Record crowds bask in RHS Cardiff sunshine

11th April 2011

The glorious weather in Wales this weekend brought record numbers of over 27,000 to the RHS Show Cardiff – getting the Royal Horticultural Society outdoor show season off to the best possible start.

This year’s event beat last year’s attendance by over 3,000 as temperature’s rose into the 20s. This was the seventh year of the show in Cardiff, delivered though a partnership between Cardiff Council and the RHS, and organisers are very pleased in its growing popularity. RHS Shows Director Stephen Bennett said: “Following a second successive year of sunshine , with record visitor numbers, the exhibitors have had an extremely successful show, and we are now able to plan for the longer term future of this lovely event with a great deal of confidence.”

Amongst the attractions this year was a record entry of 73 schools taking part in the popular and colourful Schools Wheelbarrow competition, won by Moorland Primary School from the Splott area of the city. Ron Scamp’s Quality Daffodils won the Best Floral Exhibitor for the sixth year running at the show, and he also made a presentation of the Welsh Warrior Daffodil and framed certification to Hazel Hunt, the mother of Richard, the 200th British casualty in Afghanistan. Hazel has set up a foundation in her son’s name to raise funds for injured Welsh troops, and proceeds from the sale of the Welsh Warrior will go toward that causes. Hazel said: “The aim of the foundation is to make sure Richard did not die in vain, and events like the RHS Show Cardiff help to keep fallen servicemen and women in the public eye. As a proud Welsh Warrior himself, Richard would love the idea of a Daffodil being named in his honour.”

Ron Scamp said: “This has been the best Cardiff show so far. The ambience created this weekend is unsurpassed by any other show that we do, everyone seems to be having a great time, enjoying the excellent quality of plants available.” In contrast, Trewidden Nursery was a first time exhibitor at Cardiff, and came away with a Gold Medal. Joint owner Claire Batten said: “I must say the show is fantastic, it’s nice and compact, it feels intimate and we’ve obviously had brilliant weather. It’s been good for business and we’d certainly like to come back.”

Garden designer Gaynor Witchard is celebrating her second successive Best Show Garden award for West Meets East, a collaboration with Paul Melvin, which scooped Silver-Gilt. Gaynor is a great ambassador for the Cardiff show, having given up her full time job with the BBC to embark on a garden design career after tasting success at the show. Gaynor said: “We’ve had a great time. The crowds loved the garden and we’ve had quite a bit of interest in our services from the many visitors.”

See photos of this year's show, here.

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