THE grounds of Abbots Ripton Hall – home to Lord and Lady De Ramsey – will be the site of a major gardening event planned for next summer. Supported by The Hunts Post, the event will take place on June 20-22, and organisers are expecting up to 15,000 visi

THE grounds of Abbots Ripton Hall - home to Lord and Lady De Ramsey - will be the site of a major gardening event planned for next summer.

Supported by The Hunts Post, the event will take place on June 20-22, and organisers are expecting up to 15,000 visitors could attend.

The charity garden show, which will be one of the largest in East Anglia, will feature 100 trade stalls, designer gardens, competitions, an art show, auction and lots more.

There will even be an Antiques Roadshow-style event, run by Cheffins of Cambridge.

As well as raising money for good causes, the event will also give some of Cambridgeshire's top garden designers with a stage on which to show their skills.

Event coordinators are looking for garden designers, students, businesses or charities who will be interested in taking part in what will be one of the main features of the weekend.

Entrants will exhibit 'Chelsea-style' show gardens based on the theme, 'Eco-Garden with a View'.

Designers will have up to six weeks before the event to create their garden, and entries will be judged by Lady Xa Tollemache and Ursula Buchan.

The competition is free to enter and the winner will receive a £500 prize. Entry forms are available by visiting www.abbotsriptonhall.co.uk

There will also be plenty of chances for the young gardener to get involved. Primary schools will be able to take part in the 'Grub in a Tub' competition where they need to create an edible garden in a container.

Businesses can get on board by taking a trade stall (about 100 are expected) or sponsoring part of the event.

The planned invitation-only gala evening on Friday, June 20, will provide businesses with an exclusive sponsorship opportunity.

However, there are also opportunities to sponsor other parts of the show, such as the fine art marquee, posters and programme.

Nigel Dyson, show director, said: "We need as much help from the community as possible as we want to give as much back as we can to the charities we are supporting.

"If local businesses can provide sponsorship for the show and benefit from the event, all the better."

The show is in aid of the British Red Cross (Cambridgeshire), Ormiston Trust, Cambridgeshire Women's Institute, Rotary Club and other local charities.

INFORMATION: Contact Nigel Dyson on 07802 282193 for more information about the show, to take part or to become a sponsor.