TATTON’S ‘MICRO
GARDENS’ BID FOR GOLD AT RHS SHOW
One of England’s most glorious stately home gardens is to
be squeezed into a fifteen square feet ‘plot’ for the
duration of the forthcoming Royal Horticultural Show.
Tatton Park, which hosts the prestigious event between July 23-27,
will exhibit and compete by presenting its fifty glorious acres
in microcosm.
Cheshire’s main competition entry - in the Foliage
Marquee - features four 'Cameos
of Tatton's Gardens’, the world-famous Japanese Garden,
The Tower Garden, Charlotte's Garden and the recently restored Kitchen
Garden. Each has its own colourful history and fascinating part
in the story of England’s last complete country house estate.
Planting and design will reflect the originals and each will also
have a dedicated poem written by Cheshire's Poet Laureate, Harry
Owen.
This year Tatton Park will be exhibiting
on three stands.
Its entry in the National Flowerbed Competition - "The Grand
Tour" - represents the Italian Garden and the opulent colours
that can be seen within it throughout the seasons.
Using hundreds of plants, bursting with colour and fragrance, the
display shows how years of travelling on ‘The Grand Tour’
by Tatton’s former owners, the Egerton Family influenced the
choice of plants in their pleasure gardens.
Titled "Picture Perfect Gardening
at Tatton Park", Tatton’s central stand will enable
visitors to try some practical gardening related activities such
as creating floral art, hanging baskets and painting.
They will be able to choose from a daily programme of demonstrations
and lectures giving tasters of forthcoming gardening courses that
Tatton will be running from September onwards.
The daily programme will include talks on ‘Plant Pests and
Diseases’, ‘Hanging Baskets’, ‘Floral Art’,
‘Painting in the Tatton Gardens’ and ‘Garden Design’.
A ‘Gardener's Question Time’ at 4pm everyday with
Tatton's own Head of Gardens, Sam Youd
and special guests. Information on future courses will be available
to show visitors.
Mr Youd and his green fingered team spent months preparing for
the show - one of the country’s top gardening events.
Said Sam: “As host, it’s important that our display
rivals the best at the show. Having won Silver with previous entries,
we are still aiming to improve and hope to achieve Gold for one
of our competing stands this year."
One of the North’s leading tourist attractions, Tatton Park
is maintained, financed and administered by Cheshire County Council
on behalf of the National Trust.
Said County Councillor Bert Grange,
chairman of the Tatton Park Board: “Our gardens enjoy an
enviable international reputation and I feel sure our show entries
will reflect that standard.
“And those show visitors that don’t find the time
to visit them can always enjoy our miniature edition.”
Open all year, Tatton Park Gardens are part of a magnificent 1,000
acre estate that includes stunning parkland, Mansion, Old Hall,
Children's Farm, Adventure Playground, shops and restaurant.
The RHS Flower Show at Tatton Park is just one of the major events
- ranging from concerts to antiques fairs - that form part of an
interest-packed annual events programme.
Further information:
Tatton Park
Graham Jones
Tatton Park
Knutsford
Cheshire
WA16 6QN
RHS Flower Show
Nancy Collantine
Republic
Houldsworth Business & Arts Centre
Houldsworth Mill
Stockport, SK5 6DA
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Local Area
