A FORMER BBC Gardener of the Year and Chelsea Flower Show medal winner is to share her knowledge with visitors at a two-day festival.

Sue Beesley, who runs Bluebell Cottage Gardens, won a silver medal at Chelsea this year with her display of hardy perennials despite only being given three weeks’ notice to prepare her entry.

She will share her tips during Arley Garden Festival, on June 20 and 21, and sell plants she grows at her nursery in Dutton.

"It was an amazing experience to show at Chelsea, but it is also great to be at a local show where the focus is very much on the plants," said Sue.

"We were given late notice for Chelsea so had less than a month to put the display together.

"We were obviously delighted with how it came together and I would be happy to speak to Arley’s visitors about how we managed to achieve it."

This year is the 21st anniversary of the Arley Garden Festival where there will be a magnificent floral marquee and specialist nurseries along with traders selling horticultural accessories.

Question time sessions will take place on both days as will garden tours by Lord Ashbrook and head gardener Gordon Baillie.

Schoolchildren will take part in the flower bed challenge and there will be a countryside marquee with stick making, dry stone walling and coppice fencing.

Children’s entertainment includes trampolines, face painting, a petting zoo run by Stockley Farm and a fairground ride.

Live music will add to the ambience and a delicious food fair will offer cheese, chutneys and pies as well as welsh beers, fresh coffee, speciality nuts, chocolate confectionary, fresh meats and homemade preserves.

Arley's gardens will be open and are included in the entry price and the hall will be decorated with flowers by Lady Ashbrook and an exhibition by Priestley College.

"We feel the festival is well established in the calendar for garden enthusiasts as well as those visitors who just want a quintessential, English day out," said Arley’s General Manager Steve Hamilton.

"We hope to see as many people as possible this year and that people take the chance to have a wander around our award-winning gardens as well as the showground itself."

The show is open from 10am to 5pm both days.

Tickets booked online before June 18 are priced £11.50 for adults, £10.50 for seniors and free for children under 16.

On the gate adult tickets will be £16.50 and £14.50 for seniors.

For more information visit arleyhallandgardens.com