THE Royal Horticultural Society’s Flower Show at Tatton Park will open next week, once again set in the beautiful surroundings of Cheshire’s 1,000-acre deer park.
Renowned for its pioneering and innovative gardens and ideas, the show is the highlight of the North of England’s gardening calendar.
The 2012 event will feature visionary gardens, show gardens, the RHS National Flowerbed Competition, orchestra gardens, the announcement of the National Young Designer of the Year, the Floral Design Studio, the Great Taste Food Market and much more.
Among the highlights will be the announcement of the RHS National Young Designer of the Year in association with the Society of Garden Designers on Wednesday, July 18.
This year’s visionary gardens will bring together art and horticulture to challenge traditional ideas and boundaries of conventional garden design and engage art and sculpture in horticulture.
Also on display during this year of the London 2012 Olympics will be entries for the RHS National Flower Bed Competition, celebrating the Olympics.
A range of flower beds by local authorities and community groups from across the country will showcase the theme ‘Celebration of Sport’, with each bed depicting a different sport.
Those more interested in music will be intrigued to see orchestra gardens, a new themed garden competition in which designers have been given the brief to create a garden reflecting part of an orchestra.
There will be five gardens each representing one musical discipline, for example brass, strings and percussion.
Visitors in search of culinary inspiration can head for the Great Taste Food Market, which will showcase produce from across the UK.
Fortnum & Mason Michelin-starred chef Shaun Hill will select ingredients available at the market and incorporate them into his menu on offer in the Tatton Club and Parlour at the Taste of Fortnum’s.
Garden designers of the future will display their expertise with this year’s School Front to Front Gardens. Almost 30 local schools will create gardens based around a theme of children’s TV programmes.
Local primary schools will also be encouraged to enter the ‘Jubilant Diamond Jubilee’ North West Container Competition. Containers will be on display for the duration of the show, with visitors voting for their favourite across the five days.
The ladies day takes place on Thursday, July 19, and will feature fashion, floristry demonstrations, cocktails and talks.
The RHS Flower Show Tatton Park is open to the public from Thursday, July 19, to Sunday, July 22. To buy tickets, visit www.rhs.org.uk or call 0844 871 7661.
