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