CELEBRITY gardeners Christine Walkden and Charlie Dimmock will speak at Toby Buckland’s new Garden & Harvest Festival at Forde Abbey in Chard on September 16 and 17.

The green-fingered celebrities have been confirmed as the celebrity garden experts at gardener Toby’s new Garden & Harvest Festival.

This is a new festival that will delight gardeners with a cornucopia of autumnal gardening ideas, including practical demos, gardening talks and harvest-themed entertainment.

The autumn celebration will combine shopping for plants, crafts and gifts with the opportunity to get seasonal gardening advice from expert nurseries and gardeners at an optimal planting time in the gardening calendar.

Christine Walkden will be at the festival on Sunday September 17.

BBC One Show and Radio 4 Gardeners’ Question Time regular, Christine is already a firm favourite with visitors to Toby’s GardenFest at Powderham Castle. Known for her no-nonsense, knowledgeable style and sense of humour, Christine always makes even the most puzzling gardening conundrum seem surmountable. Christine will be speaking on vegetable growing. She will be there to greet visitors and cut the ribbon with Toby at 10am.

Christine said: “I am thrilled to have been invited to Toby’s first Harvest Festival at Forde Abbey, as not only will the festival be great fun due to the dedication that Toby and his team put in to make his events an enjoyable and informative experience, its being held at a great garden.

“It’s a great combination of horticultural events and a lovely garden with lots to see and enjoy. I am so looking forward to being with you all.”

Charlie Dimmock will be the guest at the Forde Abbey festival on Saturday September 16.

She is one of Britain's best known and best loved gardeners, specialising in water features. Having first come to the nation's attention on BBC1's incredibly popular Ground Force filmed both here and in the US, Charlie has gone on to present amongst other things, Cheer for Charlie, Charlie and the Duchess, Garden Invaders and new this year BBC2’s Garden Rescue. Her books include Enjoy Your Garden and Container Gardening.

Charlie will be answering garden questions and talking on water gardening.

Highlights of the festival include celebrity speakers, an Apple & Cider Arena where you can identify and press your own apples, practical demos on fruit, vegetable and flower growing in Forde Abbey’s stunning Walled Kitchen Garden and a Question & Answer session with Toby and the celebrity team.

*Toby Buckland’s new Garden & Harvest Festival, Forde Abbey, Chard, September 16 to 17, 10am to 5pm both days. Early birds can get discounted tickets at a rate of £8.50 instead of the usual gate fee of £12.50 by logging onto www.tobygardenfest.co.uk and buying online in advance, plus children under 16 go free.