A TOP national tree expert will speak at an event being organised by The Garden House at Buckland Monachorum this month.

The Fortescue Garden House annual lecture series was inaugurated in 2008 to commemorate 50 years since Lionel Fortescue, the outstanding plantsman and garden visionary, started to create his inspirational ten-acre garden at The Garden House.

The prestigious lecture is always delivered by an individual considered to have made a major contribution to horticulture or gardening in Britain, and the Fortescue Garden Trust, which owns The Garden House, is thrilled that this year's speaker is Tony Kirkham, head of the Arboretum at the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew.

Tony is responsible for more than 14,000 trees at Kew, and is widely acknowledged to be one of the world's leading authorities on trees and arboriculture.

He has an infectious enthusiasm for his subject, and is probably best known for his appearances in the BBC TV series 'A Year at Kew' and 'The Trees that Made Britain'. He said he was especially pleased that his lecture, entitled 'Inspirational Trees and Tree People', will not only have broad appeal to his audience, but will also enable him to talk about the special trees and people that have inspired him throughout his career.

A spokesperson for The Garden House said: 'It also seems very appropriate that the focus of the 2012 Fortescue Garden House Lecture is trees, as the new two-acre Jubilee Arboretum at The Garden House is now almost completed.

'The site has been landscaped, a large lake created with ornamental bridges and the wheelchair-friendly paths are currently being laid. This exciting new feature is due to open to the public later this spring.'

The lecture, which is sponsored by Brewin Dolphin Investment Managers, takes place on Friday, March 30 at 7pm at the Plymouth Postgraduate Medical Centre, Derriford. Tickets are £14 to include wine and nibbles on arrival and can be booked by telephoning The Garden House on 01822 854769.