AN award-winning Somerset tutor and floral designer was delighted to receive an invitation to exhibit her arrangements at an event held near Chard recently.

Gardeners' World presenter and regular on Gardeners' Question Time, Toby Buckland, invited Jackie Nicholls to his recent Garden and Harvest Festival at Forde Abbey.

Jackie, of Ashville Design, near Chard, was honoured to be among speakers including the well-known Guardian writer and presenter Alys Fowler, Matt Biggs from BBC Radio 4’s Gardeners’ Question Time, actor and gardener John Challis best known for portraying Aubrey "Boycie" Boyce in the long-running BBC television comedy series Only Fools and Horses and Jim Buttress, the popular judge in The Big Allotment Challenge.

“I was invited to exhibit at Toby’s first garden festival at Forde Abbey last year, and was thrilled to be asked back again," Jackie said.

"This year’s festival was a huge success and I was very proud to be part of it.

“There was a really lovely atmosphere and we all had a lot of fun – particularly at the exhibitor’s party and prize-giving on Saturday evening, where there was a chance to mingle with the celebrities.”

Toby, well known to gardeners across the nation through his spots on TV and radio, said he was delighted with the event.

“Our new Harvest Festival at Forde Abbey was truly inspiring thanks to the wonderful makers and growers who joined us to share their knowledge and all in the beautiful setting of Forde’s rolling lawns, abundant walled garden and dahlia-filled borders,” he said.

For details of Jackie’s upcoming shows and workshops, visit www.ashvilledesign.co.uk.