WITH spring in full swing and the lighter evenings here, I want to encourage your readers to get back in their gardens to make the most of their outdoor spaces. I have been gardening for over 50 years and love nothing more than spending a few hours pottering around in the garden or allotment, making the most of these wonderful spring evenings.

With the great outdoors in mind, I have recently collaborated with National Trust Wales, who have just launched a new competition called #NTWalesGardenProud, which aims to get people across South Wales to showcase and share their outdoor spaces via social media, including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

So, whether you have a small but perfectly formed balcony space, sprawling mature gardens, stylish urban courtyard or a flourishing allotment, National Trust Wales want to see how you use your outdoor spaces.

To win an exclusive half day consultation with a National Trust Wales gardener, as well as a whole host of other prizes, all your readers need to do is submit photos of their outdoor spaces to Facebook, Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #NTWalesGardenProud.

Alternatively, email entries to gardenproud@workingword.co.uk. National Trust gardeners at Tredegar House have been working hard to get the gardens ready for spring, so why not pop along to see the beautiful grounds and get some inspiration for your next gardening project.

Terry Walton, BBC Radio Wales gardening expert