Howbery Business Park in Oxfordshire is inviting the general public to join free guided tours on 4 June to find out more about the Flood Resilient Garden.

Two years after its debut at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, three fabulous design and horticultural experts will talk about the garden’s journey from the RHS Chelsea Flower Show to Oxfordshire, and how it helps protect against flooding.

• Flood Re Flood Resilient Garden co-designer Dr Ed Barsley will explain how the garden helps manage flood risk and how he modified the Chelsea design to fit in the differently shaped space at Howbery Park.
• Stephen Packman, Environment & Innovation Manager from Nurture Landscapes will talk about how his company is looking after the garden as part of its contract to maintain the wider Howbery grounds, and explain how it enhances biodiversity.
• Alison Quantrell, a Horticultural Consultant and Planting Designer, will talk about plant choices in the garden and how those could be made relevant to domestic gardens.

Kelly Ostler-Coyle, Director of Corporate Affairs at Flood Re, which sponsored the garden at Chelsea and Howbery, will give an introduction to the sessions. Flood Re is the joint initiative between the UK government and the insurance industry which exists to promote the affordability and availability of flood insurance for homes across the UK.

Booking onto one of the one-hour slots is essential to join the tours, which will run from 10am-3.30pm. There are five tour sessions available:

• 10-11am
• 11am-12pm
• 12-1pm
• 1.30-2.30pm
• 2.30-3.30pm

To round off the tours, visitors will have the option to enjoy a pre-paid afternoon tea in the Manor Café, which needs to be ordered in advance.

The booking form for the tours and afternoon tea can be found at  https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/flood-resilient-garden-tours-tickets-1987989151066?aff=oddtdtcreator

The garden is also open for the public to look around themselves on working weekdays, free of charge, and is situated next to the Manor Café.