A CELEBRITY gardener is the latest speaker in a University of Winchester lecture series.

Mark Diacono, former head gardener at River Cottage, will address students at The Stripe on Wednesday February 13.

His talk, A Taste of the Unexpected, features a conversation with university historian and BBC presenter Alex Langlands.

Mr Diacono, who gained a degree in environmental studies and geography from Winchester, has run the UK’s only climate change farm, Otter Farm, in Devon for the past eight years.

By researching the effects of climate changes, he has grown forgotten produce as well as food normally imported, reducing emissions.

He said: “The main thing that I wanted to do at River Cottage was to inspire people to grow even a little of what they eat. Grow a little of what you eat and most people begin to appreciate seasonality more, to be more inquisitive about where their food comes from, to ask a few questions about it.”

Mr Langlands, co-presenter of the BBC’s Victorian Farm, added: “I’m hugely excited about meeting Mark - the man behind the magic of one of my favourite TV shows.”

The free lecture starts at 6.30pm at the theatre in Sparkford Road. To book a place email enterprise.lectures@winchester.ac.uk or call 01962 827578.