Bradford Garden centre partners with down to earth TV gardener

A Bradford Garden Centre is building on its love of all things Yorkshire with the announcement of a year- long partnership with a local TV gardener.

Tong Garden Centre has teamed up with Leeds based garden designer and TV presenter Katie Rushworth, who will work with the Tong Lane team on a number of projects, including the design and build of a showcase garden.

Tong Garden Centre's co-owner, Mark Farnsworth is delighted that the team at Tong have the opportunity to work with Katie; "Although Katie rose to fame as one of the team on ITV's Love Your Garden with fellow Yorkshireman Alan Titchmarsh, her warmth and down to earth nature makes her a natural fit to work with the team at Tong.

"One of Katie's projects will be to work with our outdoor plants team to make over an area of the garden centre to create an easy to replicate ‘people's' garden that will inspire and enthuse our customers all year round."

Katie is equally excited to be working with the team at Tong: "I love moments when I can see how my designs have inspired people. That's why I want to create a people's garden at Tong that will give customers of all ages the confidence to ‘go and grow'.

"The team at Tong share my passion for gardening and I can't wait to get planting! I love to inspire people with simple yet effective ideas and planting combinations for a gorgeous garden all year round - no matter what size your plot is."

Although the full planting schedule will be kept under wraps until the garden is revealed to the public on 7^thMay, the 5.4 x 4.7m garden will include Yorkshire grown plants, a water feature, specimen planting and an area to entertain children and encourage wildlife. There will also be a ‘selfie spot' for visitors to take photographs against the backdrop of the garden.

The garden will be refreshed as the seasons change, with touches that Katie knows people can achieve in their own gardens. There will also be ‘how to' leaflets to help people to recreate Katie's simple ideas at home.

Throughout the year, Katie will be on hand to lend her expertise for a series of planting videos and will be sharing the secrets of her success in a two hour gardening masterclass on Friday, 23^rdJune.

The seventh series of Love Your Garden, the programme that transforms the gardens of deserving people throughout the UK, starts filming in April. Katie has also published a book,Plants, beds and bordersthat is available at Waterstones for £16.99.

Ends

Photo: Left to right Phil Youds, Joe Appleyard, Dougie McKenzie, plant buyer Steve Smith and Katie Rushworth

For more information or to arrange an interview with Jo Dales, please contact Tracey Baty at three60 marketing on;

Direct line: 01430 871360

Mobile: 07971 961574

E mail:traceybaty@three60marketing.co.uk

Web:www.three60marketing.co.uk

Notes to editors

1. For more information about Tong Garden Centre, please visithttp://www.tonggardencentre.co.uk

2. For more information aboutKatie Rushworth, please visithttp://www.katierushworth.com/,https://twitter.com/queenofspades00