FAMOUS garden designer and BBC TV presenter Chris Beardshaw is getting involved with the popular Cirencester Hare Festival.

Chris, who often judges at the Chelsea Flower Show, was approached by hare festival organiser Florence Beetlestone to decorate a five foot hare named Flora, based in Cerney House Gardens in North Cerney. Florence has sponsored the hare herself, on behalf of her educational consultancy Shore Foundations.

“Chris has decorated Flora with a wonderful display of floral illustrations taken from his bestselling books, 100 Plants that almost changed the World," said Florence. "Flora lives in his own little garden shed and it truly is a beautiful setting."

The Cirencester Hare Festival is a sculpture trail of 50 five foot hares which began back in March and will come to an end in September, where they will be auctioned at The Kings Head on October 4.

Before this, there will be a series of events including a concert in the church and a special farewell to the hares event where they will be gathered in the Assembly Rooms at the Kings Head for people to come and view them all together.