SOME of those taking part in the Salisbury Country and Garden Show at the weekend might have been green when it came to exhibiting but all had something in common - green fingers.

Floral arrangements, trays of vegetables and large displays by the top nurseries - they were all so good that show organiser Evelyn Burt was beaming with delight as she delivered the prize winners' certificates.

"I thoroughly enjoy seeing people who have put so much effort into their exhibits winning a prize," she said.

"It gives them a reward for all their hard work and, after all, it's they who make the show."

Among veteran exhibitors at the show, which took place in Hudson's Field, were Howard Smith, of Durrington, and Ken Haywood, a founder member and life president of the Salisbury Bonsai Society.

The society won the gold medal for its exhibition.

Mr Haywood was showing visitors a tree called Grandad, which dates to pre-1902.

It was making its last appearance in Salisbury, as he is donating it to the national bonsai collection at the Birmingham botanical gardens. Major Smith took the honours for his tray of vegetables and vase of dahlias and statice.

Roger and Betty Garside, from Derbyshire, are only in their fourth year of showing but they scooped the Best in Show gold award in the professional floral category for their cacti.

One of the youngest exhibitors was 11-year-old Ross Daniels, who was helping to look after the Wiltshire Chalkstream branch of the Fly Dressers' Guild's stand.

Ross joined the branch last year, quickly picked up the art of fly-tying and is now one of the branch's experts.

Branch secretary John Leathley said the club was on the lookout for younger members and Ross was their ambassador in the art of fly-tying and dressing.

Among those giving demonstrations were the Sarum Hob Nob lacemakers, and elsewhere there were Icelandic horses, birds of prey and Civil War battle displays.

Ms Burt paid tribute to all the people who make the show possible each year.

"They are all fantastic," she said. "I could not do it without them."

At the show, Mayor of Salisbury Bobbie Chettleburgh launched Hourcars, a community car sharing scheme.

The scheme has been set up to offer a choice to people who only occasionally need a car but don't want to own one, those who run two cars but could manage with one most of the time or those who don't want the hassle of service, maintenance, insurance, tax and storage.

The aim is to promote the concept of community cars among individuals, businesses and local government, and the organisers say it is a great way of enjoying the flexibility of using a car without having to own one or worry about parking one.

For more information, visit www.hourcars.co.uk, or call 0845 4580338.