Get your entries in for Chorley Flower Show

Gardening enthusiasts are being encouraged to submit their entries for Chorley Flower Show as the applications are starting to come in thick and fast.

After the phenomenal success of the first ever show 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 for the first time there will be fruit and vegetable classes.

Councillor Alistair Bradley, Leader of Chorley Council, said: “We’re getting a lot of interest in this year’s flower show with people talking about how excited they are to attend again this year.

“We just wanted to encourage anyone who was thinking of submitting an entry for the amateur section to get it in sooner rather than later so they don’t miss out on the opportunity to take part if the section fills up.

“Everything is going well in preparation for the show – we’ve got many top exhibitors and traders from across the country attending and there’ll be a few new additions to the site that will really give the show the ‘wow’ factor.”

The show burst on to the regional event calendar last year attracting 10,000 visitors and gaining a nomination as a finalist in the Lancashire Tourism Awards.

The amateur sections of the show will feature flower and pot plant 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: “We know people like to leave it until the last minute to submit their entries but with the interest we’ve seen so far we’d urge people to put their applications in as early as they can so they don’t miss out.

“We’d also 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.”

Chorley Flower Show will take place in Astley Park, on Saturday and Sunday 30 and 31 July, and tickets are on sale now at chorley.gov.uk, Malcolm’s Musicland, on Chapel Street, Café Ambio, in Astley Park and the main sponsor Botany Bay.

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