Published on 12th January, 2015
Organisers say green-fingered visitors will love the new Horticultural Village at the Show which takes place from May 27 to May 30 at The Showground in Shepton Mallet.
The village will encompass everything horticulture from the new look flower tent which will be known as the Horticultural Display marquee with 10 nursery exhibitors to the ever popular Instant Garden Challenge.
The challenge will see two teams a day build a 3m x 3m garden which is then judged by a gardening expert and the public.
A new feature for 2015 will be the “Pop up Gardens” with a number of local horticultural specialists building small inspirational gardens including Charles Dowding, The Pig in Bath and Julian Shave.
Meanwhile an exciting new project Thriving Trolleys has begun working in partnership with the Royal Horticultural Society and Waitrose the theme is Health and Happiness and the RHS have provided schools with seeds where they grow them at school and the schools will come to the Showground to create their Thriving Trolley with the plants they have grown.
One of the permanent formal gardens will be the home of Coates English Willow and the Willows & Wetland Centre.
Alan Lyons, Show Manager, said: “We are delighted to be working with this well known family that have been working the withies of the Somerset Levels since 1819.
“All aspect of Willow work will be included in this new feature including; basket making, stripping the willow, charcoal making and interactive experiences for children as part of the Show’s Family Trail.
“We listened to what our visitors had to say after the Show in 2014 and they were disappointed that the Floral Marquee wasn’t there; it was clearly part of people’s day at the show as well as being a meeting point for others.
“We are bringing it back and it will be an important part of the Horticultural Village. We are working with nurseries and will be introducing pop-up gardens as well as having our instant garden challenge involving students from colleges across the West Country. There will also be lots of activities for adults and children.”
The Horticultural Village is supported by Jacksons Fencing, Smith Williamson and Adrian Guise.
Early bird tickets are on sale for this year’s show with two children free with every adult ticket bought in advance.
2015 also marks 50 years since The Showground became the permanent home for the Royal Bath and West Show.
Highlights include the British Cheese Awards, British Cider Championships, Ladies Day featuring Farm Woman of the Year and the National South Devon Show.