SCHOOLCHILDREN are learning about the art of gardening at the Teesside Garden and Wood Festival.
This year, pupils from St Patrick's Secondary School in Thornaby, near Stockton, are selling pots they have designed and made themselves at the festival.
And Scouts will join pupils from Fairfield Primary School, in Stockton, to plant hundreds of cowslips.
The festival at Preston Park, Eaglescliffe, near Stockton, opened yesterday and between 5,000 and 6,000 visitors are expected to attend today and tomorrow.
A highlight will be expert tree sculpting. There will also be a large number of stalls, crafts and fine foods, kite flying and performing arts and a gardeners' question time.
Jean Welch, who is the festival organiser, said: "The involvement of the children and young people is a new part of our annual festival and we anticipate it being a big success.
"We get a lot of the real, hardcore gardeners coming on the Friday which is great.
"During the next two days we expect to get a lot more casual gardeners and people who just want a nice day out.
"We're just hoping the weather holds out."
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