Set in the magnificent parklands of one of the UK’s most complete historic estates, the RHS Tatton Park Flower show is a celebration of the best in gardening, flowers and a vibrant festival of colour.
Tatton Park is home to a Tudor Old Hall, Neo-Classical Mansion, 50 acres of landscaped gardens, a rare breed farm and 1,000 acres of deer park. On the weekend of the flower show the park sees a flurry of activity from stall holders setting up, competition entrants preparing their prize gardens and thousands of green fingered visitors excited to see the imaginative displays and soak up the festival atmosphere. My dearest Mother and I headed down to Tatton Park to get in on the floral action, pick up a few discretionary garden purchases and enjoy the sunshine. Here’s a look at our day at the RHS Tatton Park Flowershow:
The park is divided up into four zones, the first we entered was the “Grow” zone complete with floral marquee and plant village. There were huge marquees packed with individual specialists showing off their beautifully grown flowers, on hand to offer growing tips and blow us away with such a vast array of plant species, who knew there were so many different types of roses?
As it was the 50Year Anniversary of ‘Britain in Bloom’ we saw a number of fabulous commemorative gardens. The “escape” zone was our next port of call, the giant vintage Ferris wheel with every other seat stuffed with the most incredible floral arrangements kept us mesmerised for a good few minutes, we squealed everytime another floral carraige came around, goodness knows what the passengers on the ride thought must have thought of us gorping! There was also a huge Country Living pavilion selling everything from Cashmere to crockery.
Twice a day the whole park watched as a colourful procession of flower girls and giant butterflies danced along to the sound of a brass marching band.
We gasped as we entered the RHS Summer Fruit and Veg Pavillion, how can it be possible to grow such large onions? The “Feast” zone was astonishing with an impressive array of Great British Allotments.
RHS Tatton Park flower show is not just about pretty flowers and abnormally large prize vegetables however, the flower show provides a chance to unite communities, to come together and create something really spectacular, learn about horticulture and enjoy the beauty of nature. We loved walking around the “Inspire” zone seeing the school gardens and talking to the teachers, listening to their tales of how the gardens came to be, all those after school classes painting plantpots!
We sat and listened as the band played summer time jazz and ate our picnic followed by ice creams. I wore my vintage dress and Sun Jellies Alice Bag.
As we visited the show on the Sunday all the stalls and gardens on display sell off the plants at 4pm at a seriously discounted price, so we were happy we chose to visit on the Sunday!! Despite the car park looking a little overwhelming upon arrival, once we were inside the show it never seemed overly busy, jus the right level of liveliness.
We couldn’t have asked for a more fabulous day and will most certainly be going back to the RHS Tatton Park flower show next year, hope to see you there!! (RHS Tatton Park Flowershow Advance tickets approx £24)
'Flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful; they are sunshine, food and medicine for the soul' -Luther Burbank Share on XChristine
Leave a Reply