THE Holker Garden Festival - one of the horticultural highlights of South Lakeland's summer season - is shaping up to be bigger and better than ever.

Budding plans for the three-day event staged in the grounds of Holker Hall near Cark-in-Cartmel, include television presenter and former pop singer Kim Wilde signed up as the festival's special guest.

A range of exhibitors and more than 100 trade stands have also been lined up, and there will be the usual programme of lectures and gardeners questions and answers sessions, plus entertainment each day, and the garden festival restaurant.

At an open event at Holker to announce details of the 10th annual festival, which starts on May 31, Lord Cavendish said he had high hopes for this summer.

He said he was as keen as everyone else to put a line under last year's foot-and-mouth blighted season, which resulted in the cancellation of the festival, which usually attracts thousands of visitors.

"It's a time to look forward and the misfortunes of last year must be replaced with an absolute determination to move forward this year and make it a year to remember," said Lord Cavendish.

"We can't rely on anyone else to get us out of the problems of last year, we have to do it together and as always we are grateful for the support of the hotels, guest houses and tourism operators who recommend people come here."

He added: "We detect in the Cumbria spring air, the spirit of recovery, and Holker means to be part of it."

Project manager Elizabeth Ward said she was delighted Kim Wilde, who presents the Garden Invaders, had agreed to take part in the festival.

"We are confident that the Holker Garden Festival will set the stage of a buoyant season, and that with Kim's help we will see more visitors than ever before."

Other events planned to take place at Holker this summer include a Mercedes classic car rally on May 28, a performance of Twelfth Night by the Shakespeare Theatre Group on July 7, as well as the Cartmel races on June 3,5 and 8, and August 24 and 26.

Advance tickets for the festival can be bought by calling the show office on 015395-58838.