Crowds expected to flock to Tatton RHS show

9:15am Friday 25th July 2008

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Trafford’s gardening enthusiasts will be heading into Cheshire this weekend to take in the 10th annual RHS Flower Show at Tatton Park.

The horticultural extravaganza, which got underway on Wednesday, is expected to see around 100,000 visitors taking to the 29 acre showgrounds before Saturday.

Among the attractions are around 50 Show and Back to Back gardens, the RHS/Ball Colegrave National Flower Bed Competition and hundreds of other exhibitors and trade stands.

For the first time this year there are also two brand new marquees - the Rural Crafts and Skills Marquee and the British Florist Association Marquee.

Judging of the ecclectic and imaginative gardens took place on Tuesday and while Trafford was not represented in the Show Garden category it as always fared well in the Back to Back section.

Tatton veteran Jacqui Brocklehurst was awarded a silver-gilt flora for her apple tree inspired design ‘The Cider House Rules - OK!’. Greenvision Garden Design and Construction of Sale’s ‘Suspended Thoughts’ and the Altrincham-based Provincial Grand Lodge of Cheshire Freemasons’ ‘On the Square’ also picked up bronze medals.

Sam Youd, head gardener at Tatton, said: “I think 10 years on the show is still as interesting and fascinating as ever and the standard of the exhibitions is really really good.

“I think people have put forward that little bit extra because it’s the 10th anniversary - not that they don’t put in a great effort every year - but this year is special.

“Tatton has a permanent place on the calendar now and there’s no reason why it shouldn’t still be here in 10 years time.”

This year’s best show garden was the Cheshire Year of Gardens 08’s ‘Celebrating Cheshire’s Year of Gardens 08’ which was designed by television gardener Chris Beardshaw.