THE switchboard at the Three Counties Showground has been inundated with eager callers inquiring about the impending visit of Charlie Dimmock to Malvern.

The popular presenter from BBC's Ground Force is putting in her first appearance at the 16th annual event, which runs from Friday, May 11 to Sunday, May 13.

Between 70,000 and 75,000 people are expected to visit the show's 30 acres, where 3,000 plant varieties and 600 trade stands will be on display.

And with celebrity guests including BBC Home Front's Diarmuid Gavin, Radio 4's Nigel Colborn and Pippa Greenwood from BBC 2's Gardener's World, visitors can expect plenty of expert advice.

Chris Milne, chief execu-tive of the Three Counties Agricultural Society, said the Celebrity Theatre proved an instant hit with visitors last year.

"Charlie Dimmock is one of the most popular faces on our screens and we have no doubt that she will attract a good crowd," she said.

"In fact, we've actually increased the theatre's capacity this year to accommodate a bigger audience."

The Spring Gardening Show is the first national flower and gardening show of the season and the only one to feature an open gardening competition.

For the first time this year the show will be fea-tured on BBC 2's Gardener's World on Friday, May 11 with presenters Alan Titchmarsh, Rachel De Thame and Chris Beardshaw talking to exhibitors and going behind the scenes of the show.

Another new feature will be an increase in the number of show gardens. The society has given out grants worth £7,500 to fund nine designs ranging from the domestic look to theatrical extravagance.

Malvern landscape archi-tect Carly Tinkler has joined forces with sculptor Marcus Hole to produce a small spring garden that combines Mediterranean style with fantasy and humour.

She explained: "We've arranged the layout using the word spring in three senses - a spring garden, water springs and the springing forth of animals.

"One of the things we wanted to do was demonstrate the use of colour in the garden and, because some people love sculpture and some people hate it, we're trying to show you can have a sense of humour with it."

Showground spokesman Sharon Gilbert said the show gardens were one of the most popular exhibits last year.

She said: "Sixty-one per cent of visitors said they wanted to get ideas for their own gardens, so most of these show gardens are fairly small, to average garden size to offer ideas that are achievable."

Younger gardeners will find inspiration through the motivation of Mr Rotavator, who will be setting puzzles and helping children to plant their own seeds.

The show is open from 9am to 6pm and admission is £12 on Friday and £11 on Saturday and Sunday, with children under 16 free on all days.

Wheelchairs will be available for visitors who need them. To reserve a chair, call 01905 351212.