Press releases

The return of the fern at The RHS Flower Show at Tatton Park

Ferns are emerging from the shadows and into the limelight at this year’s RHS Flower Show at Tatton Park (ticket hotline: 0870 906 3311). This diverse group of perennials favoured in Victorian times is making a return in contemporary show garden designs, and six dedicated displays from specialist nurseries and National Plant Collection holders.

Charlesworth Design’s Robert Frier is paying homage to the fern with his back to back garden entitled ‘Pteridomania’, which literally means ‘Mad for Ferns’. It includes four native fern species: Adiantum venustum (enjoys partial shade near foot of walls), Dryopteris antartica (is found almost everywhere), Asplenium trichomanes (likes partial shade and moist soil) and Thyllitis scolopendrium (found next to water), each situated in its own preferred environment within the garden. Mosaic stepping stones and murals on the wall depict the unfurling fern fronds, and Ligustrum parasols shade the plants and reinforce the garden’s circular theme.

Cheshire Wildlife Trust’s ‘Naturally Victorian’ garden is using ferns and other woodland plants in its stumpery feature to help attract wildlife to the area. Dorset Water Lily Company is using tree ferns to achieve the seclusion of its ‘Bijou Water Garden’. The ‘Compass Garden’ from Welsh College of Horticulture is using plants to demonstrate the different temperatures associated with the points of the compass, with ferns Dryopteris and Asplenium in the ‘cooler’ North section of the design.

In the National Plant Societies Marquee the Cheshire Group of the NCCPG (National Council for Conservation of Plants and Gardens) is showcasing New Proposed National Plant Collections® of Blechnum from Dr Richard Hayward, and National Plant Collections® of Adiantum from Tatton Park’s Sam Youd.

RHS medal-winning exhibitors Rickards Hardy Ferns, Fibrex Nurseries and Fernatix will showcase the diversity of ferns on their exhibits in the floral marquees.

Ferns are relatively easy to maintain and due to their preference for shadier spots, are excellent for adding texture and movement to a dull corner. The choice of varieties is also extensive with 1,200 species on record globally and more than 50 native to Britain.

The RHS Flower Show at Tatton Park takes place between 19 and 23 July, with 19 July reserved for RHS members, and is open between 10am and 7pm. (On the Sunday the show shuts at 5pm, with the sell off starting at 4pm). To book tickets call 0870 906 3311 (public) or 0870 906 3810 (RHS members) or online at www.rhs.org.uk/flowershows

Notes to Editors

For more information contact Catherine Turner or Erin Portsmouth at Fido PR on 0161 274 3311 or e-mail: catherine@trustfido.co.uk or erin@trustfido.co.uk

www.rhs.org.uk/pressoffice

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

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