Johnson supporting garden and greenhouse show

Mayor of London Boris Johnson will be one of the guests of honour at the forthcoming Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, which takes place from July 7th to 12th.

The politician is a backer of the Capital Growth scheme, which is contributing to the events Edible Spaces display.

It aims to encourage city-dwellers to grow their own fruit and veg, with a target of creating 2,012 new areas for the community to cultivate food by the time the Olympics begin.

Nearly 100 have been completed so far, with everything from canal banks to roofs and parks being used.

Mr Johnson shares a common aim with the RHS, the bodys director general Inga Grimsey explained.

"We invited the mayor and Rosie [Boycott – chair of London Food] to showcase at Hampton as we support any initiative that gets people excited about gardening and brings communities together – things that are at the heart of the RHS values," she said.

On July 14th, the RHS will give greenhouse and glasshouse enthusiasts the chance to attend an opera at its Garden Harlow Carr site.