Cuttings: Dockyard in bloom

THE GARDEN History Society has long had an interest in the historic dockyard at Chatham, Kent, for here is a layout of Georgian courtyards and gardens that has changed very little since Lord Nelson joined his first ship in 1770. The dockyard is the venue for a garden festival that opens Friday and continues until Sunday. In the walled garden of the Commissioner's House you can see the plans that the Kent Gardens Trust has drawn up for the restoration of the dockyard gardens. The show, however, is essentially modern: greenhouses, fences, mowers, tools, furniture and five marquees full of flowers. You can also see Christopher Proudfoot's collection of old mowing machines. The show is open from 9am to 6pm, admission pounds 5.50.