BUDDING Alan Titchmarshes will be able to hone their green-fingered skills in a new garden design course starting next month.

The course will award successful students a level one Open College of the North West certificate - the level-two course, which is equivalent to a GCSE, will be offered from September.

The programme runs over four consecutive Saturdays from February 26 to March 19 and will take place at Dallam Training and Education Centre, in Milnthorpe. Arts co-ordinator Linda Cregg said: "It's aimed at beginners and it could be for someone who might want to progress further in garden design."

The course will include trips to established gardens for inspiration. For more information call 015395-65123.