Stars from the world of horticulture join TV regulars and top chefs at this year’s Southport Flower Show
Like a host of golden daffs, stars from the world of horticulture, food and entertainment will be keeping the crowds happy at this year’s Southport Flower Show.
Monty Don, perhaps the tallest of our TV gardening hybrids, will be joining home grown Lancashire perennials Carol Klein and Christine Walkden along with Matthew Wilson, another regular on Gardeners’ Question Time. Anita Rani, a familiar face on Countryside and Watchdog, will also meet visitors on the opening day as a guest of Kuoni. For Monty, who will open the show on Thursday, July 16, this will be a rare appearance at the premier Lancashire event. ‘I am very much looking forward to returning to Southport Flower Show and sharing the colour, talent and fun of a great show.’
Another well-known gardener and broadcaster in attendance for the third year running will be David Domoney. David presents on ITV’s Love Your Garden, appears as a resident gardener on This Morning and has appeared on Daybreak, 60 Minute Makeover and The Alan Titchmarsh Show.
‘This is always a marvellous show,’ he said. ‘It really has such a lot of personality. It always strikes me as a family event and people go there determined to enjoy themselves
‘There is a great undercurrent of passion and enthusiasm for gardening across England and this is always on show at Southport.’
David, who recently filmed a garden makeover programme from Preston to be television shortly, also handed a bouquet to the organisers for their determination to encourage children to take part.
‘Children are now taught gardening as a subject at Keystages One and Two and this really makes a difference. There are always lot of youngsters at Southport and that’s one of the reasons it’s such a pleasure to be there.’
Flower show organisers have demonstrated their commitment to the next generation of gardeners by giving free entry to children 16 and under accompanied by an adult. Another highlight for youngsters on the Saturday and Sunday will be the return of CBeebies presenter Justin Fletcher, known to millions of children for his shows Justin’s House, Gigglebiz and Something Special with Mr Tumble. ‘It was so much fun last year I had to come back,’ he said. In the outdoor arena, kids can also enjoy the shows by dog agility performers Adrian and Caroline Slater and Ben Potter’s eagle and vulture experience.
Southport Flower Show is the UK’s largest independent flower show attracting more than 50,000 visitors a year. It takes place in Victoria Park from Thursday, August 16 to Sunday, August 19. Gates open from 10am to 6pm except on the Sunday when it closes at 5pm. More details, including arrangements for tickets, can be found at www.southportflowershow.co.uk
