A GROUP of keen gardeners will grace the small screen tomorrow evening to showcase their hard work restoring a Bolton rock garden.

The Friends of Moss Bank Park will appear on BBC2’s The Great British Garden Revival, a programme which seeks to prevent Britain’s rich horticultural history being lost.

Presenter and gardening expert Carol Klein, from Walkden, visited the group last year to film the episode, and to share her infectious passion for this style of gardening.

Rock gardens were at the pinnacle of Victorian garden fashion and Carol, who went to Bolton School, highlights some of the finest remaining examples across the country, including the community in Bolton who pulled back their rockery from neglect.

The park’s rock garden had been closed for more than 10 years, was overgrown and a target for vandals, when the group set about restoring it to its former glory in 2010.

It included restoration of the water cascade feature, installation of a new footbridge, clearing and resurfacing of footpaths, clearing overgrown vegetation, installing new plants and new seating areas before it was re-opened in July 2012.

Grandfather-of-three John Pendlebury, a group member from Harwood, said: “We were very surprised and pleased to be involved.

“They kindly brought along some alpine plants which we began to plant during the filming.” The group was successful in obtaining £38,000 of funding from the Heritage Lottery for the refurbishment, including the Japanese style bridge which they helped design and has since been much admired.

Chairman Anne Cahill said: “It gave us all a real lift to meet Carol and become TV stars for a few minutes.

“If anyone has an interest or expertise in the Rock Garden and can offer any help, the Friends will always offer them a warm welcome.”

The group meets every Tuesday morning to do light gardening work, weeding, pruning, sweeping, planting and general tidying up.

The Great British Garden Revival is screened on BBC2 tomorrow at 7pm.