THE owner of a New Forest garden centre is hoping to turn thousands of new customers on to gardening after securing a regular spot on QVC, one of the top-grossing TV shopping channels in the world.

As one of QVC’s new gardening experts, Patrick Fairweather of Fairweather’s garden centre will guide viewers through the joys and rewards of horticulture while selling plants grown in his Beaulieu nursery.

The horticulturist decided to audition for the role while looking for innovative ways to grow the business in the challenging economic climate. Patrick said: “As a household name, broadcasting to millions of UK homes daily, QVC provides us with exposure to a national audience who will begin to recognise Fairweather’s as a brand and as a place to visit.

“We’re also hoping that by making gardening accessible to all we’ll be able to reach an entirely different customer base, those who perhaps don’t consider themselves traditional gardeners.”