Gates open on 2016 Shrewsbury Flower Show
The gates have opened on the 2016 Shrewsbury Flower Show with thousands of people set to visit the annual event.
Over the next two days, gardeners, celebrity chefs, singers and spectacular arena acts will entertain visitors for 12 hours each day, ending with a magnificent fireworks display.
The main Quarry Marquee is host to some of the top horticulturalists in the country. Whilst the Severn Marquee sees various societies, amateur growers and Bees & Honey exhibitors.
The Dingle Marquee is home to the popular Floral Art Exhibitors and the WI. There's also a packed ask the expert programme with subjects including: Floral Art Staging, General Gardening, Begonias, The Womens Institute, Trees And Shrubs, Organic Gardening, House Plants and general advice.
In the Lecture Marquee, which is situated on the Dingle side of the Quarry Marquee, there will be talks on: Flower Arranging, Sixty Five Years in Horticulture by Jim Buttress, The Royal Parks, Unusual Edible Plants, Gardeners Question Time and Grow Your Own Cut Flowers.
This year's celebrity gardener is Sarah Raven. Sarah is broadcaster, journalist, public speaker and teacher. She speaks and writes on a variety of subjects including gardening, flower arranging and cooking.
For food lovers’ there's plenty of demonstrations to watch as professional chefs conjure up amazing dishes along with a selection of food producers. This year’s celebrity chef is Gizzi Erskine whose career in TV started with C4 ‘s ratings winner, Cook Yourself Thin, a cookery show which showed viewers how to cook want they wanted and still lose weight. Her edgy attitude and passion for what’s new and emerging has made Gizzi a real authority in the UK food scene, and her influence transcends the food industry into popular culture and beyond.
The Children’s Area features a fantastic line-up offering a wide variety of entertainment for all ages (adults included!). Many of the show’s favourite performers return including Mr. Boom, Malcolm Malan and Jack the Jester. This year the Children’s Area will be celebrating the 150th anniversary of Beatrix Potter’s birth, and the 100th anniversary of Roald Dahl’s birth – watch out for the animals and characters that made these two writers so well loved.
The arena entertainment is set to entertain the crowds with Show Jumping, Army Section Display, Forge Falconry and The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment Musical Ride.
This evening the popular Red Hot Chilli Pipers return with their unique fusion of rocked up Bagpipes and clever covers of popular songs from all genres, whilst on Saturday the entertainment comes from The Christians.
Both days 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.
