A FIFTEENTH-CENTURY castle is to welcome television stars for a new garden festival.

Carol Klein from BBC’s Gardeners’ World, and Mark Diacono of River Cottage, are among the green-fingered celebrities set to host Herstmonceux Castle estate’s inaugural gardening show.

The Gardeners’ Gardening show, near Bexhill, will also feature nurseries from the Chelsea Flower Show, and display flower assortments from growers across Sussex and Kent, this spring.

Attendees are also invited to join guest speakers in the 400-seater marquee for talks on “a diverse range of topics” from beekeeping to ‘British Plants Rock’.

The Argus: Carol Klein will be appearing at the festival to give a talkCarol Klein will be appearing at the festival to give a talk

John Matthews, organiser of the festival, said: “We are delighted to be running our first gardening show this year. “We are focused on creating a show that celebrates gardening at its roots, and wanted to move away from the lifestyle approach which has become popular in recent years.

“We want to be known as the gardeners’ gardening show!”

The Argus: Herstmonceux castle dates back to the fifteenth centuryHerstmonceux castle dates back to the fifteenth century

Many plants featuring across the weekend, Friday, May 13, to Sunday, May 15, will be specially selected for their potential use in rewilding, and their adaptability to climate change.

READ MORE: On The Beach: DJ Carl Cox headliner for Brighton festival

Herstmonceux estate already has a rich history of gardening, with formal gardens, meadows, lakes, and woodland trails, set around the castle’s moat – all of which are free to tour with the garden show’s ticket.