28 Jan Celebrity gardener Christine Walkden heads to Essex for special talk
Gardeners and fans of BBC’s The One Show and BBC Radio 4 Gardeners’ Question Time are being invited to be part of an audience with Christine Walkden as she talks about her life as a horticulturalist, her role as one of the UK’s favourite TV gardeners and why she was told by teachers that she would ‘ne’er do well’.
The event will be raising money for The Beth Chatto Education Trust, a charity set up by celebrated plantswoman Beth Chatto, to carry forward the 10-time Chelsea Gold Award Winner’s passion for plants and her “right plant in the right place” ethos. Beth sadly passed away last year, but her memory and outstanding contribution to horticulture is being carried on to a new generation through her educational trust. Christine was a good friend of Beth’s and is a patron of the trust; other patrons include award-winning garden designer Dan Pearson and celebrity gardener Alan Titchmarsh.
Christine has been a horticulturist since the age of ten when she first obtained an allotment and started growing vegetables and flowers, which she sold to her school teachers and local residents. She was told by teachers that she would ‘ne’er do well, but proving them wrong, Christine has gone on to great things, using her extensive gardening knowledge to become the resident gardening expert on The One Show, and regular Gardeners’ Question Time panelist, and has presented on many TV and radio programmes including Gardeners’ World. She also presented her own BBC series, Christine’s Garden, and Glorious Gardens from Above, the second episode of which included a visit to Beth’s garden and a delightful interview with Beth herself.
The event is being held at 7pm on 28th June at The Ivor Crewe Lecture Theatre at the University of Essex, and tickets cost £15, with discounts for students and RHS members. Tickets also admit holders into The Beth Chatto Gardens in Elmstead Market, from 10am on the 28th June. Tickets are available by visiting www.bethchatto.co.uk/courses
