Toys for the gardening boys this Father’s Day
If the Chelsea Flower Show has inspired your dad to get back in the potting shed, buy him a ticket to the next RHS flower show at Hampton Court Palace (5-10 July) for Father’s Day and let him loose among hundreds of toys for the boys in gardening gadget heaven.
Men make-up one-third of visitors to the RHS-organised show, the largest of its kind in the world, and research revealed that men enjoy the show just as much as women (1). Throughout the show there are plenty of distractions for dads or ideas for late Father’s Day presents.
Power tools are a guaranteed present pleaser with Stihl bringing the latest hedgetrimmers, chainsaws and strimmers to the show, and both Kubota and Countax Ltd will be exhibiting a selection of domestic ride-on mowers. Fathers who hog the barbeque over summer may be tempted with some of the new designs being launched at the show by Mode Lifestyle. Garden sheds, the perennial male favourite, will be on display from Royal Warrant holders Crane Sheds & Summerhouses who will be exhibiting a selection of timber-built garden buildings. The lazy gardener can check out The Mexican Hammock Company for brightly-coloured designs which support fair trade with Mexico. (2: see editor notes for Toys for the Boys Wish List)
If your dad is a passionate plantsman, he can head straight for the world-class Floral Marquees full of dozens of the UK’s leading nurseries including Hampshire Carnivorous Plants, Matthewman Sweet Peas and the Big Plant Company.
Allotment-owning fathers or fruit and vegetable-growing dads should visit the Growing & Showing Marquee over the show’s final weekend (9-10 July). Prize-winning potatoes, which came out as men’s top choice of vegetable to grow in a recent RHS/MORI poll, will be in evidence alongside gorgeous gooseberries and marvellous marrows. The marquee will host the summer fruit and vegetable competition alongside a special ‘Dig for Victory’ display by RHS Garden Wisley.
For tickets to the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, call the ticket hotline on 0870 906 3791 (public line) or 0870 906 3790 (RHS members). You can also book online or view further show information at www.rhs.org.uk/hamptoncourt.
If your dad can’t make it to the show, buy him an RHS Gift Membership pack. The gift, of one-year’s membership to the RHS, is presented in an elegant folder together with an RHS book Annuals & Biennials (RRP £4.99), a £5 seed voucher, £5 plant voucher from Thompson & Morgan, and current edition of The Garden magazine. You can buy RHS membership by calling 0845 0670 000 or visit the website at www.rhs.org.uk and click on the ‘Join Us’ icon. RHS Gift Membership costs £45 for one individual for a year.
Notes to Editors
For images or further information, please contact Kerry Law in the RHS Press Office on 020 7821 3044, or e-mail: kerrylaw@rhs.org.uk
Images available: Hampton Court Palace Flower Show; Fruit and vegetables in Growing & Showing Marquee
(1) Source: Comperio
2 Toys for the Boys Wish List
Barbeques
Mode Lifestyle
Tel: 0870 2403606, www.modelifestyle.co.uk
Launching new designs at the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show
Ride-on mowers
Countax Ltd
Tel: 01844 278800, www.countax.com
Kubota
Tel: 01249 447038, www.kubota.co.uk
Low emission domestic ride-on mowers
Sheds
Crane Sheds & Summerhouses
Tel: 01485 543377, www.craneshedsummerhouses.co.uk
English built timber buildings (sheds, summerhouses, chalets), Royal Warrant holders
Hammocks
The Mexican Hammock Company
Tel: 0117 942 5353, www.hammocks.co.uk
Brightly-coloured hand-woven hammocks - supporting fair trade with Mexico
Powered machinery
Stihl
Tel: 01276 417612, www.stilh.co.uk
Lawn mowers, hedgetrimmers, strimmers, chainsaws
Hand tools
Wolf Garden
Tel: 02920 655671, www.wolf-garten.com
Hand tools, secateurs, loppers, lawn machinery
Burton McCall/Felco
Tel: 0116 234 4683, www.burton-mccall.co.uk
Lawn care
London Lawn Turf Co.
Tel: 020 8647 9090, www.londonlawnturf.co.uk
Supply turf throughout the London area and give advice on lawn care
Misc
WaspBane
Tel: 01480 414644, www.waspbane.com
Wasp traps
The proceeds taken from events and tickets sales at all RHS gardens help to fund the many activities undertaken by the RHS to promote horticulture and help gardeners.
The RHS is the UK’s leading gardening charity dedicated to advancing horticulture and promoting good gardening. RHS work includes providing expert advice and information, advancing horticulture, training the next generation of gardeners, helping school children learn about plants, and conducting research into plants, pests and environmental issues affecting gardeners.
An interest in gardening is all you need to enjoy being a member of the RHS. For more information visit www.rhs.org.uk or call 0845 130 4646.
Founded in 1804, the Royal Horticultural Society is Britain's largest gardening charity and is committed to being the leading organisation demonstrating excellence in horticulture and promoting gardening. Renowned for its outstanding gardens and inspirational flower shows, the RHS is a key source of advice and information for all gardeners. It encourages gardening through its publications, trials, lectures, education programmes and scientific research and is home to the Lindley Library, which contains the most comprehensive collection of horticultural books in the world.
Membership of the Royal Horticultural Society offers many exclusive benefits including a monthly copy of The Garden magazine; free entrance to RHS Gardens Wisley in Surrey, Rosemoor in Devon, Hyde Hall in Essex and Harlow Carr in North Yorkshire; free access to a further 88 beautiful gardens across Britain and 20 gardens in Belgium and France; access to seeds collected at RHS gardens; free gardening advice and privileged tickets to 18 RHS flower shows, including the Chelsea Flower Show, the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show and the RHS Flower Show at Tatton Park.
For further enquiries about membership of the RHS contact: Membership Department, Royal Horticultural Society, PO Box 313, London SW1P 2PE; 0845 130 4646 Monday - Friday 9.30am - 5pm or via the RHS website
For more information e-mail the Press Office or visit the online Press Office