Cornwall has some of the UK's most beautiful parks and gardens and the Cornwall Spring Flower Show demonstrates why! The mild winters and showery summers offer the perfect environment for growing beautiful flowers and bulbs. The breathtaking displays at the Cornwall Spring Flower Show are truly dazzling and I can certainly recommend this event to any flower lover visiting Cornwall the first weekend in April.
The CGS Spring Flower Show has wide appeal
Cornwall Spring Flower Show is organised by the Cornwall Garden Society which is certainly no amateur club. The patron is HRH The Prince of Wales and the club is affiliated to the prestigious Royal Horticultural Society.
The show has been taking place every year for over a century, except for the two world wars, petrol rationing, and believe it or not, for snow in 1947! It has 160 classes including a photography class and a children's competition so there is plenty to see and admire.
Although the Cornwall Flower Show sounds like just a collection of flowering spring bulbs, it is actually much wider. There are competitive classes in everything from ornamental trees and shrubs to showy herbaceous plants ‐ my favourite as they bloom every year with very little attention. I've seen camellias, azaleas, rhododendrons, daffodils, unusual tulips, pot plants, alpines and many more flowering plants all blooming beautifully at the show.
For wider interest there are show gardens which are a real inspiration, and floral art arrangements with some really lovely displays all competing for a prize.
Celebrity gardeners at the Cornwall Spring Flower Show
The Cornwall Spring Flower Show is sponsored by the Atkins Ferrie Wealth Mangement Fund. In 2014 it will be opened by Chris Beardshaw who will also be on the panel for the popular Gardeners' Question Time along with horticulturalist Tim Hubbard, George Kestell and Nutty Lim. Another celebrity face to look out for is Toby Buckland of BBC Gardener's World.
Along with plenty of trade stands selling plants, tools, furniture, gadgets and ornaments for your garden, the Spring Flower Show has four show gardens. These are my favourite part of any garden show and are always an inspiration with unusual plants, water features or interesting focal points of interest.
To make sure all ages enjoy the show, there are several children's competitive classes, face painting and a nature trail for youngsters. On Sunday more entertainment is provided by stilt walkers, a pottery demonstration, birds and animals and nature-based activities.
Tickets to this beautiful Spring Flower Show start at just £3.50 for Cornwall Garden Society members and £6 for advance ticket bookings which are available via the CGS website. Under 16s get in free, making it a great value family day out in Cornwall.
Boconnoc Estate hosts the Cornwall Spring Flower Show
The Cornwall Spring Flower show is always held at the Boconnoc Estate, three miles east of Loswithiel. This extensive estate surrounds a beautifully restored country mansion which is now used as a venue for weddings and events such as the Boconnoc Steam Fair. You may recognise it from the many movies that have been filmed here including the BBC drama “Daphne” and “The Three Musketeers”.
Boconnoc has a fascinating history dating back to 1268. It was purchased by Thomas Pitt with proceeds from the sale of the famous Pitt diamond in 1717. The diamond ended up decorating the hilt of Napoleon's sword! Pitt's grandson and great grandson both became Prime Minister.
The state includes a deer park and gorgeous gardens with rhododendrons, azaleas and camellias for visitors to enjoy. The gardens are open on special open days on several Sundays in May when the blooms are at their best. Guided tours of the house and gardens are also available on certain dates throughout the summer. Checkout the CGS website for exact dates.
We'd love to hear from anyone who has been inside the gates of the Boconnoc Estate. Please share your impressions of the gardens, house or event you attended by leaving a comment below.
Born in Cheshire, Gillian Birch moved to Cornwall at her earliest opportunity and never looked back. After 20 years, her ongoing discovery of popular attractions, quiet footpaths and local eateries has made her a fount of knowledge as she entertains readers with her informative articles on the hidden gems of Devon & Cornwall from a local point-of-view.