AN event claimed to be the first of its kind in the country will be taking place at a Hook plant nursery next month.

The Vegan Garden Festival will be taking place on Saturday, 15 September, at Hortis Loci in Hound Green, and will feature an array of different insights on the plant-based diet.

There will be plenty of guests, including a multi-award-winning garden designer, a leading horticultural journalist and top plantsmen, to give practical tips on growing and cooking vegan food.

Cleve West, one of Britain’s most popular creators of landscaped gardens, will be giving a talk on healing gardens and his vegan journey.

Cleve gave up his dream of being an Olympic long-jumper in 1990 to study garden design, before winning two successive Gold Medals at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

Horticultural journalist Matthew Appleby will present his new book The Super Organic Gardener, urban garden design expert Darryl Moore will give a talk on the Praise of Plants, and Hortus Loci’s resident chef Sebastian Bonfield will demonstrate how to cook a three-course vegan meal.

Chief executive officer of Hortis Loci, Mark Straver, will be taking part and Reading Vegan Outreach will be available to answer questions, along with meat-alternative producers Love Seitan.

Mr Straver said: “Veganism is becoming increasingly popular but many people don’t know where to start.

“Our event is designed to help give people tips on where to begin, how to grow the plants and food you need for a balanced diet, as well as advice to non-vegans on how to cook for a vegan guest.”

The event is free to attend, and will take place from 9am to 5.30pm at Hortis Loci in Hound Green.

Tickets are available to book via hlplantcentre.co.uk/2618-2.