A PLANT-HUNTER'S FEAST WITH A TASTY TOUCH OF GARLIC

There is more than just garlic at the Isle of Wight Festival

Saturday July 5,2008

By Alan Titchmarsh

I ALWAYS think of the Isle of Wight as Britain’s best-kept-secret holiday hide-away.

I spend a large part of my life there – relaxing, writing and this year undertaking the role of High Sheriff. It’s a chance to put something back into a place I’ve grown to love.

Thanks to the mild climate and good light reflected by the surrounding sea, gardening is one of the top island hobbies. Last time I looked, there were 35 horticultural societies, which is incredible for an area only a quarter of the size of Greater London.

Travelling round you’ll see lots of well-tended private gardens, including a fair sprinkling that open for charity through the National Gardens Scheme’s Yellow Book but two larger places stand out.

The jewel in the crown is Ventnor Botanic Garden – 22 acres of unusual semi-tender plants tucked into the mild micro-climate of the Undercliff. It’s the island’s answer to the Abbey Gardens on Tresco.

If you normally take summer holidays abroad, you’ll feel perfectly at home. There are masses of palms and Mediterranean plants, the New Zealand garden is a plant-hunter’s dream and the South African garden peaks in the school summer holidays.

The crown, however, goes to Queen Victoria’s family holiday home Osborne House, pictured here. It’s still kept much as it was – even Prince Albert’s greenhouses have been restored. But for me the best part is the children’s garden, with a swish Swiss cottage where the little princes and princesses were taught cookery and gardening so they didn’t grow up spoilt.

If you’re into cooking, eating or kitchen gardening, then the Isle of Wight Garlic Festival should also be on your visiting list. (This year it’s on August 16 and 17). It’s a celebration of all things garlic, however weird and wacky.

There you’ll find roughly 300 stalls selling food (expect garlic with everything from prawns to ice-cream) and all sorts of arts and crafts.

There’s a massive funfair and music from big-name bands and local talent, so there is plenty for the whole family (www.garlic-festival.co.uk).

And when you’re looking for souvenirs, what could be better than a bagful of genuine Isle of Wight garlic?