THE season of mists and mellow fruitfulness is due to arrive this weekend as Malvern Autumn Garden and Country Show takes place over Saturday and Sunday on the Three Counties showground.

The last of the venue's "big three" annual events, it is likely to attract more than 60,000 visitors to the 70 acre showsite, drawn by the popular mix of colourful flowers, succulent fruit, giant vegetables, a buzzing food and drink hall and end of season bargains from 600 tradestands.

"The Malvern Autumn Show has always been about showing visitors how to tune in to happy, healthy living, by growing and harvesting produce and enjoying the satisfaction of cooking and eating what they sow," said communications manager Sharon Gilbert. "It’s a culture which is very much in vogue, and becoming increasingly important to those who care about their general well-being. We have a new pavilion which focuses not on a single aspect, but on every element of the good life lifestyle, including sustainable gardening, foraging and re-cycling, home crafts, energy efficiency, herbal healing, and thrifty, wholesome cookery. It’s an event that really does have something to interest all ages, and we would like to encourage e families to come along and enjoy the many attractions that make for a fun-packed, value for money day out.”

Television gardener and renowned writer and broadcaster, Monty Don, heads a celebrity guest list which also includes his BBC Gardeners’ World co-presenter Joe Swift, Royal Horticultural Society judge Jim Buttress, and Mark Diacono, the former head gardener at River Cottage. Monty and Joe will be appearing in the show’s Good Life Pavilion where between them they will be talking about gardens and travel, allotment gardening, foraging and Autumn cocktails.

Food is a key feature of the Autumn Show and local chefs will be holding demonstrations in the Wot’s Cooking Cookery Theatre. There is also a new Orchard and Hopyard Pavilion hosting a section dedicated to the humble hop, where visitors can learn about its history and its use in modern, industrial scale production. The event is also home to the UK National Giant Vegetables Championship and regularly features some of Britain’s largest produce. This year, Simon Mcminnis, one of the world's best 3D giant pumpkin carvers, will be demonstrating his vegetable carvings.

The event is a great day out for all the family and other attractions include a Vintage Village with jive lessons, grow your own demonstrations, a Royal Horticultural Flower Show, an artisan food market, native livestock and country pursuits and crafts. Family entertainment includes spectacular stunts from the BMX team ‘Savage Skills’, free-style bi-plane aerobatics and animal parades, and there’s a chance to do some early Christmas shopping, visa the trade stand bargains.

For more information, call the ticket hotline on 01684 584924 or visit the website: www.threecounties.co.uk/malvernautumn