Spring Garden Show

Hundreds of green-fingered enthusiasts proved that beyond doubt gardening is one of the Island's most popular hobbies, by turning out in force for the Spring Garden Show at Robin Hill Countryside Adventure Park.

Traditionally held over the May bank holiday weekend, the event was brought forward a week to take place over the weekend of the 26th and 27th April. Now in its third year, it has grown in size to meet the ever-increasing demands of garden-lovers both here and on the mainland.

Sponsored by four leading local businesses; the County Press, Wightlink, Morey's and Farmer Jacks Farm Shop, the Spring Garden event showcased the very best the Island has to offer in plant nurseries, garden centres and other related garden businesses, including landscaping, garden machinery and buildings.

Blossoming creativity

Some of the top plant nurseries in the south of England were invited to exhibit a display in the 'Wightlink Floral Marquee', which formed an impressive centrepiece to the entire show. The contenders, including up to ten Royal Horticultural Society show winning nurseries, were all competing against one another to win the Wightlink Floral Trophy and £1000 in prize money.

RHS gold medal winners Isle of Wight Lavender, who also entered the competition with their own magnificent display, hosted the marquee itself. Submissions included favourites such as bonsai trees, orchids and hostas, all of which created a truly spectacular sight. The new high sheriff of the Isle of Wight, Alan Titchmarsh, presented the trophy to the winning team; John Trott of the Mendip Bonsai Studio, at 2pm on Saturday afternoon.

Celebrity judges help nurture an abundance home grown of talent

VIP guest and renowned television gardening expert Alan Titchmarsh also performed several additional duties during his visit on the Saturday of the Spring Garden Show including unveiling a mosaic created by Independent Arts community arts groups in the popular 'Island Art Exhibition' marquee. He then went on to judge the children's sculpture competition, in which Island children were asked to design a garden sculpture in the theme of dragons using only recycled and waste materials found around their own home. The exhibits from the under 9's and 10-15's age categories were highly imaginative, colourful and generated a high level of interest amongst the crowds. Over 80 youngsters entered the competition, with the ultimate winners being Charlie O'Riain for the under 9's and Erica Cooke who took the prize for the older age group.

Island-based actor and woodland owner Geoffrey Hughes made a celebrity guest appearance on the Sunday to auction off five chain-saw sculptures, created the previous day as part of a carving competition. The all-new 'Robin Hill Carve Off' featured five talented chainsaw sculptors competing against the clock to create a work of art from a tree trunk. The resulting designs ranged from an innovative cuddling couple to a musical instrument-wielding hare. Paul Sivell beat fellow Island contenders Eric Van Dam and Guido Oakley and nationally-renowned carvers Tom Harvey and Ant Beetlestone to win the accolade. Four of the finished works were later put up for sale in the County Press with half the proceeds going to the IW Air Ambulance.

Reaping the benefits

Stands representing Island businesses, organisations and charities were in plentiful supply at the Spring Garden Show, which provided them with a prime opportunity to showcase their wares. Visitors were able to taste and buy delicious Island-produced foods in the 'Tastes of the Island' marquee, where top chefs gave motivational cookery demonstrations in the 'Food Theatre.'

The 'Handmade Craft Tent' also proved to be a firm favourite with show-goers looking for that more unusual gift. Isle of Wight Council's Eco Island tent supplied information about the forthcoming Big Green Picnic event to be held over the weekend of 24-25 May and was situated right next to a specially created straw-bale house. This became the centrepiece for a demonstration of environmentally friendly techniques for the garden and home, where numerous positive suggestions for 'green ideas' were raised throughout the course of the two-day gathering.

Garden show entertainment

The main arena featured a whole host of scheduled entertainment, from dog agility to Morris dancing, falconry displays to lama racing! Renowned Island children's entertainer David Randini was also on-hand with his puppet show to keep the youngster's occupied whilst their parents browsed around the many plant and flower stalls. People sheltered in the marquees in-between the showers on Sunday, but could be seen streaming out like rabbits as soon as the brighter clouds emerged!

With its woodland walks, recently landscaped Japanese water garden and impressive driftwood dome which houses a collection of driftwood sculptures gathered from local Island beaches, Robin Hill, without question provided the ideal venue for the garden show.

In addition to being well fed and watered with the likes of cream tea, cake and a whole host of locally- produced sweet and savoury treats, visitors were provided with plenty of inspiration to take home and apply to their own gardens as we all look forward to what we hope will be a brighter summer on the Island.

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