I wonder why the RHS doesn't hold a regular annual show in the SW. I
think the nearest to us is in Cardiff. But for some reason, I can't get
onto their site to check that, atm. They did a sort of one-off at one
of the hotels in Torquay about 5 years ago but nothing since that I'm
aware of. You'd think with Rosemoor down here there'd be some
incentive, along with a big tourism industry, too.
--

Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
www.helpforheroes.org.uk

On 29/09/2013 12:20, Sacha wrote:
I wonder why the RHS doesn't hold a regular annual show in the SW. I
think the nearest to us is in Cardiff. But for some reason, I can't get
onto their site to check that, atm. They did a sort of one-off at one
of the hotels in Torquay about 5 years ago but nothing since that I'm
aware of. You'd think with Rosemoor down here there'd be some incentive,
along with a big tourism industry, too.



Although there doesn't seem to be a separate garden show for your area,
I suspect that if you look at Rosemoor's "What's On" pages (when the
site is working again), you may find that there are a number of local
shows within their grounds. Some may be specialised, of course, but
there should be something to interest you.
--
Spider.
On high ground in SE London
gardening on heavy clay

On 2013-09-29 13:05:13 +0100, Jake said:

On Sun, 29 Sep 2013 12:20:02 +0100, Sacha
wrote:

I wonder why the RHS doesn't hold a regular annual show in the SW. I
think the nearest to us is in Cardiff. But for some reason, I can't get
onto their site to check that, atm. They did a sort of one-off at one
of the hotels in Torquay about 5 years ago but nothing since that I'm
aware of. You'd think with Rosemoor down here there'd be some
incentive, along with a big tourism industry, too.

Looks like the RHS web site is having problems ATM, lots of pages
returning runtime errors.

So we have RHS Cardiff Show. You have RHS Rosemoor Garden. If you want
to swap a garden for a show, I'm happy to support the proposal.

I'm greedy. I want BOTH!
--

Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
www.helpforheroes.org.uk

On 2013-09-29 13:32:48 +0100, Spider said:

On 29/09/2013 12:20, Sacha wrote:
I wonder why the RHS doesn't hold a regular annual show in the SW. I
think the nearest to us is in Cardiff. But for some reason, I can't get
onto their site to check that, atm. They did a sort of one-off at one
of the hotels in Torquay about 5 years ago but nothing since that I'm
aware of. You'd think with Rosemoor down here there'd be some incentive,
along with a big tourism industry, too.



Although there doesn't seem to be a separate garden show for your area,
I suspect that if you look at Rosemoor's "What's On" pages (when the
site is working again), you may find that there are a number of local
shows within their grounds. Some may be specialised, of course, but
there should be something to interest you.

Oh yes, there are lots of different local shows and there are the
Cornwall and Devon County Shows. What we don't have - and I'm just
curious as to why - is a regional RHS Show. With the comparatively mild
climate here plus the visitor numbers, the overall affluence of a large
number of the population and some really good gardens, it seems a bit
strange. Perhaps the one-time journey length put them off the idea, so
it's just never happened, historically speaking.
--

Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
www.helpforheroes.org.uk

On 29/09/2013 12:20, Sacha wrote:
I wonder why the RHS doesn't hold a regular annual show in the SW. I
think the nearest to us is in Cardiff. But for some reason, I can't get
onto their site to check that, atm. They did a sort of one-off at one
of the hotels in Torquay about 5 years ago but nothing since that I'm
aware of. You'd think with Rosemoor down here there'd be some incentive,
along with a big tourism industry, too.
You wonder why no RHS show in your area Sacha.
How many Flower shows are there in the area now as against 10 or 15
years ago. I wont say 40 years ago when most villages had their own show.
I remember in the early 60's I could enter produce in anything up to 8
shows in a weekend, that was in East Sussex.
Here in South Wales we have lost almost every show, a couple are now
held in village halls, but like so many things people just can't be
bothered with what they consider to be all the fuss of showing, and they
would rather go shopping than go to a flower show.
The cost of staging a large show is prohibitive and no exhibitor is now
going to stage without prize money. Gone are the days of staging for the
advertising and the pride in a Gold medal card.
A better idea would be for somewhere like Torquay to have a garden
competition where a number of show gardens would be built and maintained
for 3 or 4 months with them being judged every month to get an over all
winner, so tourists would have something to visit during their holiday
not just one weekend a year.
David @ a now overcast side of Swansea bay.

On 2013-09-29 14:26:54 +0100, David Hill said:

On 29/09/2013 12:20, Sacha wrote:
I wonder why the RHS doesn't hold a regular annual show in the SW. I
think the nearest to us is in Cardiff. But for some reason, I can't get
onto their site to check that, atm. They did a sort of one-off at one
of the hotels in Torquay about 5 years ago but nothing since that I'm
aware of. You'd think with Rosemoor down here there'd be some incentive,
along with a big tourism industry, too.
You wonder why no RHS show in your area Sacha.
How many Flower shows are there in the area now as against 10 or 15
years ago. I wont say 40 years ago when most villages had their own
show.
I remember in the early 60's I could enter produce in anything up to 8
shows in a weekend, that was in East Sussex.
Here in South Wales we have lost almost every show, a couple are now
held in village halls, but like so many things people just can't be
bothered with what they consider to be all the fuss of showing, and
they would rather go shopping than go to a flower show.
The cost of staging a large show is prohibitive and no exhibitor is now
going to stage without prize money. Gone are the days of staging for
the advertising and the pride in a Gold medal card.
A better idea would be for somewhere like Torquay to have a garden
competition where a number of show gardens would be built and
maintained for 3 or 4 months with them being judged every month to get
an over all winner, so tourists would have something to visit during
their holiday not just one weekend a year.
David @ a now overcast side of Swansea bay.

I think a lot of small flower shows have disappeared and I know we
struggle sometimes to get more than 3 entries per class in our local
one. Because I sometimes judge flower arranging classes in two local
shows, I've suggested trying to raise the number of entries by
organising flower arranging classes here for 6 weeks during
October/November, to be taught by a fully qualified NAFAS teacher and
judge for £42 per person. Leaflets went out to around 300 households,
courtesy of our kind paperman. Not one person has shown any interest,
so perhaps that in itself is an indication of why shows are dwindling
away. People no longer have to make their own amusements so they watch
telly, or play on the computer or, as you say, go shopping!

Your idea for e.g. Torquay is a good one though the costs would
certainly be a factor and from the nursery pov, some of this would be
happening in the busiest season so sustaining it might be difficult.
But originally, I just thought it curious that there are RHS Shows all
over various regions of UK except this one. We're a small business
compared to some and the sheer cost of doing Chelsea would be huge for
us. I have no idea what the actual entry fees are but we'd have to hire
a van to take plants to London and then rent somewhere for those
constructing and staffing a stand, and probably employ temporary
replacement staff here, so it's out of the question.
--

Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
www.helpforheroes.org.uk

On 29/09/2013 15:15, Sacha wrote:
On 2013-09-29 14:26:54 +0100, David Hill said:

On 29/09/2013 12:20, Sacha wrote:
I wonder why the RHS doesn't hold a regular annual show in the SW. I
think the nearest to us is in Cardiff. But for some reason, I can't get
onto their site to check that, atm. They did a sort of one-off at one
of the hotels in Torquay about 5 years ago but nothing since that I'm
aware of. You'd think with Rosemoor down here there'd be some incentive,
along with a big tourism industry, too.
You wonder why no RHS show in your area Sacha.
How many Flower shows are there in the area now as against 10 or 15
years ago. I wont say 40 years ago when most villages had their own show.
I remember in the early 60's I could enter produce in anything up to 8
shows in a weekend, that was in East Sussex.
Here in South Wales we have lost almost every show, a couple are now
held in village halls, but like so many things people just can't be
bothered with what they consider to be all the fuss of showing, and
they would rather go shopping than go to a flower show.
The cost of staging a large show is prohibitive and no exhibitor is
now going to stage without prize money. Gone are the days of staging
for the advertising and the pride in a Gold medal card.
A better idea would be for somewhere like Torquay to have a garden
competition where a number of show gardens would be built and
maintained for 3 or 4 months with them being judged every month to get
an over all winner, so tourists would have something to visit during
their holiday not just one weekend a year.
David @ a now overcast side of Swansea bay.

I think a lot of small flower shows have disappeared and I know we
struggle sometimes to get more than 3 entries per class in our local
one. Because I sometimes judge flower arranging classes in two local
shows, I've suggested trying to raise the number of entries by
organising flower arranging classes here for 6 weeks during
October/November, to be taught by a fully qualified NAFAS teacher and
judge for £42 per person. Leaflets went out to around 300 households,
courtesy of our kind paperman. Not one person has shown any interest,
so perhaps that in itself is an indication of why shows are dwindling
away. People no longer have to make their own amusements so they watch
telly, or play on the computer or, as you say, go shopping!

Your idea for e.g. Torquay is a good one though the costs would
certainly be a factor and from the nursery pov, some of this would be
happening in the busiest season so sustaining it might be difficult. But
originally, I just thought it curious that there are RHS Shows all over
various regions of UK except this one. We're a small business compared
to some and the sheer cost of doing Chelsea would be huge for us. I have
no idea what the actual entry fees are but we'd have to hire a van to
take plants to London and then rent somewhere for those constructing and
staffing a stand, and probably employ temporary replacement staff here,
so it's out of the question.


When I did Chelsea Many years ago It was just myself and a friend, we
had a caravan and were the first caravan to park in Battersea gardens,
we had to hop over the fence at night,
It was hard work but still got a Silver gilt Flora medal.
In those days you had to have done 3 RHS shows and to have got at least
a silver medal to get an invite to Chelsea.
About 3 weeks before the show I had a phone call asking if I could do
twice the size I was going to do, In my innocence I said yes.
Had to do 2 trips to get all the plants up as well as having a load in
the caravan..
It was an experience

On Sun, 29 Sep 2013 12:20:02 +0100, Sacha
wrote:

I wonder why the RHS doesn't hold a regular annual show in the SW. I
think the nearest to us is in Cardiff. But for some reason, I can't get
onto their site to check that, atm. They did a sort of one-off at one
of the hotels in Torquay about 5 years ago but nothing since that I'm
aware of. You'd think with Rosemoor down here there'd be some
incentive, along with a big tourism industry, too.

Scotland of course does not have a tourist industry nor gardeners, thus
no RHS shows. But if you look at the BBC weather maps, we are only
a tiny bit stuck on the top.

Phil

Interesting that you have experienced of Chelsea David, as someone who has
shown.

Anybody else done Chelsea and can talk from experience?

Mike





"David Hill" wrote in message ...

On 29/09/2013 15:15, Sacha wrote:
On 2013-09-29 14:26:54 +0100, David Hill said:

On 29/09/2013 12:20, Sacha wrote:
I wonder why the RHS doesn't hold a regular annual show in the SW. I
think the nearest to us is in Cardiff. But for some reason, I can't get
onto their site to check that, atm. They did a sort of one-off at one
of the hotels in Torquay about 5 years ago but nothing since that I'm
aware of. You'd think with Rosemoor down here there'd be some incentive,
along with a big tourism industry, too.
You wonder why no RHS show in your area Sacha.
How many Flower shows are there in the area now as against 10 or 15
years ago. I wont say 40 years ago when most villages had their own show.
I remember in the early 60's I could enter produce in anything up to 8
shows in a weekend, that was in East Sussex.
Here in South Wales we have lost almost every show, a couple are now
held in village halls, but like so many things people just can't be
bothered with what they consider to be all the fuss of showing, and
they would rather go shopping than go to a flower show.
The cost of staging a large show is prohibitive and no exhibitor is
now going to stage without prize money. Gone are the days of staging
for the advertising and the pride in a Gold medal card.
A better idea would be for somewhere like Torquay to have a garden
competition where a number of show gardens would be built and
maintained for 3 or 4 months with them being judged every month to get
an over all winner, so tourists would have something to visit during
their holiday not just one weekend a year.
David @ a now overcast side of Swansea bay.

I think a lot of small flower shows have disappeared and I know we
struggle sometimes to get more than 3 entries per class in our local
one. Because I sometimes judge flower arranging classes in two local
shows, I've suggested trying to raise the number of entries by
organising flower arranging classes here for 6 weeks during
October/November, to be taught by a fully qualified NAFAS teacher and
judge for £42 per person. Leaflets went out to around 300 households,
courtesy of our kind paperman. Not one person has shown any interest,
so perhaps that in itself is an indication of why shows are dwindling
away. People no longer have to make their own amusements so they watch
telly, or play on the computer or, as you say, go shopping!

Your idea for e.g. Torquay is a good one though the costs would
certainly be a factor and from the nursery pov, some of this would be
happening in the busiest season so sustaining it might be difficult. But
originally, I just thought it curious that there are RHS Shows all over
various regions of UK except this one. We're a small business compared
to some and the sheer cost of doing Chelsea would be huge for us. I have
no idea what the actual entry fees are but we'd have to hire a van to
take plants to London and then rent somewhere for those constructing and
staffing a stand, and probably employ temporary replacement staff here,
so it's out of the question.


When I did Chelsea Many years ago It was just myself and a friend, we
had a caravan and were the first caravan to park in Battersea gardens,
we had to hop over the fence at night,
It was hard work but still got a Silver gilt Flora medal.
In those days you had to have done 3 RHS shows and to have got at least
a silver medal to get an invite to Chelsea.
About 3 weeks before the show I had a phone call asking if I could do
twice the size I was going to do, In my innocence I said yes.
Had to do 2 trips to get all the plants up as well as having a load in
the caravan..
It was an experience

Apologies to the Grammar Police, I changed something without checking :-(


"'Mike'" wrote in message ...



Interesting that you have experienced of Chelsea David, as someone who has
shown.

Anybody else done Chelsea and can talk from experience?

Mike





"David Hill" wrote in message ...

On 29/09/2013 15:15, Sacha wrote:
On 2013-09-29 14:26:54 +0100, David Hill said:

On 29/09/2013 12:20, Sacha wrote:
I wonder why the RHS doesn't hold a regular annual show in the SW. I
think the nearest to us is in Cardiff. But for some reason, I can't get
onto their site to check that, atm. They did a sort of one-off at one
of the hotels in Torquay about 5 years ago but nothing since that I'm
aware of. You'd think with Rosemoor down here there'd be some incentive,
along with a big tourism industry, too.
You wonder why no RHS show in your area Sacha.
How many Flower shows are there in the area now as against 10 or 15
years ago. I wont say 40 years ago when most villages had their own show.
I remember in the early 60's I could enter produce in anything up to 8
shows in a weekend, that was in East Sussex.
Here in South Wales we have lost almost every show, a couple are now
held in village halls, but like so many things people just can't be
bothered with what they consider to be all the fuss of showing, and
they would rather go shopping than go to a flower show.
The cost of staging a large show is prohibitive and no exhibitor is
now going to stage without prize money. Gone are the days of staging
for the advertising and the pride in a Gold medal card.
A better idea would be for somewhere like Torquay to have a garden
competition where a number of show gardens would be built and
maintained for 3 or 4 months with them being judged every month to get
an over all winner, so tourists would have something to visit during
their holiday not just one weekend a year.
David @ a now overcast side of Swansea bay.

I think a lot of small flower shows have disappeared and I know we
struggle sometimes to get more than 3 entries per class in our local
one. Because I sometimes judge flower arranging classes in two local
shows, I've suggested trying to raise the number of entries by
organising flower arranging classes here for 6 weeks during
October/November, to be taught by a fully qualified NAFAS teacher and
judge for £42 per person. Leaflets went out to around 300 households,
courtesy of our kind paperman. Not one person has shown any interest,
so perhaps that in itself is an indication of why shows are dwindling
away. People no longer have to make their own amusements so they watch
telly, or play on the computer or, as you say, go shopping!

Your idea for e.g. Torquay is a good one though the costs would
certainly be a factor and from the nursery pov, some of this would be
happening in the busiest season so sustaining it might be difficult. But
originally, I just thought it curious that there are RHS Shows all over
various regions of UK except this one. We're a small business compared
to some and the sheer cost of doing Chelsea would be huge for us. I have
no idea what the actual entry fees are but we'd have to hire a van to
take plants to London and then rent somewhere for those constructing and
staffing a stand, and probably employ temporary replacement staff here,
so it's out of the question.


When I did Chelsea Many years ago It was just myself and a friend, we
had a caravan and were the first caravan to park in Battersea gardens,
we had to hop over the fence at night,
It was hard work but still got a Silver gilt Flora medal.
In those days you had to have done 3 RHS shows and to have got at least
a silver medal to get an invite to Chelsea.
About 3 weeks before the show I had a phone call asking if I could do
twice the size I was going to do, In my innocence I said yes.
Had to do 2 trips to get all the plants up as well as having a load in
the caravan..
It was an experience

In article ,
says...

On Sun, 29 Sep 2013 12:20:02 +0100, Sacha
wrote:

I wonder why the RHS doesn't hold a regular annual show in the SW. I
think the nearest to us is in Cardiff. But for some reason, I can't get
onto their site to check that, atm. They did a sort of one-off at one
of the hotels in Torquay about 5 years ago but nothing since that I'm
aware of. You'd think with Rosemoor down here there'd be some
incentive, along with a big tourism industry, too.

According to their website the RHS runs dozens of events and plant
fairs in the SW of England.

Scotland of course does not have a tourist industry nor gardeners, thus
no RHS show

The RHS ran shows in Scotland for three years running in the 90's.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tatton_Park_Flower_Show

(scroll down for Scottish bit)

Janet

"Sacha" wrote

I wonder why the RHS doesn't hold a regular annual show in the SW. I think
the nearest to us is in Cardiff. But for some reason, I can't get onto
their site to check that, atm. They did a sort of one-off at one of the
hotels in Torquay about 5 years ago but nothing since that I'm aware of.
You'd think with Rosemoor down here there'd be some incentive, along with a
big tourism industry, too.

But once you have been to one you have been to them all. The same people
exhibit and year after year, the same plants usually too, the show gardens
are just that and invariably unrealistic in the extreme and certainly boring
for a plants person, the food is dire and expensive, the pushing and shoving
to see anything dreadful, the knowitalls who know nothing are always loud.
Why would you want a show in the SW?
Ps. Rosemoor is just too small anyway.
--
Regards. Bob Hobden.
Posted to this Newsgroup from the W of London, UK

On 2013-09-29 17:34:30 +0100, David Hill said:

On 29/09/2013 15:15, Sacha wrote:
snip
The cost of staging a large show is prohibitive and no exhibitor is
now going to stage without prize money. Gone are the days of staging
for the advertising and the pride in a Gold medal card.
A better idea would be for somewhere like Torquay to have a garden
competition where a number of show gardens would be built and
maintained for 3 or 4 months with them being judged every month to get
an over all winner, so tourists would have something to visit during
their holiday not just one weekend a year.
David @ a now overcast side of Swansea bay.
snip

Your idea for e.g. Torquay is a good one though the costs would
certainly be a factor and from the nursery pov, some of this would be
happening in the busiest season so sustaining it might be difficult. But
originally, I just thought it curious that there are RHS Shows all over
various regions of UK except this one. We're a small business compared
to some and the sheer cost of doing Chelsea would be huge for us. I have
no idea what the actual entry fees are but we'd have to hire a van to
take plants to London and then rent somewhere for those constructing and
staffing a stand, and probably employ temporary replacement staff here,
so it's out of the question.


When I did Chelsea Many years ago It was just myself and a friend, we
had a caravan and were the first caravan to park in Battersea gardens,
we had to hop over the fence at night,
It was hard work but still got a Silver gilt Flora medal.
In those days you had to have done 3 RHS shows and to have got at least
a silver medal to get an invite to Chelsea.
About 3 weeks before the show I had a phone call asking if I could do
twice the size I was going to do, In my innocence I said yes.
Had to do 2 trips to get all the plants up as well as having a load in
the caravan..
It was an experience

Sounds like more fun probably, too! I think entries were down this
year from what I recall. You can't help wondering if it's the costs
involved, unfortunately.
--

Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
www.helpforheroes.org.uk

On 2013-09-29 22:41:39 +0100, Bob Hobden said:

"Sacha" wrote

I wonder why the RHS doesn't hold a regular annual show in the SW. I
think the nearest to us is in Cardiff. But for some reason, I can't get
onto their site to check that, atm. They did a sort of one-off at one
of the hotels in Torquay about 5 years ago but nothing since that I'm
aware of. You'd think with Rosemoor down here there'd be some
incentive, along with a big tourism industry, too.

But once you have been to one you have been to them all. The same
people exhibit and year after year, the same plants usually too, the
show gardens are just that and invariably unrealistic in the extreme
and certainly boring for a plants person, the food is dire and
expensive, the pushing and shoving to see anything dreadful, the
knowitalls who know nothing are always loud. Why would you want a show
in the SW?
Ps. Rosemoor is just too small anyway.

You may be right about Rosemoor, though some say that about Chelsea
now, too. I was really just struck by the fact there are no shows in
the SW when I was looking at the RHS web site and the different venues
where there are Shows. I suppose the nearest equivalents here are the
County shows, though the garden marquee at the Devon County Show
doesn't get much publicitiy but there is a lovely atmosphere at these
County shows and a terrific mix of interests, so perhaps it works out
better in the end, after all!
--

Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
www.helpforheroes.org.uk

I always used to have a couple of stands at the International Festival of
the Sea at Portsmouth and was quite prepared to take a triple space at the
next one, expensive yes but worthwhile in my case, thinking of others.

But the next one didn't come.

Priced themselves out of the market.


Mike




"Sacha" wrote in message ...

On 2013-09-29 17:34:30 +0100, David Hill said:

On 29/09/2013 15:15, Sacha wrote:
snip
The cost of staging a large show is prohibitive and no exhibitor is
now going to stage without prize money. Gone are the days of staging
for the advertising and the pride in a Gold medal card.
A better idea would be for somewhere like Torquay to have a garden
competition where a number of show gardens would be built and
maintained for 3 or 4 months with them being judged every month to get
an over all winner, so tourists would have something to visit during
their holiday not just one weekend a year.
David @ a now overcast side of Swansea bay.
snip

Your idea for e.g. Torquay is a good one though the costs would
certainly be a factor and from the nursery pov, some of this would be
happening in the busiest season so sustaining it might be difficult. But
originally, I just thought it curious that there are RHS Shows all over
various regions of UK except this one. We're a small business compared
to some and the sheer cost of doing Chelsea would be huge for us. I have
no idea what the actual entry fees are but we'd have to hire a van to
take plants to London and then rent somewhere for those constructing and
staffing a stand, and probably employ temporary replacement staff here,
so it's out of the question.


When I did Chelsea Many years ago It was just myself and a friend, we had
a caravan and were the first caravan to park in Battersea gardens, we had
to hop over the fence at night,
It was hard work but still got a Silver gilt Flora medal.
In those days you had to have done 3 RHS shows and to have got at least a
silver medal to get an invite to Chelsea.
About 3 weeks before the show I had a phone call asking if I could do
twice the size I was going to do, In my innocence I said yes.
Had to do 2 trips to get all the plants up as well as having a load in the
caravan..
It was an experience

Sounds like more fun probably, too! I think entries were down this
year from what I recall. You can't help wondering if it's the costs
involved, unfortunately.
--

Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
www.helpforheroes.org.uk