday.

Garden club member Chris Woulds said: “The atmosphere was great, so good humoured, and the panel was on good form.

“They were so pleasant and professional and they commented on the warm welcome they received.”

Only 12 of the scores of questions submitted by villagers were put to the panel, ranging from problems with smelly water butts to how to nurture delicate, exotic blooms.

The first of two programmes recorded will be broadcast this Sunday (May 25) at 2pm, with a second airing in July.

Kingsley’s gardening expertise will be on display on Saturday, June 7, when 12 village gardens will be opened to the public between noon and 5.30pm for the latest Kingsley Garden Trail.

Children from St John’s Primary School’s garden club are also taking part and are looking forward to showing visitors around their school garden where they are developing skills such as planting, clearing, taking cuttings and growing from seed.

A new path around the large field has been sponsored by Vale Royal Borough Council and leads to a pond which is also being cared for by the pupils.

The children are also growing vegetables for use at school and home and are planning to plant a small orchard.

Proceeds from programme sales this year will go to The Smile Train, Save the Family and Kingsley Community Association.

Garden trail programmes cost £5 and are available from Holland’s Pharmacy and Elegance and Beauty in Kingsley, and the Devonshire Bakery in Frodsham, Runcorn and Weaverham. They are also available on the day from any of the open gardens.