LOVERS of music and natural beauty will make a beeline to a Cotswolds village that has really put itself on the map with an annual festival.

The fourth Ilmington Music and Flower Festival will take place between September 12 and September 14 at St Mary’s Church Ilmington, which is eight miles to the south of Stratford on Avon.

Event spokesperson, Judith Cheston said: "After the success of the festival over the last three years the three days of events this autumn will again draw on the expertise and enthusiasm of the whole village community.

"The Ilmington Flower Arranging Group will fill the church with breath-taking blooms and fabulous foliage, their arrangements having the theme of ‘Ilmington in Bloom’."

The church will be open to the public for viewing 10am – 6pm on Saturday and Sunday, and donations will be welcomed.

There will be four main musical events during the festival starting with a Preview, - a wine and canapes evening, on Friday September 12, from 6.30pm.

The evening will include background music, a free glass of wine and a festival programme.

Saturday September 13 will see a Young Musicians Concert, from 7.30pm, and will celebrate the musical talents of the young people, including 12 year old George Wilkes from Shipston on Stour who plays the cello in the National Children’s Orchestra.

The Abernathys, a group of visiting children from the USA, will perform old American folk songs and work by the 20th composer, Aaron Copeland.

On Sunday September 14, at 4pm the Ilmington Festival Chorus will perform several well known pieces including movements from Elgar’s Coronation Ode and Handel’s ‘My Heart is Indicting’.

Also on the Sunday, from at 7pm there will be a Recital for Trumpets, Organ and Soprano.

Husband and wife trumpeters, Simon Lenten and Angela Whelan will perform Vivaldi’s Concerto for Two Trumpets in C Major, and sixteen year old Ilmington soprano, Mollie Smith, whose performance as Dido was one of the major hits of last year’s festival, will sing favourite baroque arias including Handel’s ‘Let the Bright Seraphim’.

Festival Director, Julian Harris, will play organ pieces by Bach.

He said: "We Ilmingtonians are so lucky to live in such a beautiful village and hopefully everything that goes on inside the church during our festival weekend will reflect the beauty outside too. This is a truly community wide event spanning all ages.

"This year’s festival is part of our wider 5 year artistic plan which will culminate in 2017 in an even bigger event. We are a community united and know that moving forward together we can achieve amazing results.”

A ticket for all 3 concerts costs just £10 its is bookable now on 01608 682745.

Refreshments will be available in the church throughout the weekend and it is hoped that, weather permitting, a marque will also be erected in the churchyard.