The seeds of my love of gardening were sown by my grandfather in his tiny garden in Portsmouth where he grew roses and begonias and loganberries and watched the blackbirds nesting. My mother too encouraged me to grow runner beans and nasturtiums and let me prune the shrubs!

Moving from my first 10ft x 18ft garden to one of half an acre was an eye-opener and I soon realised that my romantic country garden picture of sitting in the shade eating strawberries was quite impractical as surprise, surprise I was needed to keep those ‘plants in the wrong place' from spreading . The easy option to keep the weeds and bugs under control would have been to spray, but I have always felt uncomfortable using chemicals and became a member of the Chichester Organic Gardening Society (COGS) when a neighbour started the group in 1993. Eventually I took over as chair of the Society and held that position for three years.

I am certainly not an expert gardener - my aim is to enjoy the garden, by working with it. Over the years I've worked out which plants, be they vegetables, fruit or flowers, will thrive without too much help from me. For those of you just starting out growing vegetables I'd like to offer some suggestions for making it easy and productive.

Christine took her City and Guilds Certificate in 1992 since when she has been demonstrating for the Wessex and Jersey Area.

Apart from this she has been involved in various competitions by herself and with colleagues, gaining Gold in Area and National Shows, and has represented her area in arranging flowers for a memorial service for the Dean at Westminster Abbey.

She has helped to create designs in Chichester, Winchester and Portsmouth Cathedrals and Romsey Abbey, and at the moment is helping to design the Flower Festival in 2009 in Portsmouth Cathedral.

As a side line she has done wedding and funeral flowers on many occasions.

Christine, as a member of Emsworth afternoon flower club, along with other members of the club is very happy to be helping arrange the flowers in the Chapel in aid of The Alzheimers Society.

Herb, vegetables and fruit plants for busy people who love their food fresh and tasty. Our plants have been carefully chosen for their merit in the kitchen as well as the garden. They will all grow happily in pots and containters in fact our bio-degardable pots look so good there is no need for theose unattractive grow bags any more! Even the smallest garden or patio can become a productive kitchen garden.

Catriona Kennard's website is available at:
www.thekitchengardencompany.co.uk

Kevin Love is Head Chef at Lime Food Design based in Littlehampton West Sussex. Kevin has worked to the highest level, at Michelin starred restaurants in Spain , France and the Pyrenees and he has also worked in London at two of Gordon Ramsay's restaurants!

Lime Food Design offer a highly personal, friendly service on a bed of fresh, locally sourced ingredients scented with contemporary class & sophistication, and a squeeze of the traditional.

Kevin Love 's website is available at:
www.limefooddesign.co.uk

Bob and Chrissy Harbroe-Bush set up as independent local wine merchants with the aim of selling distinctive wines from smaller, innovative producers - wines that offer something a bit different from the big brand names.

Their list has a range of award-winning wines from Spain , England , New Zealand and South Africa . Why these countries? “We believe Spain offers an exciting and amazingly varied range of wines which express the individuality and character of their region, and strike the all-important balance of quality and value.” Expansion into New Zealand , England and South Africa has followed for the same reasons. “We are particularly impressed by the finesse and flavours of English wines, which are benefiting from successive, good vintages and inspired winemaking.”

“Taste before you buy” is a feature of their personal service, and they offer regular free informal tastings to those on their mailing list, and you will be able to taste their wines in the Country Food Marquee at the Garden Show. They are also in demand to provide informal and informative tastings for groups and organisations, and this year the Garden Show will feature free Tutored Tastings from Bush Vines.

You can c ontact Bush Vines via 01243 378618.

Bush Vine 's website is available at:
www.bushvines.co.uk

Jon Wheatley is an International and National Flower Show Judge.
He has designed and built no less than five Chelsea Flower Show Gold Medal winning stands and seven gold medal winning stands at Tatton Park, Hampton Court and the NEC. He is a Lecturer and Horticultural Consultant for a number of Colleges and an Arboricultural and Forestry Consultant. On top of all this he owns and runs a bedding plant nursery and landscape management business in the Chew Valley.

Steve Bradley is a freelance garden writer and broadcaster who studied horticulture at Writtle, Cannington and Pershore Colleges, achieving the RHS Master of Horticulture Diploma. He has worked for BBC and independent television stations as a presenter and was researcher / presenter on three official Chelsea Flower Show videos.

As an author, he has over 30 titles to his name, including Propagation Basics, winner of the Garden Writers’ Guild Award for Best Practical Book of 2002. In October 2002, he joined Peter Seabrook as gardening correspondent for the Sun newspaper. As a magazine contributor he is behind the ‘Masterclass’ series in Gardens Monthly, and writes specialist articles for the RHS journal and BBC Gardeners World Magazine.

More info about Steve Bradley is available at:
On the BBC website

Mary Payne trained in horticulture at Studley College and the Cambridge University Botanic Garden. She lectured at the University of Bath for 10 years and holds the prestigious Master of Horticulture from the RHS, awarded as their top student.

She has been a guest presenter on Carltons weekly gardening programme “Garden Calendar” for three years as well as a series on house plants for a HTV lunchtime magazine.

er own garden has been featured in the HTV series “All Gardens Great and Small” She is also responsible for the innovative prairie style planting scheme at Lady Farm near Bristol which has been featured in all the major gardening publications and was voted one of the top 10 gardens by Gardeners World.

In 2004 Mary was awarded an OBE for her service to horticulture

Hannah graduated from Middlesex University in 1999 with an Honours Degree in Herbal Medicine, and having returned from a year's travelling, now works at the Medicine Garden, and 'Natural Balance' in Southsea.

She has had a keen interest in alternative therapies at the age of fifteen, when she used them to aid her recovery from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). Hannah has been particularly interested in CFS since then, and welcomes patients with this condition.