January 16 & 19Ness Botanical Gardens – Snowdrop Walks

February 2-March 2Rode Hall – Snowdrop Walks

February 12-17 Chester Zoological Gardens: Orchid Festival – Visit the exquisite orchid displays throughout the Zoo, including guest services, Realm of the Red Ape, Tropical Realm, Oakfield Manor and the Grow Zone by the Ark Restaurant.

March Something beautiful: Five Cheshire gardens will reveal commissioned sculptures by local artists at Ness Botanical Gardens, Tatton Park, Little Moreton Hall, Combermere Abbey and Arley Hall.Cheshire residents will also be encouraged to design and build beautiful objects in their own gardens.

April Quarry Bank Mill: Secret Garden opens: The National Trust will open a unique late 18th century garden at the heart of the Georgian Quarry Bank Moll Estate at Styal as part of Cheshire Year of Gardens 2008.

Arley Hall & Gardens and Capesthorne Hall – Bluebell Festival: A chance to see vast displays of bluebells in beautiful surroundings.

May 8-SeptemberTatton Park Biennial: An outstanding display of specially commissioned artworks.

June 5 Jodrell Bank – Skies Eye View: An events series centred on the Jodrell Bank Arboretum will be launched.

June 7-15 Tatton Park: Orchid Festival: Experience the delights of orchids at Tatton’s first Orchid Festival

June 21 Chester Zoological Gardens: Midsummer cycle: A chance to explore the Zoo’s 110 acres of beautiful grounds by bicycle.

June 28 & 29 Arley Hall & Gardens: Arley Garden Festival 2008: One of the highlights of the horticultural year in the North West.

June 28 & 29 Adlington Hall: Legends Tennis: A quintessentially English garden party accompanied by tennis from one of the world’s great champions as they compete in the Boodles 2008 Nations Cup.

Ness Gardens: The Four Seasons: Music inspired by the 15,000 plants gathered from around the world throughout June and July

July-August Gawsworth Hall Outdoor Theatre: An all-new concert in addition to the existing theatre season at Gawsworth Hall.

July 19 Cholmondeley Castle Gardens: Garden Party Concert – Outdoor concert with fireworks in the Castle gardens.

October 11-26 Chester Zoological Gardens – Pumpkin Festival: Each child that brings a carved pumpkin with them receives free entrance to the Zoo. In addition to this, the Twilight Zone is transformed into a ‘Horror Corridor’ and while the bats are inside flying around the visitors’ heads, the elephants are out in their paddock smashing pumpkins.

October 25 & 26 Arley Hall & Gardens – Pumpkin ‘Olympics’: A horticultural show featuring competitions such as best, biggest and ugliest pumpkin and athletic games with pumpkins.

Norton Priory Quince Festival: Norton Priory is the proud guardian of the National Tree Quince Collection, and this weekend will give visitors the chance to find out more about one of the most traditional of English fruits, what they look like and what to do with them. There will also be music, tours, storytelling and family activities.

December Something Wishful: A large celebratory event bringing Cheshire’s Year of Gardens 2008 to a close, with lantern parades, music, street arts, dance and fireworks. Rode Hall – Snowdrop Walks