THEY can cost up to £200,000 and need hours of care and attention, but the ancient art of growing bonsai trees is thriving in south Essex.

Hundreds of the trees were on display at a popular garden show this weekend.

Visitors admired the beautifully styled small-scale trees, as well as more than 600 species of cacti on display.

The show was put on by the Southend Bonsai Society and the British Cactus and Succulents Society, at Essex’s only bonsai nursery, the Bushukan Bonsai Nursery, in Lower Road, Hockley.

Chris Leigh-Walker has been running the nursery with her husband, Joe, for 30 years. This year she picked up gold medals at the Chelsea Flower Show, Gardeners World Live, and Hampton Court, for her miniature trees.

Mrs Leigh-Walker, is also secretary of the Southend Bonsai Society, which currently has 50 members, but is growing fast. She explained any tree can be a bonsai tree, the term comes from the Japanese and simply refers to growing a miniature tree in a container or pot.

She said: “There is always a reason why you take a tree. It’s very spiritual. The trees give you feedback, if you treat it wrong ,it will let you know.

“So, you have to really get to know your trees. I have hundreds and I know them all inside out.

“Tending them is also very uplifting and peaceful. It’s all about tranquillity.”

Contrary to what people think, Mrs Leigh-Walker said you don’t have to spend a fortune to own a bonsai.

Although some mature trees can fetch up to £200,000, it’s possible to get one much more cheaply by buying a young juniper tree from a garden centre, for example, and keeping it in a pot.

Paul Finch, 42, from Burnham-on-Crouch, was at the show giving workshops on how to style the trees.

Mr Finch, who has been a member of the Bonsai Society for seven years, said: “Mature bonsai trees can go for hundreds of thousands of pounds. I've heard of one in Japan which had been worked on for years going for about £200,000.

“People can bring their trees to me to be worked on and I show them what to do, how to prune and wire it so it’s branches go in the way you want them to.”

Mr Finch, who has 15 trees, said he first got interested in the art after watching Mr Miyagi in the Karate Kid. He added, tending the trees both inspired and relaxed him.

He said: “I love nature and I’m also something of an artist, so this incorporates the two.

“When you work on the bonsai, you lose yourself, it inspires you.

“It’s incredible the way you can get a small tree to look like a big tree. It’s almost like you’re looking at it from a distance.”

Anyone interested in joining the Bonsai Society can call Chris Leigh-Walker on 01702 201029 or to join the Cactus and Succulents Society contact Eddy Harris on 01708447778 or go to www.bcss.org