The sun shines down on 125th Shrewsbury Flower Show

The very best in garden design and planting - both nationally and internationally - was on display, and celebrity guests including Saturday Kitchen's James Martin were present to entertain the crowds.

The TV chef kicked off the entertainment in the morning with a series of live cookery demonstrations in the Marches Food Hall.

Speaking to Shropshirelive, he said: "I've been looking forward to this show as I don't really get the chance to do food festivals around the UK.

"I think as a county you have a rich heritage when it comes to food and I'm really looking forward to seeing the local suppliers in the marquee and using some of their produce."

After his Saturday appearance in the Marches Food Hall, Martin will be leaving rural Shropshire for the hustle and bustle of New York City as he films a new food series with the BBC.

The Dingle admired by Shrewsbury Flower Show visitors.

This year's Flower Show, which is now recognised by the Guinness Book of Records as the longest running horticultural show in the world, is host to over 50 national and international exhibitors and over three million blooms.

The popular Outside Gardens Competition was won by Natural Elements Design and Battlefield Construction, who teamed up with Marches Care operators of the award-winning Uplands at Oxon care home to create the Uplands Sensory Garden.

The garden, designed by Caspar Gabb of Natural Elements Design, is one of many award winning gardens he has created. In 2006 his design won him a Gold Medal at the Chelsea Flower show and the following year he was invited to join a panel of judges at Chelsea.

He said: "It was quite nerve racking this morning coming in to see if we had one anything, but it was a fantastic result and a great relief."

Some of the finest amateur horticulturalists in the country will be displaying their vegetables and bonsai trees in the Severn Marquee.

Following the Flower Show, the Uplands Sensory Garden will be dismantled and rebuilt outside of the Uplands at Oxon care home for the residents to enjoy.

As with previous years, there has been an effort to encourage a younger generation of gardeners to compete in the show, and this year saw the return of the popular Plant a Boot or Shoe competition.

11-year-old Marianne Walton, of Shrewsbury, won first prize in the competition. The young gardener said: "I am really happy that I won, I didn't expect to win first prize because there was loads of other people in it and they were all really good.

"I really like gardening as you can making something that wasn't there before, I really like to see things grow."

Other winners from the day included Condover C of E Primary School, who won The Wrekin Housing Trust Trophy for the "Best Sustainable Garden" in the Outside Gardens Competition and the Shropshire Bonsai Society who won the Shropshire Star Golden Jubilee trophy for the "Finest Society Display."

Highlights from the opening event included The Whittingham Riddell Area Trial Grades A & B Show Jumping Competition, Jason Smyth Quadbike Display and a performance from Oysterband.

TV Gardener Chris Beardshaw was also giving fellow gardeners tips and advice throughout the day.

For Shropshire Horticultural Society and Shrewsbury Flower Show Secretary, Peter Road-Night, this year's Flower Show will also be his last as he steps down from his position.

After 27 years of chairing the society, he said: "It has been a thoroughly enjoyable experience, I could have gone two years ago, but decided to stay the extra two years because I really enjoyed it.

"For me, the highlight of the last 27 years was from the centenary show where we had Concorde flying low over us. Today, the highlight was to simply wake up and see that it was sunny because that makes all the difference at this Show.

"When it's all over tomorrow, I'll be both relieved and sorry. Relieved that hopefully it will have been another good show, and sorry that it's the end of 27 years of being chairman for Shrewsbury Flower Show."

Article by: Luke Powell