Fragrant flowers, fabulous garden designs and some poignant exhibits meant the 20th RHS Tatton Flower Show was blooming marvellous
It was hot, hot, hot! Superb weather bathing the parklands of the Tatton estate meant that visitors to the annual RHS show enjoyed a vibrant carnival atmosphere as they surveyed the splendour of the occasion.
In the Show’s 20th year, 80,000 visitors were able to enjoy all before them to the full. Strolling at a leisurely pace - no fears of being drenched by downpours this summer - guests toured the Show Gardens, Floral Marquee, flower arranging demonstrations, talks from horticultural experts and trade stands offering all things related to gardens.
During the week visitors consumed around 14,400 cups of tea, 36,500 cups of coffee, 305 champagne bottles, 13,900 glasses of Pimm’s, 3,500 servings of fish and chips and 6,650 pork rolls.
The exhibitors included head gardeners from local country houses, landscape designers, garden centres, schools, colleges and charities.
Success stories included Gemma Miller and Loraine Hart of Hart’s Nursery, Brownlow, who won Gold for their display of lilies. The Knutsford Multi Academy Trust won Best High School Garden for their creation inspired by artist Steve McQueen.
Winner of a Silver Award in the Show Garden Awards was Greenbelt Landscapes’s Ginspiration. Pupils of Nether Alderley Primary were awarded a Merit for their Joseph Turner inspired school garden.
Poignantly, there were also flowers and floral arrangements inspired by tragic events. The Saffie-Rose produced by C & K Jones Roses was unveiled at RHS Tatton in memory of Saffie-Rose Roussos, the youngest victim of last year’s Manchester Arena bomb attack.
Fryer’s Roses in Knutsford launched the Sarah Elizabeth Rose in memory of a young woman who also lost her life in tragic circumstances. The flower is named after Sarah Elizabeth Groves, who was murdered on a house boat in Kashmir, India, in 2013.
Although aged only 24 when she died, Sarah touched many people with her selfless nature and infectious smile during her short life.
The Sarah Elizabeth rose is a delicate pink colour, with contrasting dark green foliage. The rose is a highly fragrant floribunda. £1 from every Sarah Elizabeth rose sold through Blue Diamond and Fryer’s Roses online will be donated to the Sarah Groves Foundation. The Foundation was established by Sarah’s parents and sets out to fulfil Sarah’s own ambitions in life, which were to enhance the lives of young people especially those less fortunate.
