THE run-up to Christmas is extra special for a nursery near Stroud this year with a guest appearance by Cath Kidston MBE who has selected the outlet as a stockist for her new scented pelargonium-inspired body care range.

She will be at a festive late night shopping event on Thursday, December 7 at the independent Exedra Nursery at Painswick Rococo Garden.

The C.Atherley products are inspired by Cath’s love of the fragrant plants, commonly called geraniums. Exedra is stocking Geranium No.1 hand wash, hand and body lotion and hand cream – all perfect for the hard-working gardener.

C.Atherley, her maternal grandmother’s name prefixed with a C for Cath, is a new venture for the Cotswold-based designer, who left her namesake company in 2016.

She’s loved scented pelargoniums since childhood and now has a collection of more than 100 at her home.

‘Radens’, which has rose-lemon scent, has been chosen as the basis of the first products in the C.Atherley range with the scent carefully recreated by a master perfumer in Somerset. Three more scents are in development.

The range has sustainability at its heart: the ingredients are all natural, certified vegan and fully traceable, while the products are packaged using glass, recycled plastic or aluminium that can be reused or recycled.

Nursery owner Julie Dolphin said: “We love pelargoniums of all kinds so are thrilled to be stocking C.Atherley. The products not only smell fabulous but look beautiful too.”

The late-night festive event at Exedra starts at 6pm and is free to attend but visitors are asked to sign up on the website – exedranursery.co.uk.

There will be a glass of fizz on arrival and Christmas trees, seasonal plants and gifts to browse.

Exedra opened at Painswick Rococo Garden in September 2022. It grows a wide range of perennials in peat-free compost and also stocks shrubs, climbers, David Austin Roses, herbs and alpines.

Cath Kidston Padgham MBE left her namesake company in 2016 and is no longer affiliated or associated with the Cath Kidston Ltd company or the Cath Kidston branded products.

In the intervening years, she has established a new design studio, Joy of Print, working with international retailers on print design and strategy and collaborating with independent companies via her studio portfolio. She has also published a number of books.

Cath is an iconic British designer known for her vintage-inspired floral prints and practical, nostalgic designs.

Founded in 1993, her eponymous brand gained popularity for its charming home goods, accessories, and fashion items.

The brand's signature aesthetic blends English country style with a whimsical touch, creating a timeless appeal.

Cath Kidston's designs often evoke a sense of nostalgia and have become iconic in the world of contemporary British design and lifestyle.