Southport Flower Show 2023: We take a look around as festival makes spectacular return
It's been 99 years since the first Southport Flower Show, with thousands returning for 2023, for a family day out by the seaside. The UK's largest independent flower show, it is famous for its stunning show gardens, grand floral marquee and keenly contested amateur competitions.
Transcript
00:00 It's been 99 years since the first Southport Flower Show, with thousands returning for 2023.
00:07 The UK's largest independent flower show, it's famous for its stunning show gardens, grand floral marquee and keenly contested amateur competitions.
00:18 Organisers of the show commissioned award-winning designer Carolyn Harton to create its first ever menopause garden.
00:25 Circles of Strength features plants used in the production of menopause remedies and was built by Jackie Knight.
00:32 Meeting lots of friendly faces, there's so many people that you know here, local people that you've worked for, people that you've never met, people admiring it.
00:41 It's fantastic. We came to the show last year and it had such a good vibe and then when we were asked to do the show this year I was like, oh wow, yes, I'm definitely doing it.
00:50 And it's an honour to be asked to do it, so it's great.
00:53 Bridgton Community Farm provides training and real-life work experience in horticulture, agriculture and care of animals.
01:01 Their eye-catching display is created from recycling with bee-friendly plants and shrubs.
01:07 You know what, from set up to where we are now to break down, there's always a really good feel around the flower shows.
01:13 People are looking at buying plants and you can see what's in trend.
01:17 So you see all these plants going past in carrier bags and people are just positive about being outside and using the outside as an extra space within the house now.
01:26 So your garden needs that extra space and people are starting to understand more what we should be doing more.
01:32 And it's just really, really good. I love it because we people watch for four days.
01:37 Visitors can enjoy a wealth of gardening inspiration from top experts.
01:40 There's a demonstration kitchen with celebrity chefs and a packed entertainment programme too.
01:46 Though the show has been basking in sunshine, the wettest July on record in the region has influenced the type of plants which are on display.
01:54 With Southport Flower Show, with it being in the August, you're kind of tied really to the plants that are either in flower or looking good at this time of year.
02:03 We've obviously had a very dry May and beginning of June and quite a wet June and July.
02:11 So the things that we would have normally put in might not have been as good this year.
02:16 So we've kind of gone for pops of colour, different areas around the garden.
02:22 Colin Hughes is the only botanical expert at the Palm House and this year marks his 30th anniversary.
02:28 To celebrate, they have their first ever display at the show, completely designed and created by Colin.
02:35 Within the Palm House, a lot of the stuff that we've got here is only a small snapshot.
02:39 All the rest of the stuff like the palms are all 40 foot and 50 foot high.
02:43 Still got access to stuff from the botanical collection which is up in Croxton Hall.
02:47 So we've been able to go up there and borrow plants off them and use them to fill the display out.
02:52 Even if, like me, you are not in the slightest bit green fingered, it is beautiful to see the gorgeous floral displays on offer here at Southport Flower Show.