Flower and Garden Shows
Combining floral displays and show gardens with fine foods, crafts and entertainment, Carrie Drage finds there is no need to be horticulturally minded to enjoy this year’s programme of gardening-themed events.
Horticultural events are a great way to generate new ideas for the garden or indulge in a spot of retail therapy, which makes them a great day out for groups. Events can be found all around the UK with many offering group discounts and free on-site coach parking.
Celebrating the seasons
A highlight of the gardening calendar are the many flower shows that are arranged annually by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS).
Set in the Royal Horticultural Halls, the RHS London Orchid Show gives visitors the chance to purchase a variety of rare, exotic and traditional hybrids from some of the world’s orchid experts. The event, which takes place in March, is also a chance for groups to get advice from professional orchid growers and attend talks about the plants. Pre-booked groups receive discounted tickets to all RHS shows.
Opening the summer season will be the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in May, held in the grounds of the Royal Hospital, in London. The event showcases 21 show gardens from some of the world’s best designers including television favourite Diarmuid Gavin. The Great Pavilion, meanwhile, hosts world-class floral displays from some of the world’s best nurseries and growers. Groups can also purchase horticultural sundries including many new gardening products that will be debuting at this year’s event.
Another popular event is the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, which takes place in July in the idyllic grounds of Hampton Court Palace, in Surrey. One of the new themes this year will be ‘Grow Your Own’ and features will include a Growing Taste Garden, where visitors can learn how best to grow and cook fruit and vegetables, as well as a summer fruit and vegetable competition, in which amateur growers will display their best seasonal produce and compete for medals. In addition, there will be a food demonstration area, floral marquees and ‘Inspiring Spaces’ area will be returning for the third year running to advise visitors on the best way to brighten up awkward spaces, such as balconies.
Not far from here, green-fingered groups can visit the Wisley Flower Show, in August, at the acclaimed RHS garden. Topping the bill will be the British Fuchsia Society who will be displaying the UK’s top 10 varieties of fuschia. Meanwhile, RHS experts will be offering tastings of some of the crops grown in the Garden and a new demonstration called ‘Grow It, Cook It’ will be showing the best way to grow and cook your own vegetables. Entry to the Show is inclusive in admission to the Garden, which is discounted for groups of 10 or more.
In the north of England, the RHS Flower Show at Tatton Park will be celebrating its 10th year this July, which will be an extra-special celebration to tie in with Cheshire’s ‘Year of Gardens’ and Liverpool’s year as Capital of Culture. The Show will feature its first ever rural crafts marquee, with the chance to try your hand at skills such as basket-weaving, and there will also be new sculptural pieces on display from local artists. Annual favourites will also make a welcome return including the National Flower Bed competition and a national floristry contest.
Jointly organised by the RHS and the Three Counties Agricultural Society, the Malvern Spring Gardening Show is held in May at the Three Counties Showground, in Worcestershire. There are more than 30 acres for groups to explore, ranging from imaginative border displays to an organic gardening area and an Interactive Design Theatre where designers, growers and student gardeners share tales and anecdotes about creating award-winning gardens.
Similarly, in September, groups will be able to attend the Malvern Autumn Gardening Show, at the same venue. There is a different focus for the autumn event, which combines autumn flowers and harvest produce with native livestock and seasonal entertainment.
Another event arranged under the guidance of the RHS is BBC Gardeners’ World Live, which is held annually in June at the Birmingham NEC. The event is world-renowned for its show gardens, created by leading garden designers and popular television personalities, and this year there will be a new feature where groups can pick up tips on how to lead a greener lifestyle. Groups can save up to 15% on ticket prices.
Meanwhile, in Cardiff, the RHS Spring Flower Show at Bute Park promises inspirational show gardens, floral marquees, opportunities to quiz the experts and an Experience Wales marquee packed with the best Welsh food and crafts. Entertainment lined up for the event in April includes street entertainers and live music.
Seeds of inspiration
In addition to the annual RHS shows, groups can visit a number of other independent horticultural events.
Essex-based events company, Aztec, will be organising 11 gardening events in 2008, which will take place throughout East Anglia between March and August. Some of the popular events arranged by the company include the Suffolk Spring Garden Show, in March, the Norfolk Garden Show, in May, and the Dorset Garden Show, in June. This year, there will be thousands of plants at the events, both on display and available to buy, as well as horticultural sundries and country crafts and foods. For those interested in growing your own vegetables, there will also be experts on hand to offer words of wisdom. Tickets are discounted for groups of 20 or more people.
Meanwhile, in Somerset, the Bath Spring Flower Show is held every year over the May Bank Holiday in Royal Victoria Park. Alongside the regular floral marquee and gardening sundries marquee, groups can enjoy the more unusual Bath Beekeepers exhibit. There is also a chance to buy British farm produce and home baked cakes and preserves from the local Women’s Institutes and Townswomen’s Guilds. Group discounts apply when 20 or more tickets are purchased.
Another annual Somerset tradition is the Taunton Flower Show, in August, which features various floral, food and craft marquees in the grounds of Vivary Park. Entertainment this year will be provided in the form of the Essex Dog Display Team and the City of Bristol Pipe Band, and local gardener John Lanyon will be volunteering his services as a panellist in the Garden Doctor Forum and Lecture programme. Groups will also be able to learn the legends behind popular herbs with the option of taking home a free packet of seeds. Groups of 10 or more get a 10% discount on tickets.
At the nearby Bath & West Showground, the National Amateur Gardening Show will be delighting visitors in September. Highlights of the Show will include the giant floral marquee, the monster vegetable championships, one of the biggest dahlia displays in the world and gardening workshops lead by top horticultural experts. Groups of 10 or more qualify for discounts.
Running since 1875, the Shrewsbury Flower Show, in Shropshire, is believed to be the longest-running flower show in the world. Organised by the Shropshire Horticultural Society, the event takes place at Quarry Park, in August, and features floral displays, continuous music and non-stop arena entertainment. Lined up for this year’s event is the Bolddog Lings motor cycle display team from Norfolk, New Zealand classical singer Hayley Westenra and The Coldstream Guards band, who performed at the very first Shrewsbury Flower Show. Groups get one free ticket for every 10 purchased.
The Great Yorkshire Showground hosts two annual gardening events; the Harrogate Spring Flower Show and the Harrogate Autumn Flower Show. First on the agenda is the Spring Flower show, in April, when more than 100 of the UK’s best nurseries display their world-class plant collections and offer expert advice to visitors. Meanwhile, in September, groups will be able to enjoy the National Vegetable Championships and displays of seasonal fruits at the Autumn Flower Show. Early bird savings are available.
Another popular day out for gardening enthusiasts is the Southport Flower Show at Victoria Park. This August, groups will be able to enjoy displays of more than one million flowers, as well as live music entertainment and acrobatic displays. The centrepiece of the event is the Grand Floral Marquee; however visitors will also benefit from more than 250 stalls selling garden equipment and organic produce, as well as various show gardens, which have been designed in celebration of Liverpool’s Capital of Culture status. Discounts vary depending on group numbers.
In Wales, one of the premier gardening events is The Gardening Show at the Royal International Pavilion, in Llangollen. Held in June, the focus of the Show is on teaching, which is achieved through a combination of workshops, demonstrations and question and answer sessions. This year, the show is planned to be bigger and better than ever with more horticultural displays, plant exhibitors and show gardens. Group rates are available.
Held at the Rozelle Estate in August, the Ayr Flower Show is one of Scotland’s leading gardening events. The Show caters for all interests with its combination of musical entertainment, cookery demonstrations, retail therapy, floral art demonstrations and gardeners question panel. Groups receive a 10% discount on bookings of 20 or more tickets.
Another popular show is Gardening Scotland, which is staged at the Royal Highland Centre on the last weekend in May. Groups are able to take away lots of ideas from the show gardens and floral displays, along with helpful hints from a team of expert gardeners. Groups get one free entry for every 10 tickets purchased.
The Dundee Flower & Food Festival, meanwhile, will be held at Camperdown Country Park, in September, and will provide groups with floral and garden displays, cookery demonstrations, a craft fair and an extensive programme of entertainment, including live music and celebrity guests. Group rates apply.
Germinating ideas
Groups can also attend a selection of events hosted by popular visitor attractions. Entry to most events is included in the admission fee.
Heading to the Kent countryside, keen gardeners will find plenty to do at Penshurst Place and Gardens. Glorious Gardens Week, in June, is a special week-long series of gardening-related events, which includes demonstrations, talks, workshops, a gardeners’ question time and an exclusive tour of the Gardens with the Head Gardener.
Meanwhile, in Surrey, Loseley House is hosting three gardening shows this year. The Spring Gardening Weekend, in April, offers groups an array of gardening goodies, with more than 40 stands selling plants, gourmet foods, sculpture and horticultural sundries. The Great Gardening Show, in July, is a similar event but on a much larger scale, incorporating show gardens and expert advice and demonstrations in the gardeners’ forum. Lastly, the Autumn Gardening Weekend, in October, is a chance to step into the festivities of the winter season with more than 40 stands comprising specialist plants, Halloween gifts and a Christmas gift bazaar. Groups will also have the chance to wander through the walled garden whilst enjoying a selection of seasonal snacks and mulled wine.
Also in Surrey, Hampton Court Palace will be celebrating the 10th anniversary of its annual floral extravaganza, Florimania!, this year. The event, to be held over Mothers Day weekend, beginning at the end of February, will see more than 40 fragrant floral displays decking out Queen Mary II’s State Apartments, inspired by different historical periods and world cultures.
Meanwhile, at nearby Capel Manor Gardens, there are three main events that will inspire horticultural enthusiasts. The season kicks off with the Spring Gardening Show, in April, which will have an emphasis on how to lead a greener lifestyle. In the same month is the Celebration of Trees, when groups will be able to watch the finals of the Student Tree Climbing competition. In the summer, the major event is the Fuchsia and Family Fun Show, in July, which will bring together plants, crafts, fine foods and entertainment.
Staged in the grounds at Knebworth House, the Hertfordshire Garden Show, in May, will be attended by more than 150 exhibitors including some of the UK’s best nurseries and plant specialists. In addition to the gardening displays, there will be craft demonstrations and a brass band to entertain the crowds.
In Warwickshire, the HDRA Public Potato Day is an event that celebrates the humble potato. Featuring seed swaps, talks, tasting sessions and cookery demonstrations, the event takes place in February and makes a change from the usual floral festivities.
Moving to Lincolnshire, further floral feasts can be found at the Normanby Garden Show, held at Normanby Hall in May. Visitors will find an array of unusual plants, sundries and garden antiques and the Head Gardener will also be around to answer any gardening-related questions.
To coincide with Cheshire’s ‘Year of Gardens’, there will be a number of gardening-related events taking place at venues around the county.
One of the most notable events is the Tatton Park Orchid Festival, in June, which comprises workshops, demonstrations and stalls selling all manner of orchids. Other attractions include botanical plant displays and an exhibition of rare orchid artwork in the Park’s neo-classical mansion.
A similar event, the annual Orchid Festival, can be found at Chester Zoo, in February. Groups visiting the attraction will find a number of orchids laid out in special displays around the Zoo, along with plant sales and advice on how to care for your hybrids.