RHS Tatton Park Flower Show

RHS Tatton Park Flower Show

The north of England’s premier flower show opens its doors this week as the RHS Tatton Park Flower Show gets under way – a real celebration of the sheer variety and fun of growing, whether you enjoy flowers, fruit, veg or a combination of them all.

 It’s the show’s 20th anniversary, so there’s an extra-special line up this year, starting with the ‘Poisonous Garden’ where visitors can discover the gruesome and deadly nature of some of the UK’s best-loved plants. Walk through the ‘poison tunnel’, get nose to nose with a carnivorous plant, and find out which plants you grow in your garden have a charm that’s more deadly than you’d think.

On a less gruesome note, you’ll also be able to walk through a huge sunshine field of over 5000 Rudbeckia (Black-eyed Susan), and try your hand at flower arranging: the new Flower School offers a creative, hands-on experience for everything floral, from flower crowns to growing your own cut flower patch.

As usual there’s a stunning array of show gardens to inspire you with ideas for your own patch. For those who can’t afford a cruise to the Caribbean, there’s a jungly garden full of exotics for the perfect tropical ‘staycation’ without leaving home; as well as ideas for brewing both botanical-flavoured gins and beer in your own back garden. The Future Spaces category is packed with innovative ways to tackle issues from food security to reducing heat in cities; and the ever-popular Back to Back Gardens are full of take-home tips. This year look out for ‘plant cushions’, bee-friendly ideas and zen-like meditation gardens.

Add the 25m long Bus Stop Boulevard featuring upcycled bus stops designed by designers and communities from Greater Manchester, and a marquee full of dazzling plants from the country’s finest growers, and you’ve got a cracking day out for all the family. (www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-flower-show-tatton-park)