Plant fans with a prickly personality can find out if they’re the best growers in the North East as entries open for Gateshead Council’s Gateshead Summer Flower Show today, including three categories for Cacti.
There’s a lot more than just Cacti though - anybody with a passion for parsnips, an obsession for onions or a temptation for tomatoes could be quids in if they can walk away as best in class too. Then there’s roses (miniature ones too), carnations, geraniums, dahlias, sweet peas and many more flower variety categories for green fingered growers to triumph in.
The Gateshead Summer Flower Show, which takes place on August 1-3 is one of the biggest horticultural events in the country with over 25,000 people coming to smell the roses last year and a similar number expected for 2008. For the show Gateshead Central Nursery at the top of Lobley Hill is transformed by huge marquees into a mecca for families and plant lovers alike for three days.
Gateshead Council cabinet member for culture Cllr Linda Green said: “The Gateshead Summer Flower show is a spectacular event with something for all the family to see and do as well as the fantastic flowers and plants.
“It wouldn’t be so spectacular though without the huge efforts of the people who spend so much of their time growing and tending the beautiful plants which take pride of place during the show. I know that so many people in the region take great pride in their plants and that growing your own fruit and vegetables is becoming ever more popular so we’re expecting a good number of entries for the show.”
The winners and two runners up in each of the categories receive a small cash prize and many categories also come with a trophy or award. Entries to the Gateshead Summer Flower Show are just £1 for one to five exhibits plus and additional 20p for every exhibit after the fifth.
Schedules and entrance forms can be collected from any Gateshead Council leisure facility or online at
www.gateshead.gov.uk in the leisure and culture section. Entries and entrance fees should be received no later than July 21 for floral art and club classes and all other classes by 5.00am on August