A GARDEN representing Gargrave could be featured at the BBC Gardeners' World Live exhibition in Birmingham next June.

Village resident Martin Harrison came up with the idea through his connection with The Horticultural Club, in London, of which he is treasurer.

The secretary of the London club is also involved with the Royal Horticultural Society which organises the major shows throughout the country.

She told Mr Harrison that there was a lot of outdoor space to fill in next June's exhibition at Birmingham's NEC and suggested he enter a Gargrave garden.

Mr Harrison, an alpine enthusiast rose to the challenge.

He has spoken to several people in the village including Chris Myers, a landscape gardener who is willing to design the entry.

"We have a small committee of interested and enthusiastic people in the village and have met on two occasion now to discuss getting a garden together for the exhibition," he explained.

"We are looking for ideas from people for the design, as well as businesses who could supply stone and other materials as well as transport.

"Twin Locks Nursery has said we can build it up there as it will measure nine metres by nine metres," he said.

Mr Harrison also has a friend who won a gold medal at Chelsea Flower Show this year and has offered to give the group advice.

This year's Chelsea Flower Show saw the Craven village of Arncliffe win a coveted gold medal for its Yorkshire Dales entry, complete with limestone cottage, stream with bridge, meadow, wild flowers and native trees.

Suggestions for the Gargrave entry include its connections with the canal, the Pennine Way, the Sustrans cycle route and the famous Settle - Carlisle railway.

It is also the site of a Roman settlement and the village is also situated on top of an underground lake.

The suggestion for the Gargrave garden was brought up at the parish council meeting.

Chairman Alan Simpson said there was clearly a lot of interest for this garden, but thought it unlikely that the council could provide any funds towards the project.

However, he wished the plans well and added that should the garden be entered into the show, then perhaps it could be brought back afterwards and sited somewhere in the village for residents and visitors to admire.

Coun Mavis Thomas thought the idea was very ambitious although she was in favour of it: "I think it is a mammoth task, but we should give it our wholehearted support".

Other councillors added their support and said Mr Harrison and his team were very welcome to borrow any plants or items from their own gardens to create it.

In the meantime, Mr Harrison is hoping people and businesses may come forward with offers of sponsorship, although exact figures have not yet been worked out.

The group has until December to come up with a design plan to accompany an application to the Royal Horticultural Society for inclusion in the Show Gardens section.