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RHS Flower Show Cardiff 20th to 22nd April 2012
RHS Flower Show Cardiff 20th to 22nd April 2012 - For the latest details please see http://www.rhs.org.uk/Shows-Events
RHS SHOW CARDIFF IS A HIGHLIGHT OF THE FIRST
NATIONAL GARDENING WEEK
In the grey of January thoughts turn to the colours of spring, and where better to find them than the RHS Show Cardiff April 20-22. Tickets are now on sale (www.rhs.org.uk/cardiff) for this first Royal Horticultural Society show of the season set in the splendid parklands of Cardiff Castle at the heart of the Welsh capital, where last year record crowds turned out to enjoy the best of the spring blooms and to seek inspiration for the gardening season ahead.
This year’s event provides the finale to the first ever National Gardening Week, the RHS bid to get the nation growing, and the show will be used to launch a new Campaign for School Gardening initiative to get the kids out there with their forks. The Cardiff show is already a big hit with youngsters through its Schools Wheelbarrow Competition, which once again will showcase the imaginative planting and creative horticultural talents of pupils from some 70 schools in South Wales.
Groundwork and the RHS have teamed up to shout about the enormous importance gardening and green space have in reviving urban communities. Landscape designer and broadcaster, Chris Beardshaw is creating show features, sponsored by M&S, at every show this season, starting with Cardiff. Chris has been visiting community gardens in Merthyr and Cardiff for inspiration and has met some of the people who volunteer their time to create and maintain an ‘Urban Oasis’ for local people to enjoy.
There will also be show gardens from Wales’ leading designers, including two times Best in Show winner Gaynor Witchard who embarked on a garden design career after tasting success at the show.
This will be the eighth RHS show in Cardiff, delivered though a partnership between Cardiff Council and the Royal Horticultural Society, and organisers are delighted with its growing popularity. RHS Shows Director Stephen Bennett said: “We’ve had glorious April sunshine for a couple of years and that has attracted bumper crowds to this beautiful park for a show of the highest quality.”
The event features over 50 floral exhibitors from across the country, amongst them Ron Scamp whose Quality Daffodils won the Best Floral Exhibitor for the sixth year running at last year’s event. Ron said: “Last year was the best Cardiff show so far. The ambience created that weekend was unsurpassed by any other show that we do, everyone seemed to be having a great time, enjoying the excellent quality of plants available.”
Highlights of the RHS Show Cardiff include:
show gardens
talks, demonstrations and expert advice from some well-known gardening names
floral marquees & Plant Plaza
Schools Wheelbarrow competition
garden furniture and equipment
Craft Village
Cafe Quarter
Food Hall
nature trails
Street entertainers
Live music on the bandstand
Cardiff Council Executive Member for Sport Leisure and Culture, Councillor Nigel Howells said: “The RHS Show has grown into one of our outstanding Cardiff events, attracting gardening fans and casual visitors from far afield. It’s great that the show is a feature of the first ever National Gardening Week.”
RHS Show Cardiff
Date: Friday 20 – Sunday 22 April 2012
Time: 20-21 April (10am – 5.30pm) 22 April (10am – 4.30pm)
Venue: The parklands of Cardiff Castle
Tickets: 0844 581 0810 or www.rhs.org.uk/cardiff
RHS show information: 020 7649 1885 or www.rhs.org.uk/cardiff
National Gardening Week to get the Nation Growing
16 – 22 April 2012
The RHS is pulling out all the stops to ensure the first ever National Gardening Week, 16-22 April 2012, is action packed to get the nation growing!
The charity hopes its plans will help trigger ideas and grow momentum to engage more schools, communities, gardeners, organisations and the trade to support the week.
The weekend before National Gardening Week, anyone can volunteer to help their local RHS Britain in Bloom, supported by Anglian Home Improvements, group transform their community and celebrate the 2012 launch of the nationwide campaign.
On Monday 16 April the charity’s advisory service will open its doors and provide a Gardening SOS service, when for one day anyone in the UK can gain from a major RHS membership benefit and ask experts for help with thorny problems and get gardens blooming.
Tuesday 17 April is themed Gardens of the Nation when the RHS will ask everyone in the UK to send their best pictures of their garden for the charity’s award winning Lindley Library archives to provide a historical record of gardens today.
On Wednesday 18 April, the RHS is coordinating a major “Horticulture: a career to be proud of” day, headed up by Alan Titchmarsh, to make every aspect of horticulture and gardening a career to be proud of. Talks and workshops by inspirational people who work across the gardening world will take place at the RHS London headquarters and at all four RHS gardens in Surrey, Yorkshire, Essex and Devon.
Compost day is the theme of Thursday 19 April, when the RHS will provide extensive advice and top tips to encourage and help the nation to get composting! The Charity is also asking councils to support this day.
Over the weekend there will be fun and interactive activities for gardeners of all ages and levels of experience at the four RHS gardens with opportunities to get growing with RHS gardeners and committee members.
www.rhs.org.uk/Gardening/National-gardening-week or email nationalgardeningweek@rhs.org.uk
Travel
Public transport
Rail
Bute Park is a 15 minute walk from Cardiff Central station. For detailed train information, visit the National Rail Enquiries website or call 08457 484950.
Bus
Regular bus services run from Cardiff Central station to Cardiff Castle and Bute Park. Bus numbers 21, 23, 24, 25 and 27 stop close to the showground. For full details, visit the Cardiff Bus website or Traveline Cymru website, or call 0871 200 2233.
Waterbus
A waterbus service is available from Cardiff Bay and stops at Bute Park, only a three minute walk from the show’s entrance. Visit the Cardiff Aquabus website for details.
Driving directions
From the Midlands, the North of England and Scotland, take the M6, M5 and M50/M4. From the South and South West, the approach is by the M5 and M4. Access from West Wales is by the M4.
On arrival in the city, follow signs for Cardiff Castle and AA signs to the show.
Parking
Parking is available in surrounding town centre pay and display car parks.
The Rotary Club will be operating a car park in the University on Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 April – access is off North Road opposite the disabled parking.
For groups
Coach parking
Coach parking is available in Sophia Gardens (located off Cathedral Road, CF11 9YF) and costs £15.50 per coach per day. Parking can be booked in advance by calling 07976 011767.
Group bookings
Group rates are available as follows:
Groups of 10+: £7.50 per person plus one free ticket
Individual: £8 in advance, £10 on the door
Accessibility
There is a dedicated parking area for disabled visitors close to the showground; please follow the signs on arrival at the show.
Wheelchairs are available for use at the show (limited availability). Manual wheelchairs are available for a £10 donation to the charity Event Mobility, and electric scooters are available for a £20 donation - book in advance online by going to the Event Mobility website. We cannot guarantee availability on the day of your visit, but if wheelchairs are available they can be hired from the Event Mobility area located close to the main showground entrance.
Attendants cannot be provided, but one companion is admitted free of charge per wheelchair user, visually impaired visitor or other person whose disability necessitates a carer.
The show and showground
No animals are admitted to the show, except for guide and assistance dogs.
Please note that this is a temporary, outdoor event on open parkland and is subject to varying weather and ground conditions. Although some temporary trackway is laid, much of the event is staged on open ground and care must be taken. We therefore advise that you check the weather forecast for the day of your visit, consider the nature of the event and the effects of any inclement weather on surface conditions, and wear suitable clothing and footwear. In extreme weather conditions, access may be restricted in the interest of safety.
Visitors may be subject to security searches.
For 2011, children aged 16 and under are being admitted free of charge to the show when accompanied by a paying adult.
Food & drink
Temporary catering units are serving a selection of sandwiches, filled baguettes, hot snacks, tea, coffee and soft drinks throughout the show. There is also a bar which serves a selection of alcoholic drinks.
Facilities
There is a plant & product crèche available at the show near the main entrance where you can leave your purchases during your visit.
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