Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 September (12-4pm): RISC Roof Garden, Reading (tel Reading International Solidarity Centre: 0118 958 6692). Open for charity under the National Gardens Scheme
Small, town-centre roof garden created to demonstrate sustainability. All plants have an economic use for food, clothing and medicine, attractively arranged within the minimum of space. View the water harvesting system and drip irrigation pwered by renewable energy. Visitors welcome by appointment for groups of up to 20.

Wednesdays until 26 September (10-4): Waltham Place Gardens, White Waltham (tel: 01628 825517). Open for charity under the National Gardens Scheme
170-acre naturalistic gardens with organic kitchen garden and farm, walled gardens, maze, lake and woodlands with camellias and rhododendrons.


Carmarthenshire & Pembrokeshire

The National Gardens Scheme (NGS) gardens to visit
Sunday 16 September (11am-5pm): Tradewinds, Penybont (tel: 01994 484744). Open for charity under the National Gardens Scheme
The owners have created a garden with such a wide variety of plants that there is year-round interest. Planting schemes range from cottage garden to formal and woodland, with mature trees and a pond that's home to to water voles, ferns and mosses.

Saturday 1 and Sun 2 September (11am-6pm): Weir Castle, Treffgarne (tel: 01473 741252). Open for charity under the National Gardens Scheme
Weir Castle is the result of David Morris' passion for gardening. This steep garden, perched on the side of a hill, is imaginatively planted with woodland shrubs and trees giving colour all year round. The garden blends naturally into the scenic surrounds and featureswaterfalls, bridges, ponds and summerhouses where you can sit and enjoy the view.


Devon

The National Gardens Scheme (NGS) gardens to visit
Sunday 16 September (11am-6pm): Hortus, Rousdon (tel: 01297 444019). Open for charity under the National Gardens Scheme
Taste the tomatoes in September. Highlights include pebble beach with seaside plants, gravel terrace with more than 100 grasses and new Jurassic border.

Sunday 9 September (11am-6pm): The Old Rectory, Ashford, nr Barnstaple (tel: 01271 377408). Open for charity under the National Gardens Scheme
New to the NGS. Live jazz music will add the final touch to this newly created garden with views over the Taw estuary.


Dorset

The National Gardens Scheme (NGS) gardens to visit
Sunday 9 September (2-6pm): Manor Farm, Higher Wraxall (tel: 01935 83638). Open for charity under the National Gardens Scheme
A vibrant, quirky garden with good planting and colour combinations. The late flowerers light up the beds. Excellent use of space, good vegetables and views across West Dorset over the pond.


Gloucestershire

Westonbirt Arboretum
Saturday 29 September (10.30-12.30 and 2-4pm): The fungi at Westonbirt and their trees.
Hosted by Dave Shorten from the Cotswold Fungus Group; £3 per adult plus admission. Book in advance on 01666 880147.

Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 September (9.30am-4.30pm): Green Woodworking.
A hands-on course learning how to make items such as dibbers, rattles and stools from unseasoned timber using an axe, drawknife and pole lathe. Suitable for adults only; £90 per person. To book contact Paul Hodgson on 01453 753452.

Every Weekend during October (10am-4pm): Craft Shelter Bird Feeding with the RSPB. Free with Arboretum admission; adults, £7.50; concessions, £6.50; children, £2.

Part of the Tree Council's 'Seed Gathering Season'. Collect and plant your own tree seed to take away. Free with Arboretum admission.

Tuesday 23 to Thursday 25 October (10.30am-4pm): Autumnal highlights (family event).
Free with Arboretum admission.

Every Weekend during November: Craft Shelter Feeding with the RSPB.
Free with Arboretum admission.

For these and other autumn events visit Westonbirt Arboretum

Hampshire

Grand Autumn Plant Fair, Longstock Park Nursery
Saturday 22 September (10am-4pm): Longstock Park Nursery, near Stockbridge.
The nursery opens its gates for a Grand Autumn Plant Fair in aid of the North Hampshire Medical Fund, sponsored by the John Lewis Partnership. This large event will include 25-30 stalls including five Chelsea gold medalists, with jazz band, beer tent and hog roast. General public £3 entry, children free, JLP employees free.

The Leckford Estate, home to Longstock Park Nursery and water gardens, comprises 4000 acres and is a working farm producing arable crops. Seven acres of gardens include lakes, a woodland area and interconnecting islands. The nursery sells a wide range of shrubs and water lilies, and houses national collections of Buddleia and Clematis viticella.


Kent

Lullingstone Castle Rare Plant Fair
Sunday 9 September: The Kent Group of the National Council For The Conservation of Plants and Gardens (NCCPG) will gather for a Plant Fair at Lullingstone Castle at the invitation of plant hunter Tom Hart Dyke.
The emphasis is on rare plants and conservation. Janet Gasson, Secretary of the Kent NCCPG says: 'We've been to Lullingstone twice before and had a great time. Last time we were here the film crew were on site for Save Lullingstone Castle'. Tom is working with the group to become a holder of a National Collection of Eucalyptus. Gates to the Plant Fair and World Garden open from 11am. The Manor House is open from 2pm.


London

Fenton House
30 September: Apple Day at Fenton House (tel: 01494 755563 infoline and 020 7435 3471).
This National Trust property is just 300 yards from Hampstead tube station. The 17th-century merchant's house has a lovely walled garden with a 300-year-old apple orchard, kitchen garden, rose garden and herbaceous borders. On 30 September chef and author Frances Bissell will be signing copies of her book The Scented Kitchen at the house. Read our article on site about how Frances uses flowers, fruit and herbs in cooking to capitalise on their flavours and aromas.

Geffyre Museum
First Thursdays Oct, Nov, Dec and Feb 2008: New 'First Thursday' late-night openings until 8pm at the Geffrye Museum of English Domestic Interiors, London E2 (tel: 020 7739 9893).
Museum and restaurant open until 8pm. Thursday 1 November, Home and Garden talk based on the Home and Garden exhibition. Live jazz duo.


Museum of Garden History
Sunday 7 October (10.30am-5pm): Autumn Plant Fair, Museum of Garden History.
With late-interest shrubs, perennials and grasses for sale and advice from growers, plus a drop-in, autumn-themed art workshop for children and family groups. The Museum's shop, café and 17th-century-style knot garden will be open.


Nationwide

RSPB bird-related activities
Check out the website of the RSPB for activities in your area. Simply fill in your location, type of event, the date you want and whether it's for adults or families, on the events page.


Oxfordshire

Waterperry Gardens Apple Weekend
Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 October: Apple Weekend, Waterperry Gardens near Wheatley, Oxfordshire.
More than 50 varieties of fruit on display, many available to taste, with local food and drink producers present. Visit the juicing sheds and orchards at Waterperry. Other features include apple-themed food, entertainment, advice on selecting, growing and maintaining apple trees and mystery fruit identification by Waterperry experts.

Apples at Waterperry Gardens
Apples at Waterperry Gardens


Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 September (10am-4.30pm): Michaelmas Daisy Weekend Waterperry Gardens near Wheatley, Oxfordshire (tel: 01844 338087 to book).
Celebrate the new season and witness Waterperry's famous herbaceous border in all its autumnal glory as it bursts into life again with beautiful Michaelmas daisies. Activities and features of the weekend include biscuit decorating for children and a country crafts and food fair undercover in the plant centre; a plant sale on the Saturday; and the garden will be open in aid of the National Gardens Scheme (NGS) on the Sunday.


Surrey

Fritillaria Group of the Alpine Garden Society
Sunday 14 October 2007 (9.30am-4pm): Hillside Events Centre, RHS Garden Wisley: Autumn Meeting and AGM, with photographic display and plants/bulbs on sale. More details from the Fritillaria Group of the Alpine Garden Society.


West Midlands

Garden Organic Ryton, Coventry
For an ongoing programme of events, including those listed below, visit Garden Organic Ryton.
Saturday 8 September and Sunday 16 September (11am to 5pm): Organic Fortnight.
With talks on organic gardening, food and lifestyles on 16 September, plus the Heritage Seed Library's Organic Harvest on 8 September with talks, tours and seed-saving demonstrations. Adults £5, concessions £4.50 and children £2.50, GO members free.

Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 October, 10am to 5pm: Pumpkin Day.


GLEE exhibition, Birmingham NEC
15-17 September (Sun and Mon 9am-6pm; Tues 9am-5pm): GLEE exhibition.
The largest annual trade fair for the garden, leisure and pet industries. Trade event only.


Grand Designs Live, Birmingham NEC
Tyres in tiers
Tyres in tiers from an African project;
Grand Designs Live
5-7 October 2007: Grand Designs Live, Birmingham NEC.
Sustainability (and climate change) is the central theme for the 2007 show and the Green Garden, created by Christian Aid and the Eden Project, will be a highlight, showcasing the latest eco-garden design and planting ideas inspired by Christian Aid's projects overseas. Visitors can experience the latest renewable energy devices, see how everyday, throw-away objects can become stylish pieces of garden furniture, explore organic edible gardens, take a stroll on recycled paths and learn how to create a living wall. Grand Designs Live is based on the talkback THAMES series for Channel 4, presented by design guru Kevin McCloud. Tickets £18 on the day, £14 in advance.


Yorkshire

Autumn Show, Harrogate
14-16 September 2007 (9.30am-4pm): Autumn Show Harrogate, Great Yorkshire Showground.
One of the last in the UK's gardening show season. As with the Spring Show, the Flower Halls accommodate nurseries from across the country competing for the coveted Premier Award and the NEHS Trophy for Best In Show. There's a floristry and flower-arranging marquee, with expert advice and demonstrations, arts and crafts, speciality food halls and garden centre with products to buy. Many exhibitors sell their display plants on the final day. Tickets £10 (if booked before noon 4 September), £12 on the gate, under 16s free.