Southport Flower Show 19th-22nd August

2 Mediamix Supplement ● Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Southport Flower Show 2010

E XPERTS are predictingan explosion of colourin Britain’s gardens this

year following the coldestwinter in 30 years, and theUK’s largest independentflower show will be theperfect place to celebrateand enjoy the spectacle.

Attracting around 75,000visitors, Southport FlowerShow is the largestindependent flower show inthe UK – and the most diverse.

The four-day event featuresthe very best in horticultureand garden design, as well asgourmet foods and all-roundentertainment.

Visitors will be surroundedby more than a million blooms,and the stunning Grand FloralMarquee will be packed withspectacular displays fromsome of the country’s topindependent growers.

Taking place from Thursday,August 19 to Sunday, August22, this year’s show is set to bean inspirational event withplenty to keep the familyentertained.

The show gardens offerunique features, whileexquisite furniture and plantswill leave visitors buzzing withideas on how to transformtheir own garden, whatever itssize. There is also a dedicatedallotment section for thosewho want their gardens to beproductive as well as pretty.

Shopping desires will also bewell served with a diverse

range of exhibitors offeringeverything for the garden, thehome, arts and crafts, clothing,footwear and much more.

This year’s show has thetheme Coast to celebrate thestunning seaside location inEngland’s Classic Resort.

New for 2010, the FoodVillage will be brimming withquality local and organicproduce and fine wines. In thedemonstration area, localchefs will be cooking updelicious summer recipes totantalise the tastebuds.

Celebrity garden experts andSouthport Flower Showpatrons Diarmuid Gavin, SirRoddy Llewellyn, ProfessorDavid Bellamy OBE andProfessor Stefan Buczacki willbe on hand to offer tips andguidance.

For a touch of glamour and asparkling reception, there isLadies’ Day (Friday, August20), where broadcast journalistRachel McTavish will compere.

Nationally-renowned floristJonathan Moseley will bedemonstrating the latest infloral design and HilaryCookson of fashion storeMaureen Cookson, of Whalley,Lancashire, will stage thefashion show.

The Gala Preview Evening(Wednesday, August 18) is aunique summer event not to bemissed. This black tie functionis a highlight of the summersocial calendar and willcommence with a champagnereception in the Grand FloralMarquee where you can view

the spectacular displaysimmediately after the judginghas taken place, making thisan exclusive experience.

David Jackson, ChiefExecutive of the SouthportFlower Show, said: “Our 2010show promises to be full ofinterest, inspiration andinvolvement. We are workinghard to ensure that there is awealth of attractions acrossthe four days and somethingfor everyone to enjoy.”

With entertainment all dayin the arena and at thebandstand, free entry forchildren, lectures, talks anddemonstrations, some of thecountry’s favourite celebritygardeners on hand with adviceon making the most of yourgarden and a warm welcome,the Southport Flower Show isthe perfect summer event.

For further showinformation and to ordertickets for the SouthportFlower Show, visit the websitewww.southportflowershow.co.uk or call 0844 8471555. Advance tickets are £16.

So, if you’re searching forsomething different to keepyou occupied or perhapsyou’re looking for a project,something you can really getstuck into – even if you’resomewhere in-between, a visitto Southport Flower Show willspark a wealth of bright ideasabout how to transform yourgarden into your own littleoasis of calm.

Event is for the gardener in all of us

● Southport Flower Show always attracts the crowds, whatever the weather

● The eventis a chanceto pick up afew tips onhow to turnyour gardeninto an oasis– or justenjoy thefruits ofothers’ hardwork!

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3Mediamix Supplement ● Wednesday, August 11, 2010


English rose willtake a leaf out ofgardeners’ booksG LAMOROUS TV star

Suranne Jones is toopen this year’s South-

port Flower Show.The popular actress, whose

career first blossomed onCoronation Street, will lead thegrand opening ceremony onThursday, August 19, markingthe start of the UK’s largestindependent flower show.

“I am hugely excited aboutcoming to Southport,” saidNorthern girl Suranne, whowill be opening the 81st annualshow this year.

“It has been one of myfavourite places since I was achild and I have always had agreat time there.”

Her four years playing feistyKaren McDonald in Corrieearned her a number ofawards, notably the RoyalTelevision Society (RTS) MostPopular Actress award.

She was also voted the sexieststar in soap. Since leavingCoronation Street, Suranne, 31,

has become one of the leadingTV actresses of her generation.

She has turned in criticallyacclaimed performances in hitTV dramas ‘Vincent,’ ‘FiveDays’ and ‘Unforgiven,’ whichearned her a Best Actressnomination in the RTS awards.

Suranne’s latest major drama‘Single Father’ co-starringDavid Tennant, will bebroadcast on BBC1 in theautumn.

Suranne, who says herfavourite flower is the classicEnglish garden rose, added: “Iam really interested in gardensand I hope to grow old in a bighouse with a big garden.

“I’m eager to get some toptips from the experts as well asseeing all the wonderful showgardens. There is so muchhappening at the show thisyear, it sounds like my perfectday out.”

Suranne describes herself asan “intrigued, keen to learn”gardener, and said she will belooking for inspiration and tips

on how best to use the limitedspace she has at home.

“I don’t have the luxury of alarge garden where I live, soI’ll be asking the experts how Ican give my home a bit of life,”she said.

“I’m sure the knowledgeable,friendly people visiting andexhibiting at the show will beable to give me some goodadvice on how to make themost of the space I have.”

David Jackson, chiefexecutive at Southport FlowerShow, said: “Suranne is one ofthe UK’s brightest stars andwe’re sure she’ll enjoy comingto the show for a great day out.

“Like many of our visitors,Suranne is also keen to gathertips on how to make the best ofthe garden space she has andthere will be plenty of goodadvice on offer from ourexperts.

“We’re looking forward towelcoming her to this year’sshow.”● Popular actress Suranne Jones will open the Southport Flower Show this year

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Why show grew to be David’s favourite

Well-known authors to signin for new book festival

D AVID Bellamy, promin-ent author, broadcaster,botanist and

environmental campaigner, hashad a long affiliation with theSouthport Flower Show. Herehe explains why he lovesSouthport’s annualhorticultural extravaganza somuch.

“The day I first visitedSouthport Flower Show was areal eye-opener. I was a bitworried because my particularbrand of botany was all aboutwild weeds, not the highlycosseted ones that were onshow. What an eye opener,though – crowds of people allpotty about plants. I have beengoing there ever since.

“I did my best to open theshow on that day, and with aslip of the tongue I declared‘The Stockport Flower Show’well and truly open. I thinkeveryone thought I had done iton purpose.

“The next problem I had toovercome was answeringgardening questions from aseething crowd surrounding thebandstand. Up they came withscraps of their favourite plantin its death throes with cries of‘what did I do wrong?’

“Roddy Llewellyn and Iteamed up a long time ago, and Iusually let him take the bruntof bad news. I quickly learntnever to say ‘it’s only a plant,’so now I chip in with

appropriate condolences.“The thing that really got me

hooked on Southport is that it isa wonderful mix of bothamateur and professionalexhibitors. Each one is anexpert in their own right. Takefor instance sweet peas. Howanyone can raise these daintyflowers and get them to theshow ready for display isbeyond me. As they will nevergrow for me, I will remain akeen observer.

“As a kid in wartime Londonwe used to dig for victory. Thismade me wonder whether wecould find budding gardeners inthe show. Thus the BellamyCompetition for the best gardendesign was born.

“The three best have theirgardens on show at Southport.The only problem is that theyhave nothing to achieve garden-wise.

“Over the past few yearsthings have livened up in thekids’ garden department. Twoteams of youngsters are given asmall plot of land on which theyhave to plant a garden in 90minutes. Mums, dads, granniesand grandads cheer them onand do their best not to get inthe way. The best bit is wateringthe plots and scrounging plantsfrom the stalls. I can only guesswhat will go wrong this year!

“There is no other show thatbeats this one for the sheerwonder of plants and people.Carry on gardening, people.Southport forever.” ● Professor David Bellamy loves Southport Flower Show

● US best-selling author Tess Gerritsen

THIS year SouthportFlower Show will featurean appearance from a best-selling US crime author aspart of its new book festiv-al.

Tess Gerritsen, a NewYork Times bestseller with15 million sales under herbelt, is the special guest atthis year’s Bloomin’ GoodBook Festival.

Her appearance marksthe highlight of the four-day event, a collaborationbetween Southport FlowerShow and SilverdellBookshop, Kirkham.

Tess will be at the showon Sunday, August 22speaking to visitors andsigning copies of her newbook, The Killing Place,which topped the SundayTimes Bestseller list inJuly.

Bloomin’ Good Books, a

newly-created ‘festivalwithin a festival’, willfeature a host of appear-ances from authors, allsituated in a dedicated areaof the Victoria Park showgrounds.

Other authors makingappearances at the festivalinclude Sue Shepherd,Mike Pannett and BBCGardeners World presenterToby Buckland.

For the younger visitorthere will be specialappearances from AnneFine and Steve Hartley,author of the popular‘Danny Baker RecordBreaker’ series.

Southport Flower Showruns from August 19 to 22.● For tickets, or details ofthe rest of the show’sexciting line-up, visit www.southportflowershow.co.ukor call 01704 547147.

● Author Mike Pannett will be at theShow

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Students have designs on successA TOUCH of

internationalclass will be

gracing SouthportFlower Show this year.

The winners of thisyear’s Southport FlowerShow Student Gardendesign competition havebeen announced, withthis year’s top entryshowcasing the best inContinental cool.

A team from the OxfordCollege of Garden Design(OCGD), consisting ofMomo Pino, 32, fromCroatia and AlexandraLehne, 34, from Germany,won the competition withtheir design based on theshow’s theme of Coast.

The team of judgescongratulated them onthe high calibre of theirentry, and praised thewinners for their use ofboth conceptual andsculptural elements intheir design.

The competitionchallenges designstudents to create anexciting and uniquegarden with a budget of£5,000. The winningdesign is then brought tolife and displayed in frontof more than 75,000people at the Show.

For one half of thewinning team it was achance to improve on last

year’s second placefinish. Momo, who washighly commended forher 2009 entry, said shewas happy to go one stepfurther this year. Sheexplained: “I made a fewmistakes with my entryin 2009. It was unrealisticin terms of budget, so Imade sure that this yearour entry was withinbudget without losingany of the flair that madeour design stand out.”

Momo, currently livingand working in Canadaafter finishing hercourse, will be flyingover to the UK to overseethe building work on thegarden. She said: “I wassceptical about thedesign at first; it tooksome convincing fromAlex. I wasn’t sure it was‘showy’ enough for ashow garden, but Alexhad the vision and it haspaid off for us. I can’twait to see it finishedand on display.”

The pair, who will alsoreceive £1,000 in prizemoney, embraced moderntechnology to worktogether on the designs,often working on thesame project despitebeing thousands of milesapart.

Alexandra said: “I amso happy we won; it will

be so exciting to see thefinal design built anddisplayed among all theother wonderful thingson offer over theweekend of the Show.

“You can have brilliantideas but they don’talways work in real life,so this competition givesus a chance to showpeople that we can notonly manage the wholeprocess, but also that bybeing positive you canmake great thingshappen.

“It will also give us theopportunity to start ourcareers as gardendesigners with an award-winning first item in ourportfolio!”

Duncan Heather, fromOCGD, said: “Compet-itions such as this oneare invaluable todesigners like Alex andMomo.

“It’s a fantasticopportunity for them todemonstrate whatthey’ve learnt and alsogain the credibilityneeded to forge asuccessful career ingarden design.”

Building work startedon the winning design inthe last week of July, andit will be ready in timefor the show’s grandopening on August 19.

● Alex and Momo's winning design, which will be built and displayed at this year's Southport Flower. Inset,Alex, left, and Momo Code: NA




Choosing the right designer for you

● With the help of an experienced garden designer, youroutside space can be transformed into a Garden of Eden

F OR most of us it’s theinside of our home whichtakes priority. Decorating

and redecorating in whatseems like an endless journey,more often than not we forgetabout our outside space.

However, by creating aseamless link between the houseand the garden, we can add anextra dimension to our propertyand create an oasis of calm andtranquility in which to whileaway the hours.

Garden design can be a trickybusiness, especially for thenovice. Choosing the rightplants, ones that thrive in yoursoil and your gardenenvironment, can be likeploughing through mud.However, help is at hand.

Across the North West thereare a host of qualified gardendesigners, each bringing theirown take on how a gardenshould look.

From the more traditional tothe contemporary, a goodgarden designer should be ableto immediately visualise whatwill and what won’t work inyour garden. However, makesure that you do your researchbefore choosing someone toturn your patch of green into agarden of Eden.

Firstly, what would you like inyour garden? Sounds simpleenough, but actually it takes

time to properly research yourlikes and dislikes.

Hours traipsing round gardencentres, leafing throughmagazines and grappling withgardening books may seem likea chore, but in the long run itwill be time well spent.

Why not create a mood board?Cut out and collect images frommagazines, examples of yourpreferred paving or deckingmaterial, use other people’sgardens for your ideas and visityour local garden centre forhorticultural inspiration.

Once you’ve decided on yourtheme and, if you’re notconfident enough to tackle thejob yourself, the next step is tochoose a garden designer who ison your wave length.

Start by looking at the website,the Society of Garden Designers(www.sgd.org.uk). All thoselisted are registered Membersor Fellows of the Society andwill have a minimum of twoyears’ experience. Alternatively,check out your local telephonedirectory, ask friends and familyif they have anyrecommendations or maybeeven enquire at your localgarden centre.

Always make sure the fees aresorted out up front and ask tosee the designer’s portfolio andphotographs/sketches of theirprevious work.

Also be aware that a garden

designer may simply developideas, but may not be a plantexpert or landscaper. Someoneoffering garden services, mayactually be a lawn specialist. It’svital to understand exactly whatyou’re paying for before yousign on the dotted line.

The key thing is patience.Creating a garden to be proud oftakes time, care and attention

and should not be rushed.Planting for the seasons is anexcellent way to go, giving youcolour throughout the year,whether it be foliage or flowers.

Creating a garden is likepainting a masterpiece, fusingyour ideas with the best thatmother nature has to offer andsomething that will be admiredfor generations to come.

● Choosing the perfect plants that will thrive in your garden canbe tricky so why not seek the advice of the experts?




Picture perfect imagesS OUTHPORT Flower

Show’s photographycompetition is now in

its fifth year.The competition, which is

open to amateurs only, offerscash prizes to three agegroups: 10 – 16, 17 – 54 andover 55s – in three categories:plants, garden views andwildlife in the garden.

Winners and runners upwill be presented with theirprize money by ProfessorStefan Buczacki on Thursday,August 19.

“The entrants in thephotographic competitionnever cease to amaze me,”said Prof Buczacki.

“The standard rises everyyear and it was especiallypleasing this time to see sucha wonderful selection of

remarkable quality from the10 – 16 age group.”

Here are the winningphotos:

● Terry Cooper was joint winner of the Class B gardenscapes, in the55+ age group, with his photo of Cavehill Country Park

● Clowning aroundby Nina Agnew, win-ner of the Class A,plant portraits, in the17-54 age group

● Left, Nicolas Hicks’ image, An Invitation to Chequer Court,was winner of the Class B, gardenscapes, in the 10-16 agegroup and above, United Colours by John Livesey, winner ofthe Class C, wildlife in the garden, in the 17-54 age group

● Peter Swaine’s photo Thorp Perrow Arboretum, earned him joint winner of the Class B,gardenscape, in the 55+ age group

● This picture by Elaine Fraser is entitled PathTo the Top and was winner of the Class B,gardenscapes, in the 17-54 age group

● Above,Terry Cooper’sYoung Robin,winner of theClass C, wild-life in thegarden, andleft, PeterSwaine’s Hy-drangea Lace-cap, winner ofthe Class A,plant portraits,both in the55+ age group

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It’s time to shed that shabby imageW HETHER it’s a play

room, hobby suite, agrowing centre or

just a place to pop your lawn-mower, the shed should be awell loved part of our garden.

Ok, so it’s often overlookedand not many people say ‘ohyour shed’s nice’ but thesedays the humble shed hascome on in leaps and bounds.

They come in a whole host ofshapes and sizes too, not tomention various materialssuch as metal, plastic andtreated timber.

The choice is vast; you canopt for a compact storage box-style shed which has a lid thatlifts up or your standard apexroof style; a curved roof or flatroof, maybe you want one thathas a wall of windows on oneside so you can use it as agrowing area too, the list isendless.

You can now also opt formore plush surroundings.Summerhouses offer a lotmore, whether you want it tohave laminate flooring withelectrical points or maybesomething a little simpler withdouble doors and openingwindows with a little veranda.

Summerhouses and cabinsare ideal if you want a littlespace outside the house whereyou can relax, or if you wantsomewhere the children canplay (even when it’s raining)and scatter their toys as much

as they want. Plus, as they getolder, it’s a perfect escape forteenagers.

If your little angel wantssomething for themselves thenthe trusted Wendy house is atouch more sturdy. You can getthem their own mini castle ortwo-storey playhouse with realwindows and doors that lookslike pretty, all-Americantimber homes.

There are a great selection ofother garden structures

available too, maybe you’dprefer a gazebo, a prettyarchway, a pergola or anarbour – there’s a wide varietyto help create the perfectgarden you’ve been looking for.

Arbours are generally abench with a small roof andtrellis-style side and back,creating a pretty place to relaxin the sun while still getting abit of shade. They can come ina simple style or something alittle more elaborate, maybe a

circular or square shape stillopen at the sides but with aseating area in the middle.

You could always opt for apergola, which is a framestructure open at the sides andusually the roof. It’s ideal forcreating a focal point and,with some climbing plants,it’ll soon look like it’s alwaysbeen part of the garden.

So, if you want to add a littlestructure to your gardenthere’s plenty to choose from.

● Give your little ones a home of their own with this fabulousplayhouse Picture: www.westlancssheds.co.uk

● Relax in the summer sun in astylish summerhouse

Picture: Garden Buildings Centre at Dobbies

● Enjoy your garden this summer, while staying out ofthe hot sun with a stylish and practical gazebo

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Street stars join in Ladies’ Day funT HIS year’s Southport

Flower Show’s Ladies’Day is set to be the

best yet, with two oftelevision’s best-knownfaces on hand to add a touchof star quality to theproceedings.

Antony Cotton and SueCleaver, better known asCoronation Street’s Sean andEileen, will be holding courtat the glamorous annualevent, held on Friday, August20, to mark Corrie’s 50thanniversary celebrations.

Antony, a keen gardenerwho has appeared on ourscreens as flamboyantknicker-stitcher Sean since2003, said: “I’m really excitedto be coming to SouthportFlower Show. I’ve heard onlygood things about Ladies’ Dayand I can’t wait to sample thefamous Southport hospitalityfor myself !

“I have been gardening foryears, so I am lookingforward to seeing all thebrilliant displays andlearning how the expertscreate these wonderfulgardens. Hopefully I can pickup a few tips along the way!”

Sue, who plays ‘Streetstalwart Eileen Grimshaw,said: “Everybody knowsabout Southport Flower Show,and Ladies’ Day is a greatopportunity for us girls to getglammed up and spend a day

sipping champagne andshopping!”

The day will begin with asparkling reception, andguests will have plenty oftime to relax and explore theexciting shoppingopportunities on offer withinthe marquee, includingcosmetics, lingerie, jewellery,accessories and handbagsfrom selected guest retailers,before settling down to enjoya delicious two-course lunch.

A fabulous full day’sentertainment is planned,including a stunning fashionpresentation from MaureenCookson of Whalley and afloral demonstration fromnationally-renowned floristand flower arranger JonathonMoseley.

Glamorous Sky Newspresenter Rachel McTavishwill host the event and willwelcome show patron andhousewives’ favouriteDiarmuid Gavin to join theladies during the afternoon.

Guests will also have time toenjoy the glorious sights,sounds and smells of Britain’sfriendliest flower show, whichruns from August 19 to 22 inthe lush surroundings ofSouthport’s Victoria Park.● Tickets for Ladies’ Day areavailable from Concept PR on01704 549190. Alternatively,log on to www.southportflowershow.co.uk. ● Coronation Street's Antony Cotton with his mum Enid Dunn and, inset, co-star Sue Cleaver

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Blooming lovelyE VERYTHING is coming up roses this

year, with floral fashion proving areal hit for summer 2010.

Forget images of frumpy dresses adornedwith old-fashioned flower prints and thinkplayful jumpsuits, funky mini-dresses andflowing maxi-dresses, all with a colourful,floral theme.

Even if the weather is a bit hit and miss,you can guarantee brightening up the daywith a gorgeous floral patterned outfit.

And the beauty of this trend is that you cando as little or as much as you want with it. Ifyou’re feeling brave, then go head to toe infloral fashion – or if you want a more subtlelook then simply accessorise with a flowerhair clip or a floral patterned belt or scarf.

The possibilities are endless and theonly limits are your own imagination, soget creative and you’ll look bloominglovely.

● Florals can add a young and playful lookPicture: www.apricotonline.co.uk

● Right:Flowers andlace make astunningcombination

Pictures: Matalan

● A floral lace bandeau dress willlook elegant Picture: www.boohoo.com

● Spring into flower show action in a Sinha Stanic floraljumpsuit Picture: www.oli.co.uk

● Get therock chicklook with afloral festivaltopPicture: River Island



TWO North Westprimary schoolpupils are

celebrating after beingnamed joint winners of aprestigious gardendesign competition.

Kerry Anne Eakins, 11,of Penketh, and MillieLovaine, 11, of Crosby,won the 2010 DavidBellamy School Gardencompetition, held eachyear in association withSouthport Flower Showand the West LancashireFreemasons’ Charity.

The winning designs,chosen by a panel ofjudges, will now be builtfor real and displayed infront of over 75,000 guestsat Southport Flower Showthis month.

Kerry dedicated her winto Private ThomasSephton, of the 1stBattalion MercianRegiment, who died inAfghanistan earlier inJuly.

Private Sephton was a

friend of Kerry’s, and aformer pupil at PenkethCommunity Primaryschool.

Reacting to her win, shesaid: “Wow! It’s a bitscary! My legs went allfunny and wobbly when Iwas told I’d won, and Icouldn’t feel my feet!”

Julia Stephens, Kerry’steacher, said: “Kerry is acreative and imaginativepupil. She is deeplysympathetic to nature andwildlife, in particularhorses and fish, anddraws inspiration fromthese.

“Initially she appearsshy and reserved, butonce she feels comfortableand relaxed herenthusiasm and interestshine through and shebecomes very animatedand sparky.

“I’m delighted she wonthe competition, and herdedication to PrivateSephton proves what athoughtful andconsiderate girl she is.”

Kerry’s school,Valewood Primary, hasgood form in terms ofproducing winners of thecompetition.

Pupils of the school havebeen entering for fouryears, and this yearsupplied 27 entries.

They include a previouswinner in their alumni,and another of this year’sentries, by fellow pupilChloe Dee, was highlycommended by judges.

Judith Stitchbury,Millie’s teacher, said: “Sheis a creative, thoughtfulpupil. I’m not surprisedshe has won thecompetition.

“Millie is a delight toteach, and everyone at theschool is so happy forher.”

As winners of thecompetition, both schoolswill receive £500 fromSouthport Flower Showtowards improvements ofthe school’s grounds.

Budding gardenerscelebrate as theirdesigns take shape

● The competition is designed to encourage young gardeners




Food Village aims totreat your tastebuds

● The Food Village will feature a wide range of specialities

● An array of pies andbeverages will tempt you

I F you long for the taste ofgood old-fashionedsausages, the bite and

texture of real quality cheese,or the scrumptious flavour ofa dessert you’d happilyloosen your belt a notch for,you’re in for a summer treat.

In the newly-created FoodVillage at Southport FlowerShow, a whole host of thecountry’s leading independentfood and drink producers willbe providing a feast ofculinary delights.

As well as the ‘food marquee’there is the ‘village square’and the ‘village street,’ wheremore than 30 producers havegathered together to offerhungry visitors a veritablesmorgasbord of tastes andflavours.

In the food marquee, thedemonstration kitchen,making a welcome return tothe Flower Show, will presentsome of the best local chefscreating a range of deliciousdishes.

The Food Village is the placeto try some of the finest foodavailable in the country, andall you need to do is followyour nose to where your tastebuds will be amply rewarded.

The range of gourmet treatsavailable to sample and buywill include quality cheeses,meats, smoked fish, chutneysand pickles, puddings and piesand tasty beverages, includingbeer and liqueurs.

And new for 2010, a verydifferent type of foodexperience will be present atSouthport Flower Show.

As part of the Food VillageCole Henley, a Hampshire-based business that created aunique table barbecue, havebeen invited to run a barbecuebar and restaurant for visitorsat this year’s event.

The best British steaks,sausages and beef burgers willbe served. Special choice cutsof meat are available from aselect group of organic andfree range farmers.

And an exciting range of fishoptions are available, too,including line-caught tuna,dived scallops and black tailtiger prawns.

Each customer chooses froman extensive menu and thensits, tongs at the ready, all setto cook any number ofdifferent menu options.

Because customers cooktheir own food, each steak,burger or piece of tuna can becooked to their individualliking – without ever leavingthe table or the conversation.

So, whatever your tastes,there’s something to suit themat Southport Flower Show.Here’s to a sizzling summer!



W E Brits certainlyknow how to makethe most of any sun

we get – as soon as thoseclouds part we're all guilty ofslipping on our shorts andstretching out in the gardenor park to enjoy the weatherwhile it lasts.

So, to ensure your gardenlooks in great shape when thesun does make an appearance,take a peek at the fab selectionof patio furniture, summerhouses and log cabinsavailable that will turn evenyour basic back yard into asummer haven.

You’ll find everything fromcompact stools and deck chairsto sleek dining sets for all thefamily, not forgetting thoselazy, chic loungers that let youdrift off to imagine the warmsands and seas of theMediterranean.

Why not make your patioarea somewhere you can enjoyall day, every day, not justwhen you’re having abarbecue?

Investing in a qualityoutdoor table will give you andyour family many years of use,so create a patio space whereyou can maybe enjoy breakfastgetting a bit of fresh air, or

dinner with all the family.If you’re worried about the

rain, then nowadays theparasols are quite sturdy, andyou can usually get them bigenough to cover the wholetable. Or why not think aboutgetting an awning? A handycover that can be easily fixedto the wall and come out whenyou need it then retract whenyou don’t is a great option ifyou’re planning to use youroutdoor space often.

Alternatively, if you’re notlooking for patio furniture thataccommodates the wholefamily and fancy something abit more cosy, there are plentyof options available here, too.You could opt for relaxing bedloungers, retro deck chairs, abistro style cafe set or even a

solid wood pair of chairs witha joining table.

Garden accessories are bigthis season, too, with boldbright cushions to liven upyour patio furniture to funkyplanters and kooky birdhouses and feeders – there'splenty to choose from.

The good old gnome is stillaround, but now there’s plentyof other options to bring alittle life into your outdoorspace. Candles and lanternsfor outside can create a nicetable centrepiece during theevening; there are alsodecorations you can hang fromtrees or your wall to forminteresting features.

So use your garden to its fullpotential and you’ll be amazedon how often you step outside.

Make the most ofthe summertime

● Hide away in a relaxing lounger Picture: Bhs

● Enjoythe beachthemewith thesedeckchairs Pic-

ture: John Lewis

● Eleganceand comfortoutdoorscan beyours withthis roundpatio set

Picture: Taskers

See our new rangeof 3-piece suites,

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Wholesome, local food – it's in our natureDobbies Garden World l Bentham’s Way l Southport l PR8 4HX l Tel 01704 552 920 Also at Blackpool Rd l Clifton l Nr Preston l Lancashire l PR4 0XL l Tel 01772 683 844 www.dobbies.com



Small spaces can packa mighty floral punchI F you have only a small garden or

yard area at the rear of your houseyou may be of the mindset that

there’s nothing much you can reallydo with that space. But, no matterthe size of your garden, it’s alwayspossible to make it bloom.

There are always ways to make themost out of your small spaces.

Start by making sure the area isclean and tidy – that way you canbetter consider the best use of thespace. A well kept yard or garden spacewill immediately look better, and itcould even attract buyers if you’re inthe market to sell your property.

But, assuming that you’re stayingput, you’ll want to improve the area tomake it a tranquil refuge from the day,a little sun trap where you can sit withjust the drone of bees to keep youcompany.

Firstly though, plan it out. You onlyhave limited space so it’s a good idea totake measurements of your garden oryard area and draw up a plan so youcan decide what can go where. Thiscould save a lot of expense andgnashing of teeth when it comes toactually creating the garden.

One good tip for making your gardenfeel bigger and expanding it ondifferent levels is to use hangingbaskets. These give you a floral feel at

eye-level and add extra dimensions toyour garden.

The same can be said when adding asimple wood trellis to your garden.Giving climbing plants a little helpinghand with a trellis can really bringyard walls to life as flowers burst open,bringing vibrant colour to anotherwise drab wall.

How about purchasing some newgarden furniture, such as seats or evena table? Of course, only do this if you’resure you have the room. You don’t wantto add needless clutter, but if you canseparate a little area in which to sitand enjoy the garden then go for it.

If you prefer to be relaxing in yourgarden rather than constantly having

to tend it, you might find a rockerygarden would suit you? Fill it withhardy plants and flowers that wouldprove both attractive and would prettymuch look after themselves all yearround.

And it’s not just yards and smallgardens. You can apply most of theserules to a simple patio area or a rooftopgarden. You can easily add pottedplants and container fruit trees if youfeel an extra splash of green isrequired.

It’s worth a little bit of hard work inorder to have your very own beautifullittle retreat from the world, in whichto really relax.

● Drainpipe plant pots make a great space saverPicture: www.aplaceforeverything.co.uk

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Prisoners hope to coastto second major victory

● HMYOIThorncross, won lastyear’s Brockhousetrophy for best inshow

P RISONERS at twoNorth West prisonsare hard at work

preparing their competitionentries for this year’sSouthport Flower Show.

HMYOI Thorncross,winners of last year’s ‘Best inShow’ title, are hoping tocontinue their success at thisyear’s show, which runs fromAugust 19 - 22.

John Platt, Head ofLearning and Skills atThorncross, said: “We havebeen working on this year’sentry for some considerabletime now.

“The show’s theme of Coasthas given us a nice brief towork to, and we are takinginspiration from our

beautiful North West coastline.”

For over a decade now, therehas been a HM Prison serviceshow garden on display atSouthport Flower Show.

The link-up came whenHMP Garden’s Manager,Keith Sowden, wanted toenter a garden as acollaboration between HMYOIThorncross and HMPKirkham, the idea being thatthe competition showsprisoners the practical valuesof teamwork, planning,project management,creativity and good old-fashioned graft.

Mr Platt, who took over therunning of the scheme whenMr Sowden retired last year,said the opportunity to learn

new skills was a hugemotivator to prisoners: “It isnot an easy process, and ittakes a lot of hard work andtime, but the buzz these ladsget from seeing their gardentake shape is immense.

“The prisoners workvoluntarily at weekends,always to strict deadlines, tomake sure it all works andthey are given a degree ofresponsibility to ensure theyare all pulling in the samedirection. Nobody wants to letthe team down.”

Around 30 Category Dprisoners work on the project,all aged between 18 and 25.

The prisoners are takenfrom Thorncross’ art,gardening and constructiondepartments, and all have

shown a great willingness toget the project off the ground.

“They get a real sense ofownership from the project,”said Mr Platt. “They knowthat if they succeed then thesense of pride they will feelwill be amazing, but they alsoknow failure will be down tothem. It’s a great incentive towork hard and put the hoursin.

“They just want to showpeople what they are capableof, and that they shouldn’t bewritten off just yet.

“This year we are twomembers of staff down so theodds are against us winningagain, but we have startedearly and the lads still havethat desire to do well so don’trule us out just yet.”

● Thorncross’winning garden wasdesigned toincorporate elementsof the show’s themeof the 1920’s

Freshly prepared mealsand homebaking

Delicious fresh food – it's in our natureDobbies Garden World l Bentham’s Way l Southport l PR8 4HX l Tel 01704 552 920 Also at Blackpool Rd l Clifton l Nr Preston l Lancashire l PR4 0XL l Tel 01772 683 844 www.dobbies.com


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S E A F O O D A N D S T E A K R E S T A U R A N T



Give your garden the ‘wow’ factorI N days gone by, adding a bit of

personality to your outdoorspace simply meant putting up a

bird feeder, cutting your hedges intoan unusual shape or strategicallyplacing a few garden gnomesaround your lawn. Thankfully thoughthings have moved on.

Take a wander around the showgardens at this year’s flower showand you’ll see it’s not just greenerythat makes a garden impressive.

Reflecting the way that gardens arenow viewed as outdoor rooms as wellas somewhere to entertain ourfriends and family, garden art hasbeen growing in popularity duringrecent years.

From striking statues to wallsadorned with contemporary metalsculptures, statement water featuresand lighting, it’s a great way not onlyto add a bit of personality but also tocreate a focal point that brings thewhole garden design together.

Best of all, even those not blessedwith green fingers can incorporatethis trend into their garden – all youneed is a bit of creativity and thetime to visit as many garden centresas you can to see what’s out there andpick up some ideas.

From simply adding a beautifulstone bird bath to your garden tocreating an elegant centre-piece witha large fountain, a contemporarygarden lamp or a traditional sundial,there’s no limit to what you can dowith this trend.

Southport Flower Show patron,Diarmuid Gavin, was one of the first

to incorporate garden art into hisdesigns. The renowned Irish gardendesigner is known for his use ofunusual materials in garden designs,indeed for the 2008 Chelsea FlowerShow he came up with a gardendesign based on a fusion of children’sfavourites Honey, I Shrunk the Kidsand Roald Dahl featuring oversizedsteel daisies.

Known as the maverick of thegarden design world, Diarmuid isinspired by an eclectic and diverserange of influences. So if you fancytaking a leaf out of his book, to giveyour garden the wow-factor, getcreative and use your garden assomewhere to express yourpersonality.

To make a contemporary stylestatement you could create a centre-piece with a large bronze Buddhastatue. Alternatively if you fancycreating a tranquil oasis in yourgarden, you could install a statement

Japanese water garden to give yourgarden a bit of zen.

If having a full-scale statue in yourgarden seems a little too much foryour tastes, other ways you canincorporate a bit of art into yourgarden include using pots andplanters to create a focal point.

From striking contemporarygranite and metal designs toreclaimed marble and stone for avintage feel, there’s a huge range onthe market to choose from.

Garden art can be practical too.From quirky statuesque metalwatering cans to statement gardenfurniture, such as a vintagereclaimed cast iron bench or a carvedstone bench, to inject a bit ofpersonality into your outside space.

However you plan to inject a bit ofpersonality into your garden,Southport Flower Show and yourlocal garden centres are a great placeto pick up some ideas.

● Quirky features add to a garden’s charms. Top left, Porky Piglet WateringCan, top right, Decorative Bird Garland and above, West Lodge Fountain

Pictures: www.strawberryfool.com; www.velvetbrown.co.uk; www.haddonstone.com

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Humble houseplantmakes a comeback

● Humid conditions in a kitchen can be great for houseplants

B ACK in the good olddays, it was hard to finda house without a fern or

spider plant taking pride ofplace in the living room.

Yet sadly, our love for thehumble houseplant seemed tosubside, and over years, thenation lost interest in thesefamily favourites.

But at last it seems that thehouseplant is back where it welland truly belongs!

As according to many gardencentres, sales of houseplantshave been surging and are nowone of the fastest growinggardening trends in Britain.

A great hobby for all levels ofgardener, houseplants are abrilliant way to brighten up anyhome and as well as home-owners with gardens they're alsoare great for those who don'thave much outdoor space or livein apartments.

So what's the best way to start?Growing and maintaininghouseplants successfully can bequite tricky, especially forbeginners, so it can be helpful toinvest in tried and testedvarieties like Crassula, PeaceLily, Yuccas, Moth Orchids andtrailing Pothos.

Renowned for their hardiness

and low levels of maintenance,classic plants like these are agood way to test out your greenfingers as well as assess howmuch time you'll have to spendon them.

They’re ideal for anyonelooking to revisit old skills orbuy their first houseplant.

Bear in mind what room you'llwant to put them in too, ascertain plants are best suited toparticular conditions.

For instance, Cacti, Aloe andMother-in-Law's Tongue thrivein hot, sunny rooms likeconservatories. MeanwhileFerns, Ivy and Dragontrees thatcome from the jungle preferdarker, cool parts of the house.

Even simple tasks like takingplants home can be tricky, andit's important to keep themwarm as just half an hour in thecold can be fatal for moretemperamental plants likeAfrican Violets.

And it's for this reason that it'shighly recommended to buyplants with care labels givingdetailed instructions on how tolook after them.

Once at home and you'veresearched how to look afteryour new addition, give plantschance to acclimatise to its newsurroundings before watering or

feeding. Generally speaking it'sbest to keep the roomtemperature to around a steady65F, and humid conditions inbathrooms and kitchens can alsobe ideal for many houseplants.

Just make sure you keep an eyeon watering. Over-watering isthe number one killer for UKhouseplants – and while eachplant is different – a general ruleof thumb is to only water when itlooks like the compost hasalmost dried out and keep soildamp (not wet).

Light is also an importantfactor for any healthy plant. Forthose with green foliage poorly-lit conditions can be better, whileplants with colourful flowerswill thrive in lighter positions.

Spotlights should also be keptat a distance (of at least six foot)to avoid scorch marks andduring the dark winter days,nearly all house plants willbenefit from artificial lighting inthe evenings.

So if you're thinking aboutenhancing your home, why notbuy a few houseplants?

With a wonderful selection ofappealing plants to choosebetween there's something tosuit every home.



A taste of the good lifeA S we all become more aware

of our carbon footprint andthe origins of our food, it

stands to good reason that ‘growyour own’ is one of the biggestgardening trends of 2010.

According to the RoyalHorticultural Society (RHS) there’sbeen a massive rise in demand formembership of garden and allotmentclubs in 2010 as people look to growtheir own fruit and vegetables in abid to save cash in the currentclimate and eat fresh.

It’s easier than you might think toget a taste of ‘The Good Life’ too, asmany home and garden stores nowstock everything you need to growyour own, ranging from simple seedsets and planters which you can useto cultivate a herb garden, to tomatoplants you simply have to decant intoa bigger pot or, for the more green-

fingered, you could even create avegetable patch in a corner of yourgarden.

If you’re considering growing yourown, first things first you need tolook after your soil, remove perennialweeds and add compost to the soil toensure it’s packed with nutrients foryour fruit and veg.

With your soil now in goodcondition, you need to decide whatyou are going to grow and where. Asmost people won’t have the room togrow everything they want or need,the RHS advises taking the cost intoconsideration.

For example, potatoes and onionsare relatively cheap to buy but takeup a lot of room to grow, whereasleeks are more expensive to buy buttake up less room.

You also need to consider the typeof soil you’ve got and, when choosingwhich fruit and veg to plant, you

need to think about how much timeyou want to spend tending to yourcrops.

If you’re planning to start growingyour own, savoy cabbage, kale,spinach, radishes, turnips and hardyvarieties of lettuce can all be sown inAugust, ready for winter harvest.

Even those with limited outdoorspace like an apartment balcony orjust a paved back yard, can growtheir own as there’s a huge range offruit and vegetables that you cangrow in pots. Consider planting freshherbs in a pot to add an extra-specialtouch to your cooking; growingtomatoes, strawberries, lettuce orpotatoes in tubs, or creating a raisedbed in one corner of your garden touse as a mini vegetables patch.

So whether you’re keen to savecash, eat fresh or be moreenvironmentally friendly, why notgive grow your own a go today?

The tools of the tradeIF you’re new to the world of gardening, it can be hard to know exactlywhat tools and equipment you are going to need to transform yourgarden into a horticultural haven. So to help all you novice gardenersbloom, here are some of the essentials...

● Left, useful advice on everythingfrom pruning to planting, andabove, a handy compost bin Photos:

The Gifted Penguin and GettingPersonal.co.uk

● A water-ing can is a

must-have, andright, protect your

hands with a set ofgardening gloves Pictures:

Beth Stevens and Angelic Hen

● Agoodlawnmowerwill keep yourlawn lush andsharp hedge shearsare essential Picture: Jupiter

Images and Beth Stevens

● Fresh, flavoursomeand environmentallyfriendly, growing yourown fruit and veget-ables is rising in pop-ularity


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Plant a haven for the birds and beesN EVER underestimate the

significance of your backgarden. There are 15 million

gardens in the UK, covering about270,000 hectares, which is morethan the area of all the nationalNature Reserves in the UK puttogether.

So when it comes to wildlifepreservation we can all take up thechallenge and get involved. Byplanning your gardenso you attract wildlife,not only are youcreating a beautifuloasis for birds andanimals to enjoy, youare actually helping topreserve some of themost endangeredspecies on the planet atthe same time.

So where should youbegin? Many butterfly and mothspecies have declined in number inrecent years, so planting flowers andplants to attract butterflies is a greatstart. Butterflies need sugary sourcesof energy like nectar and will travelsurprisingly long distances to searchfor the right feeding and breedingsite. Generally, both native and non-native flowers are suitable as nectarsources for butterflies.

What is important is that the nectarshould be accessible – simple, shallowflowers are best, as butterflies cannotreach the nectar in deep flowers(such as foxgloves). You should alsobe wary of double flowers, as many ofthese are sterile, scentless and do nothave any nectar.

You can group flowers to create a‘butterfly border’. The ideal locationis in a sheltered, sunny spot, and it isimportant to ensure there will beflowers in spring and autumn, as wellas the summer. These include, forspring, aubretia, bluebell, crocus andprimrose; for summer, dandelion,knapweed, lavender, sweet william,marigold and toadflax; and forautumn, buddleia, michelmas daisyand yarrow.

Leaving some areas oflong grass andseedheads will provideessential sites forgrass- feedingbutterflies.

It is well documentedthere has been adecline in the numberof bumble bees in thiscountry, and people arebeing encouraged to

grow flowers in order to attract beesthroughout spring and summer toprovide essential nectar and pollen.

Exotic and highly cultivated gardenflowers are largely unsuitable, asthey either produce little pollen andnectar or keep it really well hiddenfrom the bees. The best plants to offerbees are often cottage garden flowersand native flowers. The best summerflowers for attracting bees arecornflower, hollyhock, red clover, seaholly and sunflowers.

If you want to attract birds intoyour garden, make sure you put foodout all year round, not just in thewinter, and a bird bath is also a nicefinishing touch, but make sure youkeep it clean and fresh. ● Growing flowers in a 'butterfly border' will help encourage butterflies to feed and breed in your back garden

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Dobbies – the garden experts

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Southport Flower Show 19th-22nd August