SPRING at Thorp Perrow – how do you fancy having a conducted tour of this privately owned arboretum near Bedale in North Yorkshire, with your guide being Sir John Ropner, the owner?

You have two chances to get your place booked – May 6 and May 20 from 1pm to 4pm. You will be treated to a buffet lunch in the dining room, a tour of the family’s private garden and a tour of this wonderful arboretum in all its springtime glory. Call 0845 6121253 to book your place. Visit www.thorpperrow.com for information on the Arboretum and the other events coming up later in the year.

Growing Vegetables with Joe Maiden – Joe is running a workshop at RHS Gardens Harlow Carr on May 2 to help you grow your own vegetables in containers. All those little secrets to getting wonderful tasty veg from the county’s leading vegetable expert. Call 0845 6121253 to book your place. Visit www.rhs.org.uk for more details of this and other events at Harlow Carr or call 01423 565418 for a full programme of events.

The Plant Doctor is here again. If you have a gardening problem and would like to discuss it with me, face to face, I will be at Armitage’s Garden Centres over the weekend of May 2 and 3. I will be at Birchencliffe from 11 am to 4 pm on Saturday May 2 and Shelley from 11am to 4pm on Sunday May 3. If you bring any samples of pests and diseases, please ensure that they are in a sealed plastic bag to avoid any possible cross-infection with garden centre plants. I look forward to seeing you there.

Have a nice holiday.