FOODIES and flower lovers are invited to join in a veritable feast as Birmingham's Botanical Gardens cooks up a celebration for its 183rd anniversary.

Visitors will be welcomed to the free "Heritage Open Day" at the Edgbaston attraction's Victorian glasshouse and 15-acre grounds on September 13 between 11am and 3pm.

Harborne Food School will also be there, hosting a car boot vegetables sale and food demonstrations, including preserves workshops.

Friends and members of the botanical gardens will sell their produce between 9am and 11am in the car park, with sellers getting the chance to enter a competition to win Harborne Food School vouchers and cooking classes.

Preserves and baking expert Vivien Lloyd will demonstrate how to prepare stone fruit jam and chilli jam - and visitors that make their own can bring a sample to enter a competition.

Registered nutritionist Shaleen Meelu (correct) and chef Charlotte Pike, of Harborne Food School, will lead 30-minute workshops giving a sample of its courses, including chopping sessions, food tasters and vegetable growing.

James Wheeler, chief executive of the botanical gardens, said: "The heritage open days celebrate culture and history in the community, two things that our gardens are rich with.

"Our collaboration with Harborne Food School will also give visitors the chance to pick up some locally grown food and learn how to make delicious meals with them once they're home, as they will no doubt be hungry after exploring our gardens and learning about how to prepare delicious food.

More information is available by visiting http://www.birminghambotanicalgardens.org.uk/ or calling 0121 454 1860