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Traditional orchards, in which sheep graze peacefully under gnarled apple trees blessed with names like 'Pitmaston Pineapple', are a .

But over half have vanished since the 1950s, and now has commissioned the first full inventory to find out what's left. It's a grim picture. Around half are in 'poor' condition – neglected, and sometimes abandoned. Just one in ten of the country's 35,378 orchards are judged 'excellent' if you want to find out how your county's orchards did, log on to the survey .

And finally, congratulations to Colin Roberts, whose dreamy picture of sea thrifts streaming out into the horizon won him the title of 2011 International Garden Photographer of the Year. All the finalists'ÌýphotographsÌýcan be seen and at a special exhibition opening at in London, openingÌýnext weekend.

Elsewhere on the web...
It's at times like this that garden designers who opt to build a garden at the must wonder why, oh why, they ever agreed to do it. With just two weeks to go, the first contractors are on site and this year's horticultural concoctions are rising from the grass lawns of the Royal Hospital Chelsea site.

The has started work on Luciano Giubbilei's hotly-anticipated garden for Laurent-Perrier – like many, they've been struggling with the soaring temperatures. And the first of the Chelsea video diaries have emerged; Cleve WestÌýhas been putting the to his water features, while , designing her first full show garden, has been on large red cushions.

And there's plenty away from the show gardens to look forward to; not least, legendary planthunters Bleddyn and Sue Wynn-Jones, who are bringing plants from their nursery at in north Wales to Chelsea for the first time this year. Can't wait.

Out and about...
Dust offÌýyour trolleys out and sharpen your elbows: this week sees the first major show of the year, the at the Three Counties Showground in Worcestershire.

This year's show gardens include a shepherd's hut complete with real lambs, a Tudor parterre, and a garden of prehistoric plants, as well as the always-intriguing selection of innovative small gardens from the hopefuls. And at the heart of the show, the huge, spectacular floral marquee, packed with around 100 of the country's finest nurseries and surely an unmissable highlight of the show season.

If you can't get to Worcestershire, there's always the fine tomorrow at the Garden Museum in Lambeth, London, where specialist nurseries will be selling rare and unusual plants. There are more chances to buy that perfect plant this week at in Devon, and in Kent – all with fabulous gardens attached to visit too.

Sally Nex is a garden writer and blogger and part of the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Gardening team.