Festival returns giving gardeners something to think about

AS Britain’s gardens contend with another exceptionally hot, dry summer, a Somerset festival built around the future of gardening returns this September.

With much of England still living under hosepipe bans after this year’s ongoing drought, simply gardening the way we always have, with more water, more rescuing, more reaching, isn’t going to work forever.

Now in its second year, the Yeo Valley Organic Garden Festival at Blagdon brings together some of the biggest names in gardening, for three days of ideas, practical know-how and lively conversation about how we keep our gardens, soils and wildlife thriving in a changing climate.

Alongside the talks and discussions the festival also offers live music, delicious food and plenty of opportunities to shop, with specialist nurseries, garden makers and traders.

Each day of the festival has its own focus: Thursday, September 17, it’s a Gardening World explores biodiversity, soil health and climate resilience.

Friday, September 19 the focus is Colour Confidence and celebrates planting design and the joy of colour without losing sight of nature. And Saturday, September 19 is Mission Possible taking a hopeful, practical look at where gardening goes next.

The line-up brings together TV gardening favourites Arit Anderson, Frances Tophill and Nick Bailey, alongside Joe Swia, James Alexander-Sinclair, Dave Goulson, Poppy Okotcha, John Little and Mark Diacono, among many more.

Garden designer and presenter on BBC Two’s Gardeners’ World Arit Anderson said: “What I love about the Yeo Valley Organic Garden Festival is the generosity of spirit and passion to come together and share ideas, knowledge and practical know how about how gardens, can impact both place and people.

"Whether you’re a beginner gardener, or a professional in horticulture, you will leave feeling inspired and part of a community that wants to make a difference to our natural environment.”

Tickets are on sale now at yvogardenfestival.co.uk.