The Redgrave Village Garden Club, which has attracted more than 50 members from surrounding villages, including Botesdale and Rickinghall, has been active in organising events and activities for both vegetable and flower gardeners.

Gardening enthusiasts will be pleased to know that the next speaker at the club is Bob Flowerdew – a regular panelist on BBC Radio 4's Gardener's Question Time, and Britain's foremost organic gardener.

When it comes to home-grown food, he is passionate not just about the better taste of home grown food.

Mr Flowerdew said: "It's about the exercise, the pleasure and the sustainability as well. It's not expensive, and it's certainly a lot cheaper than joining a gym."

Angela Bigley, a member of the club committee, said the rise in food prices is one reason for her array of home-grown vegetables – from carrots, salad and potatoes to Swiss chard.

"I believe in farmers getting the best prices for their produce but it does help, even if you've got a little plot in the garden. What the supermarkets call a packet of rocket is only a little sprinkle.

"You can just strip the salad leaves from the garden when you want them and it's so nice having really fresh food."

She added that as well as being cheaper, home-grown food has the added advantage of traceability – "you know what's gone on it," she said.

Margaret Haywood, a member of the club, grows her own cucumbers and tomatoes.

She said: "I just love gardening. But food does taste better when it's straight off the plant. And it's like going back to the war time now – I think people are growing more and more of their own food."

Another club member Janis Nash said: "We are absolutely delighted Bob has agreed to be speaker.

"He lives in Dickleburgh, but we have been on a waiting list for about a year now."

The talk, which is open to both members and non-members, will be held in St. Mary's Church, Redgrave on Thursday, 7.30pm.

To book tickets at £10 including refreshments, call Janis Nash, 01379 898393, or Alison Spounter, 07739 898523.