Where: Rococo Garden, Painswick

When: Tuesday, September 25, 9.30am-3.30pm

This autumn the staff and volunteers who look after Painswick's historic Rococo Garden are planning to plant over 25,000 spring-flowering bulbs.

Whilst the garden is famed for its annual display of snowdrops at the start of the year, these new bulbs will provide a beautiful continuation of colour into March and beyond.

To kick-start the planting extravaganza, the garden is hosting an open work party on Tuesday, September 25,between 9.30am and 3.30pm, with the aim of getting as many of the thousands of bulbs planted as possible.

The team are very keen to involve the local community and are looking for volunteers who may be interested in lending a hand.

"Our friendly team of gardeners and our regular volunteers would be really pleased to welcome you if you can spare a few hours to help out," said Dominic Hamilton, garden director. "We'll provide refreshments and all instructions - you will just need to bring a trowel and a spade and we'll all get stuck in together!

"If you can't stay all day, you'd be very welcome for anywhere between three and the full six hours."

The purchase of the bulbs has been financed by generous donations from The Friends of the Rococo Garden and from hundreds of visitors who have donated their small change to help make the project a reality.

Volunteers who join for the day will receive a complimentary voucher for a return visit to the garden in March, to see the display in full bloom.

To register to help, please email head gardener Roger Standley on garden@rococogarden.org.uk  for more details.