CELEBRITY gardener and former Bolton School girl Carol Klein will be an ambassador for a new £30 million Royal Horticultural Society garden.

Carol, who grew up in Walkden and went to school in Bolton, is following in her family's footsteps as she champions the transformation of the neglected former grounds.

Speaking from the site of the new fifth RHS garden in the grounds of Worsley New Hall near Walkden, she said: "When I heard about the future RHS Garden Bridgewater I couldn’t believe it. My grandfather's first job was as a garden boy at the garden — it felt like real serendipity. I am thrilled to be an RHS ambassador for this unique place, and I cannot wait to see how it develops."

Carol, a popular presenter of BBC Gardeners’ World and gardening writer, joins Floella Benjamin, Alan Titchmarsh, Mary Berry, Nick Knowles, Chris Beardshaw, Jekka McVicar, Adam Frost, George Hassall and Jamie Butterworth as RHS Ambassadors.

She added: "I hope everyone loves this garden as much as I will. I look forward to people having somewhere close at hand to celebrate gardening.”

The 154-acre RHS Garden Bridgewater is planned to open in 2019 as part of the RHS wider 10-year £160 million investment programme to achieve its vision to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.

World-class landscape architect Tom Stuart-Smith, who was appointed to create the garden masterplan in November, has already shared his initial proposals.

They include a perennial meadow with a network of web-like paths guiding visitors to the historic walled garden; a magnificent ten-acre walled garden; a new lake, and a large open café terrace.

All plans at this stage are subject to lease and planning permission.

The RHS is working with the owners of the historic estate, Peel Land and Property, and Salford City Council to bring the historic garden to fruition.