Writhlington School will be proudly hosting the National Orchid Show as part of the British Orchid Congress Show on Friday, 26th October.

Journal readers will be familiar with the horticultural successes of Writhlington School's orchid growers, but this is the first time that the young growers have turned their hand to running a national show and BBC's Gardener's World are coming to see how they get on.

Zoe Parfitt, aged sixteen, featured on television with Monty Don earlier this year at the Hampton Court Flower Show and she is looking forward to welcoming him to Writhlington. "Monty is really interested to see how the Writhlington Orchid Project has developed since his last visit to us in 2004 and so will be joining us for the opening of our big show," says Zoe.

The British Orchid Congress Show opens to the public at 6 p.m. on Friday, 26th October for a celebrity preview evening and a special opportunity to see the show before the main show days from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Saturday, 27th October and 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Sunday, 28th October. The preview evening must be pre-booked and includes a buffet.

No pre-booking is required for the show days.

Teacher, Simon Pugh-Jones, who runs the Orchid Project, described the forthcoming show as: "A really spectacular event. We have nurseries coming from all over Europe to offer the widest range of orchids the South West has ever seen.

Orchids are now Britain's number one house plant and I can guarantee that visitors will find plants that they have never seen before at the show."

As well as plant displays and sales, there will be talks about orchid culture, arts and crafts, photographic displays and a wide range of refreshments, including a unique coffee bus from Guatemala.

More information about the show and access to tickets can be found on the website: http://www.wsbeorchids.org">www.wsbeorchids.org