Gardeners hunt down rare plants at top fair near Market Drayton

The Plant Hunters' Fair was held for the ninth time this year at Dorothy Clive Garden, near Market Drayton, with a selection of specialist plants from across the country.

The annual event attracts a line-up of some of the best nurseries around and organisers say the two-day bank holiday event is now firmly established as a "must" in gardeners' diaries.

Julia Roberts, marketing officer for the garden, said the weekend was a great success with hundreds enjoying the fair.

She said: "It was an incredibly successful event with close to 1,500 visitors attending over the weekend.

"The weather helped increase footfall and it was thoroughly enjoyed by staff and visitors alike."

Ms Roberts said they were lucky to see good weather for both Sunday and Monday and gardening enthusiasts were able to get their hands on some rare plants.

Nurseries included Chris Cooke Plants, from Gloucestershire, specialising in species plants and bulbs, Conquest Plants Nursery, from Cheshire, and Edrom Nursery, from Berwickshire. A number of the nurseries were Royal Horticultural Society award winners.

Staff at the gardens are now preparing for the fifth annual Chilli Festival featuring competitions, demonstrations and markets.

The festival will take place on September 17 and 18. The two-day event will include talks and demonstrations about chillies and also a range of food and drink.

There will also be a chilli market selling plants, seeds, oils, sauces, chutneys, jams, drink and spices.

There will also be a chilli cook-off on Saturday from 11am until 3pm.

The competition consists of teams making a gallon of chilli con carne in four hours.

For further information go to www.dorothyclivegarden.co.uk