The Royal Horticultural Society is returning to the parklands of Cardiff Castle with a show that is ready to dazzle the Welsh capital with charming show gardens, beautiful displays of spring flowers and a host of fun activities for gardeners of all ages to enjoy.
History of the show
The RHS Spring Flower Show, Cardiff is in its fourth magnificent year.
The show was first held in 2005 and formed part of Cardiff’s celebratory centenary year as a city, as well as its 50th anniversary as the capital of Wales.
The show was officially opened by HRH The Princess Royal.
Prior to its return to the capital in 2005, the RHS last held a flower show in Cardiff in 1920.
Highlights at the 2008 show:
- Inspirational show gardens created by up-and-coming garden designers.
- Two floral marquees packed with the very best nurseries from Wales and the rest of the UK
- The Experience Wales marquee filled with a feast of fine Welsh food and crafts
- Hundreds of gifts and accessories to tempt every gardener
- The Schools Wheelbarrow Competition returns by popular demand
- Advice from the experts - the chance to put your gardening questions to the RHS Advisory team
- Nature trails, street entertainers and live music to keep gardeners of all ages entertained!
Featured Show Gardens
Cardiff County Council, Park Ranger Service
'Nature Fights Back'
Designer: Nicola Hutchinson
Gardeners can play an important role in protecting precious habitats and environments. That’s the message from Nature Fights Back.
[ Nature Fights Back ]
Caerphilly County Borough Council Park Services
'A Taste of the Orient'
Designer: Steven Trew
Within the hustle and bustle of this busy flower show is a quiet oasis of calm.
[ A Taste of the Orient ]
Inscapes
'Inscapes Environmental Garden'
Inscapes Environmental Garden promotes awareness of the environmental benefits of wildlife.
[ Inscapes Environmental Garden ]
Cardiff University
‘The Cardiff University Research Garden’
Designer: Andrew Emery
Sponsor: Cardiff University & St David’s 2
This garden incorporates many features that showcase the research work being conducted at Cardiff University and also the University’s 125th Anniversary, which takes place in 2008. The team is using the garden to show how everyday plants are used in ground-breaking research. [ The Cardiff University Research Garden ]
Group 4 Securicor
‘Choices’
Designer: Martin Dykstra & Sara Webber
This garden is based on the choices made by individuals while incarcerated and is being run as a prison project. The prison gardening team are growing and cultivating the plants, the industries department is making the garden’s wooden structures and the prison’s welding shop is designing and making all the metal work. [ Choices ]
Anthea Guthrie
‘Slugger Off!’
Designer: Anthea Guthrie
Sponsor: Heronbridge Special School
Slugger Off! is a lesson in slug avoidance without using slug pellets. The garden provides a three-pronged attack on slugs: it brings in birds to eat them, has plants that slugs don’t eat and tender plants that are grown out of the way of slugs. The garden is organic, eco-friendly and recyclable as it is being rebuilt at Heronbridge Special School after the show. [ Slugger Off! ]
Cardiff County Council
‘A Garden in Time’
Designer: Cardiff County Council
Following its debut at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2007, this garden is touching down in Cardiff. It has a time travel theme that is designed to reflect the contrasting horticultural styles and approaches to garden design from two different time periods, separated by Doctor Who’s Tardis, which has bridged the decades. [ A Garden in Time ]
Gale’s Landscape & Garden Creations
‘Has Spring Court up with us yet?’
Designer: Christian Gale
This is a spring courtyard garden featuring a water feature and evergreen shrubs, herbs and seasonal bulbs. [ Has Spring Court up with us yet? ]