DOWN TO EARTH: Charlie Dimmock at the Sparsholt Open Day.

HAMPSHIRE'S own TV landgirl Charlie Dimmock was on hand to give visitors plenty of gardening advice at one of the biggest open days in the county.

One of the stars of the BBC's Ground Force pro-gramme was among thousands of people who enjoyed an event organised to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Sparsholt College.

Gardening enthusiasts, farmers, students, and families from across the South joined in the fun at the agricultural college near Winchester.

Ms Dimmock apart, exotic animals, includ-ing piranhas, scorpions and iguanas, proved a big attraction to both the elderly and the young. Other events included helicopter rides, woodland craft exhibitions, farm machinery displays and craft stalls.

"Thousands of people turned up and we were extremely busy all the time," said a spokesman for the college.

"Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves and the open day was very successful."

Sparsholt College, which now has 1,200 students and runs more than 40 full-time courses, first opened at Old Basing in 1899 and moved to its present site in 1914.

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