Loire Valley Garden owners target British garden and travel enthusiasts London, 20th October 2011

Owners of eleven prestigious Loire Valley Gardens including six garden members of the RHS will accompany the regional and county tourist boards to London for a full day’s workshop and lecture program dedicated to their gardens tomorrow, Thursday 20th October 2011.

Either medieval, renaissance, mixed borders, rose or kitchen gardens, well maintained and inspired by generations of talented gardeners, Loire Valley gardens symbolise various traditional and contemporary artistic visions and the French way of life "Savoir Vivre."

We will be meeting the owners of the Chateaux, some of whom are French Princes, Princesses and Knights to find out how, and why, they have opened their beautiful homes and their world-class gardens to the public.

So while everyone is hob-nobbing with French aristocracy and the regional tourist boards we will also be trying out some of the regional delicacies:The Loire Valley is the second largest producer of sparkling wine in France after Champagne, the Cremant de Loire sparkling wine will be served at the evening reception and lecture by Henri Carvallo of Villandry while Touraine Sauvignon Blanc and Chinon Rouge will be served with a Loire style networking buffet lunch (http://www.vinsvaldeloire.fr).

The Loire Valley region also accounts for 70% of France's goat cheese production and as a self-confessed cheese lover I can't wait for them to bring out two of the Loire Valley's AOC cheeses; Saint - Maure deTouraine ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sainte-Maure_de_Touraine) and Selles Sur Cher (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selles-sur-Cher (cheese).

Garden tourism is considered a growing niche coupled with events and festivals and we will find out why tomorrow from three different presentations during the day.

Six of the gardens present are member gardens of the RHS, hence the venue for the event and Elizabeth Banks, President of the RHS, adding to the bursting VIP list.

I'm particularly looking forward to finding out who will win the coveted 'Travel & Garden Writer' and 'Travel & Garden Photographer' awards announced tomorrow at 4pm. Although I've signed up for the whole day from 10.30am to 7.30pm I know that some people will be popping in for presentations/lectures of particular interest or just ot have one-to-one meetings with the garden owners throughout the day at the workshop.

If you want to join me but haven't signed up yet email alicia@representationplus.co.uk or if you would simply like to know more about the Loire Valley and their gardens go to www.loirevalleytourism.com.