It all looks so easy on the BBC's Groundforce programme when Alan Titchmarsh and Charlie Dimmock transform an ugly plot of land into a beautiful garden in what seems like half an hour.

Their horticultural talents leaves most of us green with envy, thinking: "I really want to do that, but I've no idea how".

Well, with a little bit of professional help and some time away from home, you can learn the basic principles of how to design and produce your own individual plan for your garden.

North Yorkshire garden designer Elaine Newington Ward has designed a unique course for would-be gardeners where they can learn the art of landscaping before going back to their own home and having a go themselves.

Elaine says that lots of people have really good ideas about what they would like to do with their garden but they don't know how to sort them out into a workable plan.

But with the help of her course, she says all that will be a thing of the past.

She says: "People watch Groundforce and they are inspired to have a go themselves. I help them sort out their ideas on paper and they go home to create their dream gardens with confidence.

"Your garden is individual to you and just like your designer kitchen or bathroom, it reflects your taste, your likes and dislikes and lifestyle. Maybe you enjoy entertaining guests in your garden or perhaps you use it as a retreat.

"You may spend a lot of time pottering with plants or possibly your life is too busy for all but the briefest moments of maintenance. Whatever your style, we can help you design a garden that fits it and which you will delight in all the year round."

Elaine offers weekend, three-day or five-day courses at her home in Giggleswick, North

Yorkshire. Anyone interested in joining one should ring her on 01729 824169 to check for availability. The maximum number of participants is four, the minimum is one.

For more information about other garden designer's in the area, the Garden Designer's Register is a non-profit making organisation which makes it easy for members of the public to contact professional garden designers in the district.

Garden owners can rely on the Garden Designer's Register where they can choose the right person with the right qualifications for them and their garden.

The register only accepts applications from professionally-qualified designers, is arranged by locality, is clear and easy to use and is updated regularly.

For your free copy, write to The Register Secretary, Garden Designers' Register, 31 Moss Lane, Styal, Cheshire, SK9 4LF.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.