Driffield Show 2024: Horticulture Section Invites Gardeners to ‘Have a Go and Get Involved’
‘Have a go and get involved’ is the message from horticulture section secretary Gill Butler who is encouraging gardeners and growers to get involved with the Driffield Show.
With fingers crossed for some warmer weather to ripen fruit and see flowers and vegetables bloom, the horticultural marquee is the place to be to provide ideas and inspiration for green-fingered growers.
The popular gardeners’ theatre will make a welcome return where a range of experts will give talks and demonstrate their skills throughout the day offering advice and information to visitors.
There will be exquisite exhibits of floral art, cut flowers, succulent fruit and vegetables and corn classes, as well as a number of projects which are open to schools across East Yorkshire.
Sponsored by Yorkshire Greens (Darta), schools are invited to display one container of produce grown at school by the pupils and display an A1 poster, produced at school by the children, depicting the growing experience.
Driffield Show
Wednesday 17th July 2024
This year, pupils are also being asked to demonstrate how environmentally friendly their schools are through the green plant champions award.
The award gives schools the chance to display how their pupils are encouraged to take part in projects to help the environment, as part of the national curriculum.
Children will also be designing bee-friendly posters to show the importance of bees to gardeners, farmers and the environment.
Gill said it promises to be another wonderful show.
“We have another busy schedule for this year and there are lots of interesting exhibits and information to suit all interests,” she said.
“Fingers crossed the recent cold snap and rain will pass and we will have some warmth so all the roses and sweet peas will look glorious, and the courgettes will grow, and the tomatoes ripen.
“This year we have welcomed some new businesses to the trade area, and it is always encouraging to see some of the younger, specialist nurseries coming along and being a part of the show.
“We have a full programme of demonstrators in the gardeners’ theatre with fascinating talks going on throughout the day, so come along and bring your sandwiches and sit and enjoy listening to the experts.
“The local flowers clubs are here to put on their beautiful displays, and we have lots of local schools involved with the different schools’ challenge projects.
Gill added that entries for the horticulture classes can still be accepted providing there is space and she encouraged people to take part.
“We often get last minute entries for horticulture and as long as I have got room I will take them, so my message is have a go and get involved.
“Don’t be frightened to take part, we have plenty of novice classes and there are other people who will have never shown before, so get involved.”
She added her thanks to marquee sponsor Westland Horticulture, and to the band of stewards and volunteers who help get the area set up for the day.
“The weekend before the show we have a group of volunteers who set up the staging for the section and if anyone would like to come and help set up, any volunteers are gratefully received, please contact Mike Temple of myself, our numbers are in the schedule.
“On the Tuesday before the show, the stewards set up and mark out and exhibitors start coming from Tuesday afternoon and are still setting up their floral art and exhibits until well after dark that night.
“It all comes together on the day, and it is wonderful to see people coming along proudly with their sweet peas or potatoes, and the excitement when they win, especially the schoolchildren, it is lovely to see their faces when they have been recognised for their work.”
GARDENERS’ THEATRE TIMETABLE
Wednesday 17th July 2024
The popular gardeners’ theatre will make a welcome return where a range of experts will give talks and demonstrate their skills throughout the day offering advice and information to visitors.
10.00 am ALL THINGS BRITISH & BEAUTIFUL – A seasonal display by Helen Jackson of Rosebud Flowers
10.45 am PRUNING – A WALK THROUGH PRUNING TECHNIQUES – Andy Karovics, Head Gardener, Scampston Hall
11.30 am HAZEL & WILLOW SCULPTURES FOR YOUR GARDEN (Bring your children along) – Graham Johnson
12.15pm MORE PLANTS FOR LESS MONEY – Propogating your own plants Henrietta Huntley Freckles & Flora
12.45 pm SCHOOLS’ CHALLENGE TROPHY PRESENTATION
1.15pm GROWING ROSES & SWEET PEAS SUCCESSFULLY – John Smiles
2.00pm PLANTS FOR YOUR WILDLIFE POND – John Barnard, Yorkshire Water, Top Hill Low Nature Reserve
2.20pm CREATING A WILD FLOWER MEADOW – Richard Hampshire, Yorkshire Water, Top Hill Low Nature Reserve
2.50pm BEE AWARE (A BEEKEEPING PRESENTATION) – Jonathan Smith
3.30pm GROWING ALPINES IN YOUR GARDEN – Mark Padgett Skerne Alpines
4pm PRESENTATION OF TROPHIES
