Taunton Flower Show 2008

Evening Cabaret Performance

As has become the tradition, the day after the Flower Show closes, the competitive marquee is used for an evening of cabaret entertainment. This year we are pleased to announce that the glamorous act "Shoo Shoo Baby" will be the entertainment.

Following the success of their stunning show "From Berlin to Broadway" they now return to Taunton with their new show "Delicious"

You can expect terrific singing, fantastic arrangements and more costume changes than a Diana Ross concert. The show music includes "Big Spender", "Wind Beneath My Wings", "Tea For Two" and many others from Puccini to Mozart.

The Show is held on Sunday 3rd August at 8pm in the main marquee. Tickets are £14 per person. You can sample Shoo Shoo Baby on their website [26 June 2008]

Competitive Classes Newsletter Published

First Division, the newsletter of the Competitive Classes has been published. Everyone who entered the show last year or who has been sent a schedule in the post will now be sent a copy of the newsletter. The newsletter contains items of interest to those who enter the competitive classes at the show. You can download a copy of the newsletter at this link. If you would like to know more about entering the competitive classes, please refer to the competitive classes page. [29 May 2008]

Tickets go on sale at Taunton Tourist Information Centre

Taunton Flower Show is pleased to announce that tickets for the 2008 show can now be purchased at the Taunton Tourist Information Centre. Buying in advance not only saves you time, but also means you avoid the queues that may form on the opening day, meaning you can get into the show quicker. Tickets bought in advance qualify for a 10% discount.

Admission prices can be seen on our admissions page.[24 May 2009]

BUY ONE TICKET AND GET ONE FREE OFFER WITH WESTERN DAILY PRESS

GREEN-FINGERED readers of the Western Daily Press could save £££s on the tickets to the show. But you will need to be quick as the offer is limited to the first 1500 applications and with the show being so popular there are bound to be lots of people applying. The offer is that when you buy one adult ticket and get one free saving £8 or £9 depending on the day you choose to visit. All you have to do is fill in the coupon that will be printed in the Western Daily Press in the week commencing 19 May and collect two differently numbered tokens. Send these with an SAE to Flower Show, Wendy Best, Group Commercial Editor, Western Daily Press, Temple Way, Bristol, BS99 7HD. Cheques should be made payable to Taunton Flower Show. Your tickets will be sent to you before the show. Full details and the application form will be in the Western Daily Press in the week commencing 19 May. [13 May 2008]

Flower Show is officially launched!

Taunton Flower Show 2008 has been officially launched at a reception held at Wyevale Grden Centre. Members of the organising committee met with press and media to celebrate one of the most prestigious events in the County’s calendar. Flower Show chairman Bob Homeshaw said "The event has settled into its new Friday & Saturday format very well. The organisers have continued working hard to enhance all aspects of the Show, which is, once again, one of the most prestigious events in the County’s calendar. With the country’s foremost horticultural expert, Professor Stefan Buczacki, among the visitors we are confident that the 2008 event has an appeal for everyone whether they garden on a window sill or the grandest stately home. There is truly something for all ages and the competitions for novices and nationally-acclaimed designers offer dozens of certificates and cups and nearly £4,000 in financial prizes." [25 April 2008]

Press and Media Pack Available

Taunton Flower Show has made available a press and media pack. This includes news items and images and background information about the show for all news media. To access the pack please visit the press and media page. For further information please contact Adrian Prior-Sankey. [25 April 2008]

Ready, Steady Garden!

We are pleased to announce that the popular Ready Steady Garden event will make a welcome reappearance at this year's show. The concept of this is simple: Two gardeners are allowed to select £500 worth of plants from a local garden centre. They then return to the showground and have just TWO HOURS in order to make a garden completely from scratch using these plants. This innovative event was launched at Taunton Flower Show last year, the worthy winner being Kath Crouch and the runner up Sally Leaney. The show is grateful to Wyevale Garden Centre and Blackdown Nurseries for sponsoring the 2008 event. [17 March 2008]

Stefan Buczacki to visit Taunton Flower Show

Stefan Buczacki's name has been a by-word for the most trusted horticultural advice for well over twenty years. With his academic excellence, professional standing and a portfolio of nearly two thousand radio and television appearances (including many featuring his own garden), countless newspaper and magazine articles and over fifty books, he has an unrivalled grasp of what British gardeners need and want from their gardens. He has probably seen more gardens and met more gardeners in this country than almost anyone else and has also travelled the world and absorbed the best gardening knowledge and influences from other continents.

We are therefore honoured to welcome Professor Buczacki to Taunton Flower Show in 2008. During his visit to us on Friday 1st August Stefan has kindly agreed to help us as by judging one or two prestigious aspects of the event and to enjoy the opportunity to engage with our patrons and exhibitors around the showground. You can visit Stefan's website here. [28 January 2008]

Arena Events Confirmed

The main arena events for 2008 have now been confirmed. The following exciting events have bene confirmed and more will be posted on the events page as they are booked:

The Essex Dog Display Team: An exciting event featuring a team of highly trained dogs. The central feature of the display is a 100ft long by 9ft high ramp, which the dogs negotiate at high speed through hoops of fire, also on the ramp a unique demonstration of dogs negotiating human obstacles. Controlled attack dogs apprehend fleeing ‘criminals’ whilst under gunfire. Searching and retrieving and agility races, are just a few of the exercises included.

Adams Axemen: The team's aim is to provide demonstrations of the skills of the forester and lumberjack in a manner that is both entertaining and educational to the public and enjoyable to themselves. The demonstrations consist of all aspects of log axing, springboard chopping and cross cut sawing.

City of Bristol Pipes & Drums: The City of Bristol Pipes & Drums are the premier Highland Pipe Band in the Bristol area, combining the experience and expertise of former Scots Guards Pipers, with the drive and enthusiasm of contemporary musicians, playing quality bagpipes and drums, to provide a musical experience for all tastes and occasions.

[21 January 2008]

Competition Classes Schedule Launched

The Competition Classes have been at the heart of the flower show since the first show in 1866. This year sees a greater range of classes than before. Reintroduced after a number of year's absence are homemade wines. Also new for this year is a photography challenge class that will showcase the very best in large format and high quality photography.

The fruit and vegetables classes remain very important and will enable gardeners of all skill levels to show off their produce. There are a wide range of attractive and historic cups to be won as well as more than £3000 in prize money. Why not have a go this year!

To download or request a copy of the schedule by post, please visit the competition classes page [19 November 2007]

Gift Membership of Taunton Flower Show now available

Taunton Flower Show is pleased to announce gift membership. With this, you are able to create your very own red letter day and to give your loved ones a fabulous day out at the show. Not only will they be able to visit the show on both days free of charge, but they will also be able to enjoy use of the exclusive member's facilities, receive newsletters and be eligible for an invitation to the post show members' supper (an extra charge applies for the supper and the entertainment.)

Applying for membership could not be easier. Visit our membership page and read all about it! [11 November 2007]

Taunton Flower Show at Get Growing Show 2007

Taunton Flower Show was represented at Taunton Deane's Get Growing Show held in Victoria Park on 7th October. The show had an aim of sharing the benefits and experience of growing your own produce at home or on an allotment. Marketing Director, Adrian Prior-Sankey, said: "This has been an ideal oppotunity to meet allotment associations and other garden groups to encourage participation at Taunton Flower Show". The show ran from 12 noon until 5pm and we hope it will prove useful in encouraging more people to enter the competitive classes next year. [7 October 2007]

New Membership Leaflet and Direct Debit Initiative

Planning for the 2008 show has already begun, but in the quiet moments we have been hard at work trying to make the paying of membership subscriptions easier for our members and more efficient for the bank. Membership fees will stay the same this year as last and we have agreed with Lloyds Bank that it would be much better if these were taken by direct debit. This will save much of the confusion surrounding the correct amount to pay that has been a problem in some recent years. All members who pay by standing order have been sent a direct debit mandate. If you currently pay by cheque and would like to switch to direct debit, please download a new form from our members page or contact the show secretary direct. [30 September 2007]

New Website Launched

Taunton Flower Show has launched its new website for 2008. This is the single resource for everything you need to know about the show. [20 September 2007]

2007 show is a great success

Taunton Flower Show defied this Summer's weather and opened under clear blue skies and a good forecast. The show has been widely acknowledged as the best ever. With a wide range of arena events, the innovative "Ready, Steady, Garden" event and one of the best turn-outs in the floral marquee for many years, show organisers put on an enviable display for the visitors. The children's events were a great success, right at the heart of the showground. The winners of the competitive classes have been announced and are available on the competitive classes page as a download. Sally Leaney won the show gardens competition, and Kath Crouch was declared the winner of "Ready, Steady, Garden!" event. Further pictures of the show are available on the images of 2007 page. [3 August 2007]