The north of England’s premier flower show opens its doors this week as the RHS Tatton Park Flower Show gets under way – a real celebration of the sheer variety and fun of growing, whether you enjoy flowers, fruit, veg or a combination of them all.
It’s the show’s 20th anniversary, so there’s an extra-special line up this year, starting with the ‘Poisonous Garden’ where visitors can discover the gruesome and deadly nature of some of the UK’s best-loved plants. Walk through the ‘poison tunnel’, get nose to nose with a carnivorous plant, and find out which plants you grow in your garden have a charm that’s more deadly than you’d think.
On a less gruesome note, you’ll also be able to walk through a huge sunshine field of over 5000 Rudbeckia (Black-eyed Susan), and try your hand at flower arranging: the new Flower School offers a creative, hands-on experience for everything floral, from flower crowns to growing your own cut flower patch.
As usual there’s a stunning array of show gardens to inspire you with ideas for your own patch. For those who can’t afford a cruise to the Caribbean, there’s a jungly garden full of exotics for the perfect tropical ‘staycation’ without leaving home; as well as ideas for brewing both botanical-flavoured gins and beer in your own back garden. The Future Spaces category is packed with innovative ways to tackle issues from food security to reducing heat in cities; and the ever-popular Back to Back Gardens are full of take-home tips. This year look out for ‘plant cushions’, bee-friendly ideas and zen-like meditation gardens.
Add the 25m long Bus Stop Boulevard featuring upcycled bus stops designed by designers and communities from Greater Manchester, and a marquee full of dazzling plants from the country’s finest growers, and you’ve got a cracking day out for all the family. (www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-flower-show-tatton-park)