Southport Flower Show 2017 - Part 2

THIS year's Southport Flower Show, was held over 18 August to 21 August 2016. The event started in sun and ended in sun, but sadly it was not all good weather, as high winds, rain and cloud took hold for most of the event. Despite the poor weather, this was one of the best shows they have had, and that was mostly echoed by those attending. Since the show started back in 1924, the event has become the largest independent flower show in the UK, covering Victoria Park with a wide variety of activities and sites for all the family.

This year’s show marked a new chapter, with them introducing virtual gardens. No need to water the flowers or be worried about the weather with the Interactive Zone! This new interactive computer experience, using Minecraft, pulled in young and old alike. It was so popular, Minecrafters Wizard Keen, MiniMuka and Tomahawk, did not get a chance to do the video interview we had planned.

It was not just the Minecraft display that pulled in the audience, but also one of the large outdoor gardens even held a pool party! Yes, Muddy Boot's went swim at the Flower Show...! Who would have thought that you would read that? In fact you can see the video footage we took at the event, of the swim, later in this report!

Other fantastic gardens included the very interesting Dyslexia Innovators garden, the stunning Bella Vista Garden and the Riviera Environmental Management's 'A Cool Courtyard', all worth noting.

Then you also had amazing back stories to both the Quarry Garden, that was hand crafted by L+T Stone and Landscape Supplies Ltd, whose sculptures were crafted by a chap who has beaten the odds by carving the display, after his hand had been severed then reattached!. How many spotted the aircraft that was hand crafted from solid stone, or other similar items dotted around the garden?

There was also the very inspiring Blue Light Walk's, '999 Strength of Mind Garden', which was manned by emergency service staff and volunteers? Behind this display is a remarkable man who is tackling the 'Blue Light Walk', a 6 day walk from Scarborough to Blackpool. He is an Ambulance worker who developed post traumatic stress disorder following a harrowing experience during the course of his duties. He has very bravely used his experience to try to highlight such mental health issues and to tackle some of the misconceptions and stigma that still attach to the subject even today. He hopes to encourage others faced with such problems to seek the help they need. The walk finishes on 1 October 2016 and the team are asking for locals to go and support them, especially for the 'Last Leg' of the walk, that takes place from Broughton Ambulance HQ to Blackpool RNLI, a total of 19.1 miles. If you want to help them on the 'Last Leg' please visit:- BlueLightWalk.com.

The last 1 to be mentioned in this edition is the Lovania Nurseries' 'Outdoor Inspiration' design. This would be a Hobbit’s Beach House on a desert island. All the gardens outside this year were full of imagination, and most were extremely practical. Just in case you did not know, despite it being the Olympics, the theme was in fact 'Mediterranean...' Hence no green swimming pools! Anyway, moving on...

The display in the Armature and Societies Marquee was also a fantastic site. Despite this year being an extremely challenging year for gardeners, they still managed to put on a fine show. From floral displays to vegetable displays, they gave the professional exhibitors in the Grand Floral Marquee. If the flowers and vegetables did not get you interested, then the displays in the Arena or the music at the Band Stand might have got your attention. Or you might have spotted the buzz about the show, with the Bee and Honey exhibits. That’s not forgetting to comment about the Southport Lifeboat Rest Tent, where you could get a fantastic cup of tea and shelter from the rain... For the peckish, the Food Quarter and the many other food areas offered many culinary delights, including:- specialist foods and demos!

Then you also had the celebrity guests that included the David Bellamy OBE, who came with his wife and is still a huge supporter and a show patron. The event this year had many new products on offer as well, from SolarGrow hydroponic systems, to under water solar pool lights, aglow with electric push bikes...

We can reveal that next year’s show will be held over Thursday, 17 August 2017 to Sunday, 20 August 2017, and if the 2016 show got all the botanists and gardeners talking, then the 2017 show is not to be dismissed from your diary. Book your tickets now on SouthportFlowerShow.Co.UK.

We have so many photos that we will run even more in next week’s edition as well. But if you have not already see Part 1, please click on here, or continue and enjoy the photos in this edition! We would also love to hear your views about the event. Please email your thoughts to our newsroom, via:- News24@SouthportReporter.com.

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