England’s gardens are always a feast for the senses, but this year they are blooming in more ways than ever, with a host of exhibitions, sculpture trails and other events – plus some of Europe’s most popular flower shows are eagerly awaited. Here are some of the 2005 highlights.

Following the success of the 2004 Hadrian's Wall Path National Trail summer passport, the Countryside Agency has launched a Walking Around Hadrian's Wall Country winter passport.

From 24 February to 8 May, the V&A will host a different fashion exhibition, Spectres: When Fashion Turns Back, bringing together beautiful historic costumes by designers such as Christian Dior and Elsa Schiaparelli and clothes by today's designers such as Jean-Paul Gaultier and Martin Margiela.

Calling all cryptic crossword enthusiasts. The Castle Hotel in Taunton is holding a Cruciverbal Weekend starting on Friday 29 April and hosted by Tim Moorey a professional crossword setter for, among others, The Sunday Times and The Independent.