Get your entries in for Chorley Flower Show

GARDENING enthusiasts will be able to submit their entries for the award-winning Chorley Flower Show as the amateur section is now open for applications.

After the phenomenal success of the first two shows Chorley Council is urging gardeners and floral artists of all ages to take the opportunity of entering this year’s event.

There are new categories this year with everything from roses to begonias and rhubarb to runner beans.

Councillor Alistair Bradley, Leader of Chorley Council, said: “We have had tremendous feedback about the flower show and the amateur section has been a real feature over the first two years.

“We’ve had many people exhibiting at a show for the first time and there’s a real excitement from people about being able to show plants and flowers that they had grown at home.
“It’d be great to see even more entries this year, particularly from children and people who perhaps haven’t taken part in a show before.

“We’ve increased the variety of classes based on the feedback we’ve received from exhibitors and visitors and we are bringing the floral art and flower, fruit and vegetable classes together in one marquee.”

The show burst on to the regional event calendar in 2015 and last year won a prestigious Lancashire Tourism Award, attracting 13,000 people over two days.

The amateur sections of the show will feature flower, fruit and vegetable classes and a floral art competition. It is free to anyone to enter and it will be judged with cash prizes for first, second and third, with more than 50 classes to choose from.

The amateur sections are being jointly organised with Chorley and District Gardening Society, which has been hosting shows in the town since 1884.

David Brown, Chairman of Chorley and District Gardening Society, said: “The flower show continues to be a brilliant success and it has been great to speak to so many new people about what we’re doing and it really has whetted people’s appetite for gardening here in Chorley.

“We’d really like to encourage first-time exhibitors to take part – one of the pleasures of gardening is sharing it with other people so if you like your garden, other people will love it too.

“We’ll be hosting a session in the spring to give people hints and tips on how to exhibit but it really is good fun and it’s the ideal time to start planning what you want to enter as we move into spring.

Chorley Flower Show will take place in Astley Park, on Saturday and Sunday 29 and 30 July, and tickets will be on sale in early March.

You can download a full schedule for the amateur section, which includes the classes and application forms, at chorleyflowershow.com, or call in at the council offices.