Darren Hawkes - distinguished Cornish garden designer and Royal Horticultural Society Chelsea Gold Medal winner, 2015 - will open the the Cornwall Spring Flower Show at Boconnoc House, Lostwithiel on Saturday, April 2 and Sunday, April 3.

He will take part in Cornwall Garden Society’s own gardeners’ questions. Joining Darren on that panel will be Jim Buttress of BBC TV’s Allotment Challenge.

A new event for the 2016 show is the Bring a Bloom Competition, which aims to encourage novices to enter. Competitors, of any age, are invited to bring along three camellia, daffodil or magnolia blooms to the designated marquee in the corner of the Stable Yard between 10am and 3pm on Saturday, April 2.

There will be a prize for the winner. Potential entrants are asked to register their intention to take part by sending an email to [email protected] by Friday 25 March. This class is not open to anyone taking part in competitive classes.

On Saturday there will be a Head Gardeners’ Forum hosted by Radio Cornwall presenter, Tim Hubbard and including some of the county’s most knowledgeable gardeners representing the county’s finest gardens. On Sunday, Nutty Lim and Trevor Wiltshire will host a master class about entering competitive classes.