Thousands at 2014 Shrewsbury Flower Show

The theme of the Flower Show is ‘The Show that never was’. In 1914, for the first time ever, the Flower Show was cancelled only weeks before it was scheduled to take place. Sadly this was due to the outbreak of the Great War.

The Shropshire Horticultural Society, a hundred years on, is planning to respectfully mark the 1914 centenary as a special tribute and so the Show will have an air of the Edwardian period about it.

With thousands of blooms on display, Shrewsbury Flower Show this year welcomes Pippa Greenwood as their gardening expert at the 2014 Show. Pippa is a familiar face on a number of television and radio programmes. She regularly takes part in ‘Gardener’s Question Time’ where her bubbly personality and wide expertise make her such a valuable member of this popular radio programme.

For the second year running there will be a live steam locomotive, from the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railway, which will be giving rides during the Show along a track estimated to be 130 metre in length.

New to the 2014 show is the Inspiration Marquee which will encourage children and adults alike to think of garden planting and the impact on our future environment.

Three military bands will playing on the band-stand during the day and in the arena at night as part of the finale. The Royal Signals (Northern Band), which is a Territorial Army Band based at the TA Centre in Darlington. The Band of the Royal Anglian Regiment, which is also a Territorial Army Band of the Queen’s Division and the Yorkshire Volunteers Band based a Castleford West Yorkshire. Plus for the finale the Bugle Platoon of the Shropshire Army Cadet Force.

Shrewsbury Male Voice Choir, RAF Shawbury Military Wives Choir and The New Washboard Syncopators will also be providing musical entertainment.

When it comes to food at this year's show, Celebrity chef, Tom Kerridge will be headlining in the Foodhall alongside Marcus Bean.

Chef patron at the extraordinary two Michelin-starred Hand & Flowers pub in Marlow, Tom is a great character with amazing presence, obvious warmth and an infectious laugh. The BBC2 series Proper Pub Food became a huge overnight success with excellent ratings and as a result Tom’s fan base has been growing weekly with the accompanying book of the same title became a best seller. Tom is a brilliant entertainer and will be giving three demonstrations on both Friday and Saturday.

Marcus Bean will be demonstrating in the Foodhall at 1pm and 3.30pm on both days. Marcus has become a familiar face on our screens, appearing on shows such as Good Food’s ‘Market Kitchen’ and Channel 4’s ‘Drop Down Menu’ and ITV’s ‘This Morning’ and most recently was guest chef on Channel 4’s new daytime cooking show ‘What’s Cooking’. Marcus loves to be in front of a live audience and his demonstrations at shows are always incredibly popular. Marcus runs Brompton Cookery School in Shrewsbury, which also involves a pop up dining room within the school.

Other chefs include multi-award-winning Robert Swift is part of one of Britain’s greatest baking dynasties, local chef Paul Crowe and duo Tom Warner and Sion Edwards.

In the main arena there is all day entertainment from Showjumping, to heart stopping high flying trapeze artists, impressive performances of agility by Whitchurch Dogs and fun and japes from Dingle Fingle in his comedy car.

Evening entertainment in the main arena on Friday night will be provided by the ‘Opera Boys’, two of the UK’s finest classically trained young tenors, the talented, versatile vocalists deliver a spectacular show ranging from opera to pop, and everything in between.

On Saturday night the Quarry will be rocking with the sound of bagpipes as the Red Hot Chilli Pipers take to the stage with their unique fusion of rocked up Bagpipes and clever covers of popular songs from all genres!

Both day's of the show will conclude with a 'Grand Finale' including a firework display by the popular Kimbolton fireworks team.

For more information visit http://www.shrewsburyflowershow.org.uk.