Pupils from Knutsford's Egerton Primary School have helped Cheshire's Year of Gardens 08 get off to a tree-mendous start.

The children planted an English Oak to officially mark the start of the horticultural extravaganza, devised to highlight, celebrate and recognise the range and diversity of the County's gardens.

Tatton Park is one of 28 Gardens of Distinction, schools and community areas throughout Cheshire selected for the oak tree-planting, funded by Year of Gardens and one of several lasting legacies from the programme.

In the coming months, Tatton will host to several events to mark the year including the Orchid Festival and the RHS Tatton Flower Show.

Cheshire's Year of Gardens 08 has been developed by local tourism board, Visit Chester & Cheshire in partnership with Cheshire County Council, the Northwest
Regional Development Agency (NWDA), Rural Enterprise, and nearly 30 of Cheshire's garden attractions. 

It is expected to attract an additional 300,000 visitors, generate an economic impact of £15 million and further boost Cheshire's reputation as an international destination.

 "This is an appropriate and welcome way of launching  one of the biggest initiatives ever that has ever been undertaken to attract new visitors to our area,"
commented Visit Chester & Cheshire Chief Executive Chris Brown.

John Gittins, Executive Director, Cheshire Landscape Trust, which is planting the trees,  added: "We hope to engage not only the prestigious Gardens of Distinction but also the wider community by planting this symbol of the British countryside as a long lasting reminder of Cheshire's gardening heritage."

A wide range of events and activities will include garden tours, special garden openings, theatre and musical performances and food and drink festivals. For more, follow this link.