It’s gettIng walmer In the garden ..AND IN THE WILD

Plants will please green-fingered parents while giant garden games will thrill the kids at a castle’s Chelsea fringe event. Walmer Castle’s gardens come to life this weekend with talks and tours from their experts, tastings of local produce and kids’ plant potting. Judge the flowers for yourself and discover the hidden secrets on the castle’s Garden Trail. If the Chelsea Flower Show got your green fingers twitching, then this is the perfect opportunity to strike while the iron’s still hot and get those expert tips to transfer to your own garden. The English Heritage site near Deal is hosting the Blooming Gardens this Saturday and Sunday, June 7 and 8. Isobel Uden, of English Heritage, said: “It gives gardeners the chance to buy a wide range of specialist plants to take home. The gardeners at Walmer Castle An Ashford nature reserve is holding an open day with pond-dipping activities. The Poulton Wood site in Aldington is staging the event on Saturday, June 7, from 11am to 6pm to raise funds for the upkeep of the 30-acre site. The woodland is freely open to the general public 365 days a year, but on this day there will be demonstrations including archery, musicians, morris men, pond-dipping, face painting, felt making, spinning and food stalls. Entry costs £2.50 for adults and £1.50 for children. Call 01233 861493. will be offering advice and tips in Q&A sessions, and kids can get creative by decorating their own plant pots and planting a sunflower to grow at home. “Families can enjoy a game of skittles, quoits or giant Connect 4, then follow the garden trail and explore the 11-acre garden.” Nurseries including Madrona Nursery, Rose Cottage, Invicta Herbs, Ringwould Plant Centre, and the Plant Heritage Group will be showcased, and up to 25 musicians from the Deal Brass Academy will be performing on Sunday. The event runs from 10am to 5pm on both days. Tickets £7.90 for adults, £4.70 children and £20.50 for a family, all including entry to the castle. English Heritage members go free. Call 01304 364288.

There will be a spectacle of pomp and ceremony this Saturday, June 7 as a town holds its first Civic Day. Maidstone will welcome its new mayor and show support for its troops. A parade will leave from Jubilee Square at noon – with a military band and troops of the 36 Engineer Regiment exercising their right as Freemen of the Borough to march with bayonets fixed and colours flying.

It will end at All Saints Church.