A MUCH-LOVED BBC gardening programme came to north Shropshire recently for a live event. 

There was a packed audience as BBC Radio 4's Gardeners' Question Time came to Wem Town Hall last Tuesday (March 14) with passionate gardeners putting questions to the panel.

It followed an invite to the town by Wem District and Garden Club.

Gardeners' Question Time has been broadcast on Radio 4 for more than 70 years answering the queries of amateur gardeners and the Wem panel was made up of Bunny Guinness, Christine Walkden, Matthew Wilson.

It was chaired by Kathy Klugston.

Wem District and Garden Club chairman Gill Glover was pleased with how the event went and with the turnout.

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She said: "It went very well and it was fully booked. There were no spare tickets at all.

"There were two shows and also 10 questions for each recording.

"There was a mix of local people.

"We are thrilled with how the evening went.

"Everyone who I spoke to said it was a great evening."

Whitchurch Herald:

There will be two programmes made from the event and Gill felt hosting Gardeners' Question Time was beneficial to the town.

She said: "We felt it was great for Wem.

"Wem is such a small place and not many people have heard of it.

"One programme will be broadcast on Friday, March 24 and the next one will be on Friday, April 7."

The Wem District and Garden Club chairman said there were useful gardening tips members learned from the panel.

Gill explained: "There were definitely some.

"We were told that when you are growing cherry trees the birds will get them before you can pick them and told how to prevent that.

"The panel were so experienced they were able to answer questions off the top of their heads.

"There was no preparation for them."

Wem has been dubbed the 'home of the Sweet Pea' due to Henry Eckford, a Scottish horticulturalist who lived in the town.

Gill said: "There was bit about Eckford Sweet Pea.

"A member of the Eckford Sweet Pea Society was interviewed by Matthew Wilson."

The town will be holding more events this year.

Gill said: "There are various things coming up in Wem. We have our speakers booked for the whole of this year.

"We have two large markets, a spring market and a harvest market in October which we will be involved in."

If you are interested in getting involved with Wem District and Garden Club call 01939 233357.