The countdown is on to the Blenheim Palace Flower Show 2016 which will be officially opened by award-winning actor Sir Ian Mckellen on Friday, June 17th. Sir Ian's appearance is just one of the highlights of this year's show being staged from June 17-19 in the stunning grounds of the magnificent country house which is home to the 12th Duke of Marlborough.
Sir Ian, one of the UK's most respected actors and star of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies, will open the show on the Friday morning before touring the showground to view exhibits. The following day Saturday, June 18, celebrity Ground Force builder Tommy Walsh will be offering advice and tips in spades to visitors. Tommy, one of the stars of the popular BBC TV Ground Force programme will be giving a series of entertaining talks throughout the day
A record number of floral and garden exhibitors are taking part this year which marks the fourth edition of the Blenheim Palace Flower Show at the World Heritage Site in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, which was the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill.
At the heart of the show is a 20,000 square foot Grand Floral Pavilion featuring more than 30 floral displays and a large selection of flowers and plants from the UK's finest plantsman. The show will also feature a selection of inspiring Show Gardens designed by some of the UK's leading garden designers.
There will also be dedicated areas for Grow Your Own and flowering plants. In the plants section exhibitors include Colin Gregory Roses. Colin is based in Lincolnshire, one of the country's top flower growing areas. He has over 35 years' experience working with roses and grows 275 varieties for sale to landscapers, professional gardeners, councils, garden centres, wholesalers and direct to the public who can buy roses from the nursery, retail catalogue or from an online catalogue.
Visitors can also discover the joys of Growing Your Own fruit and vegetables in a series of talks by organic gardening guru Robert Longstaff. Robert and his wife Yvonne are the inspiration behind the Oxford Garden Project – an innovative programme which teaches all the skills needed to complete the cycle of food from plot to plate.
Show Director Matthew Upson, Managing Director of Aztec Events, says: “The Blenheim Palace Flower Show has become one of the highlights of the horticultural calendar. Set in the stunning parkland of one of the UK's most magnificent palaces, our show really has something that will appeal to everyone – from novices to experienced gardeners.
“Visitors can browse and purchase the latest products from hundreds of floral and garden exhibitors, or sample and purchase foods and nibbles in the food marquee. You can find everything you need to enjoy your garden from plants and flowers to bespoke garden ornaments and from fabulous furniture to conservatories, sheds and garden tools.”
