National Trust Head Gardeners throughout Devon and Cornwall will conduct the biggest flower count in the country on the morning of Wednesday February 14, Valentine's Day.

A number of Head Gardeners had been conducting their own flower counts, but at different times of the year. In 2006, Head Gardeners in Cornwall decided to conduct an annual county wide flower count on February 14.

This count has now been extended to include Trust gardens in Devon in 2007. The count will provide a yearly record of how spring arrives in the South West, whether the season changes over the years and how climate change may be effecting gardens.

Sixteen gardens will be taking part, including some of the South West's most visited and best loved including: Trelissick, Trengwainton, Lanhydrock, Saltram and Cotehele. The count will cover approximately 540 acres of garden .