Can yo ou grow your r own cosm metics? How do you fancy y producing your own beauty products ? Garden Organic will show you how, a s ANN EVANS reports.: Gardens.

Byline: ANN EVANS

IRED of spending a fortune on cosmetics? Then why not learn how to make your own beauty products from the plants in your garden?

As part of Garden Organic's on-going programme of courses and workshops, 'Herbal lotions and potions' will take place this Thursday from 2-4pm.

Using only commonly available and easy to grow herbs and plants, such as lavender, mint, nettles and rosemary, the workshop will reveal how these everyday plants hold the key to a complete range of beauty secrets, and participants can have a go at making their own preparations.

Workshop leader and herbal horticulturist, Carrie Pailthorpe says, "All the expensive and chemically enhanced products on the high street today take their inspiration from the natural world, and what could be better than growing the ingredients in your own garden instead? "Finding out how to make skin and bath preparations from readily available herbs can help people to make more informed choices about what they buy and the way they treat their skin."

In addition to its regular courses on all aspects of organic growing, Garden Organic Ryton offers visitors a full day out of organic and gardening delights, including a newly refurbished caf and award winning restaurant - both offering seasonal and locally produced organic food; ten acres of inspirational gardens; organic food and gift shop; toddlers' play area, children's garden and Vegetable Kingdom. * HERBAL LOTIONS and Potions Workshop at Garden Organic Ryton takes place on Thursday July 9 from 2-4pm. Costs pounds 25 for non members and pounds 20 for members. The workshop will run again on September 10. For further information and a full list of the courses and workshops offered by Garden Organic visit www.gardenorganic.org.uk or call 024 7630 3517.

Take inspiration from gold medal winn ner

IF YOU are new to growing herbs, you could take inspiration from Ricola's Herb Garden of Natural Goodness, which scooped a Gold medal at the Gardeners' World Live Exhibition at the NEC recently.

Designed and brought to life by talented young designer Chris Myers of Chris Myers Garden Design, he showed that as well as all their functional benefits, herbs can be every bit as attractive as the usual garden staples such as roses or clematis.

Chris, who was returning to BBC Gardeners' World Live for the fourth time, said: "By just having them in a pot or a container at the back door for cooking, people are really not getting the most from their herbs.

"Few realise just how versatile and fragrant these plants can be and this is what this garden has been all about."

WALKS DIARY

TOMORROW: Coventry CHA Rambling: Annual Outing, Cambridge, Booking for Houses of Parliament, Coach, 8.30am, Meet at Layby, Fairfax Street Baths, 024 7646 8288 NEXT SATURDAY: Coventry CHA Rambling: Ansty Hopsford, Bus 75, 9.45am, Meet Pool Meadow, 024 7646 8288

GARDENING DIARY

Gardens open in aid of the National Gardens Scheme: TOMORROW * Greenlands, Stratford Road, Wellesbourne. Open 11am-5pm, adults pounds 3, children free.

* Idlicote Gardens, n Shipston on Stour. Six open from 2-6pm. C admission pounds 4, childre * The Stables, Selly P small interesting gard near x gardens ombined en free. Park. Three dens open from 2-6pm. Combined admission pounds 3, children free.

Other events TUESDAY * Growing Concern for the over 50s at Four Pounds Avenue Allotments, Chapelfields, Coventry from 10am-4pm.

WEDNESDAY * Coventry and District Greenhouse Society meet at St Joseph the Worker Community Hall, Cannon Park, Coventry.

Doors open 7pm, meeting starts 7.30pm. Alan Rollason will give an illustrated talk on Cacti and Succulents. Visitors welcome pounds 1. Details 024 7641 3327.