News in brief

Mark Lane, the TV presenter who uses a wheelchair and is appearing on BBC Gardeners’ World and the RHS flower shows at Hampton Court and Chelsea, has been made an ambassador for Thrive, the charity that uses gardening to help people with disabilities or ill health. thrive.org.uk Pick of the prickles These houseplants are well and truly back in fashion, so learn all about cacti and succulents at the Cactus and Succulent Society Annual Show at Sheffield Botanical Gardens, 3-4 June, free entry. Go to sbg.org.uk

The Avant Gardener Award-winning autistic garden designer Alan Gardner returns with a new series, The Avant Gardener, which sees him transforming large outdoor spaces. Time/ date TBC, Channel 4.