See some of the wonderful, horticultural highlights in store for visitors to the Show, 17-21 July 2024
Long Borders
One of the most popular aspects of the Show, the 7 x 1.8m beds allow student horticulturalists, community groups and budding designers the opportunity to exhibit at an RHS Show. Their creations are seen by the judges with the chance to earn a prestigious RHS medal. This year there are 21 designs at the Show with the brief ‘Make a Statement’. Taking on issues ranging from women’s suffrage to potentially invasive plant species, the designers use their creativity to explore the theme while also giving visitors examples of exciting new plant combinations. Grab a Show guide and take a tour of the Long Borders. Which one will be your favourite?
See the garden design stars of the future
RHS Flower Show Tatton Park has launched many horticultural careers with the Young Designer of the Year competition. Past entrants have gone on to create beautiful gardens at other RHS shows. Already this year Nathan Webster (2023) built the
Urban Forest Garden at the
RHS Urban Show, Freddie Strickland (2021) designed the
RHS Adventure Within Garden at
RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival and Emma Tipping (2022) co-created the
Monument Exhibit at
RHS Chelsea Flower Show. This year Callum Corrie’s
sanctuary for entertaining and Ashleigh Aylett’s
woodland garden join this impressive alumni.
2024 sees the introduction of a category which welcomes older new designers who have come to the profession later in life. Three Career Changers are cutting their turf at RHS Tatton Park, bringing their life experience and past vocations to inform the themes of their gardens.
Family fun
RHS Flower Show Tatton Park has activities for the whole family. As well as the popular Hidden Nature Trail for kids to do while exploring the showground, there are also hands-on activities. From getting up-close to bugs with the ZooLab, to decorating and colouring for the whole family at the Pencils and Petals Stand. Children also get to be garden designers on the School Plots, where they show how they would like to transform grey areas.
Practical ideas and inspiration
Not only are there plenty of beautiful gardens and gorgeous floral displays to look at, but at RHS Tatton Park there are also lots of take-home elements that can be applied to any garden. Unpave the Way shows two types of front garden – one designed from scratch, and one adapted from an existing garden – showing how each can be made to withstand flooding.
Career Changer Nadine Mansfield’s Better New Build Garden provides a blueprint for how to make the most of a common, but often overlooked type of garden. While the Terrace Garden designs show what can be done with a smaller space. See them adapted into a place for families, for growing food or for a peaceful retreat after a busy day.
For free advice from The Association of Professional Landscapers, bring your garden images, plans and dreams along to one of the incredibly useful and informative Landscape and Design Clinics, held twice daily from 11am–1pm and 3–5pm.
With expert advice from growers in the Floral Marquee and Plant Village to help with caring for your plants, as well as design ideas, you’ll be taking home more than good memories from a day at RHS Tatton Park.
Star talks
For more advice and inspiration there is a packed schedule on the talks stages. Whether it’s Gold medal-winning growers giving practical tips at the Potting Shed, or big-name horticulturalists sharing their experiences on the Main Stage. Don’t miss Gardeners’ World stars, Adam Frost, Joe Swift and Arit Anderson as well as florist extraordinaire Jonathan Moseley.
Fabulous florals
Every year The Flower School is an opportunity to celebrate the skills of talented floral artists to the full, with works that look – and smell, amazing. This year the florists have been challenged to ‘Raise Awareness’ and they have used their creativity to take on issues as varied as debilitating health conditions, the wellbeing benefits of song, and the many uses of sheeps’ wool!
Free visit to RHS Bridgewater
This year, to celebrate the anniversary of RHS Flower Show Tatton Park, the RHS is offering a special 2-4-1 day out. Every non-member ticket to the Show will also give a day’s free access to RHS Garden Bridgewater.
Buy a ticket to see the inspiring garden designs and the wonders of the Floral Marquee at RHS Tatton Park and, after a wonderful day at the Show, save your ticket to use again at RHS Bridgewater – touring the Paradise, Chinese and Kitchen Gardens for free.
RHS Flower Show Tatton Park runs from 17-21 July 2024.
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