Gates open for 126th Shrewsbury Flower Show
The gates have opened for this year’s Shrewsbury Flower Show as the Quarry Park is once again transformed into a mass of colour and entertainment.
Thousands of people will over the next two days make their way into the annual show enjoying an array of music, food, crafts, entertainment and of course the chance to marvel at thousands of beautiful blooms from the UK’s finest florists.
Headline acts such as celebrity baker, Paul Hollywood, and popular folk-band, Bellowhead, are also set to take the Show by storm.
Celebrity gardener, Chris Beardshaw, will also be taking in the show sights and impressing all with his green-fingered words of wisdom.
A number of local chefs will also be limbering up for the festivities, preparing to demonstrate a number of sumptuous delicacies to wow visitors in the Marches Food Hall. Chef and food writer Sean Bird, chocolatier Julia Wenlock, nutritionist Lal Haider and Shrewsbury Town Football Club’s very own Paul Crowe are set to tickle those taste buds with a range of savoury, sweet, spicy and sensational dishes.
The Royal Signals White Motorcycle Team will be keeping spectators on the edge of their seats with a series of exciting stunts and formations set to shock and surprise, stunning displays and a number of renowned Male Voice Choirs will serenade the crowds with their soothing dulcet tones.
Olympic Show Jumpers Get in the Saddle
Olympians such as Tim Stockdale and Geoff Billington will be taking to the showground and displaying their amazing equestrian skills.
Also taking centre stage, Jo and Steven Whitaker, Tim Page, Jo Pay, Matt Boddy, Timothy Davies and Sara Arkell will be performing on the hoof and riding in the Lanyon Bowdler Championships on the second day of the Show.
They will also be competing in the Brewin Dolphin Grand Prix, which sees professional riders and their horses battle it out over five-foot fences.
Sponsored by Tanners Wines, Lanyon Bowdler and ‘Gold’ sponsor’s Brewin Dolphin, the show jumping heats offer some of the best young talent the chance to compete alongside top professional riders.
Coveted British Show Jumping Association points will be up for grabs for the competitors, together with more than £13,000 in cash prizes.
However it is not just big equestrian names that will appear at the Show, junior riders will compete on Friday 9th as part of the Pony Club Inter-Branch Jumping Competition, followed by Frank Tanner Memorial Cup.
A Grand Finale Each Night
As always, this year’s event concludes each night with a spectacular firework display over Quarry Park, making sure the Shrewsbury Flower Show 2013 is sent off in style, and with a fantastic bang.
Frankwell Main car park, Frankwell Riverside car park, Radbrook Road, Burrs Field and the Shropshire County Showground will be designated as Flower Show car parks, for use by those visiting the show.
The Radbrook Road and the Shropshire County Showground car parks will have a frequent free low-floored shuttle bus service direct to and from the showground. A mobility bus shuttle service will also operate from Frankwell Main car park/coach park.
Each of the Flower Show car parks will be open from 9am, and the cost will be £4.50 per car all day.
Park & Ride Service
Shrewsbury’s Harlescott, Meole Brace and Oxon Park and Ride service will be extended for people visiting the show late afternoon or those specifically wishing to see the fireworks display.
Buses will run every 10 minutes from 6.45pm, stopping for the fireworks display at 9.15pm and then resuming afterwards until 10.15pm.
The bus stops/drop off points are at Shoplatch and Barker Street. However, people will be picked up only at Barker Street after the firework display has finished.
A return trip costs £1.60 and the sites are well signed on all approaches to the town centre.
