I am just down south on the A50 from Tatton. The traffic was always bad for the RHS Flower show and the "Cheshire show." Not having to drive myself up there or to Chatsworth will be a delight.
Much prefer HC & it's value for money, number & range of plantsmen in the main marquee/rose pavilion, less hustle & bustle to get through crowds, greater spacing, better location etc. I will say I do agree the coverage really isn't selling Chelsea well this year. Although on a complete different level, I'll be trying Wisley Flower Show this year.
Me too Kitty, I'd have commuting added as well. Where does it stop eh? The only hope like mentioned above is to get in before the crowds descend & try to see most of the gardens in the first few hours, then it becomes unpleasant.
Bit disappointed. Really noticed the reduced (8 only) big show gardens, gaps seemed to be filled by trade stands and a RHS overly huge photography stand, not really up to Main Avenue expectations. Felt like I'd done Main Avenue in minutes.
Loved Chris Beardshaws as always, shouldve got gold.
Shame Adam Frost wasn't there, hopefully we'll see more of him on GW.
Thinking I won't bother next year, will do just Hampton C instead-cheaper and just as good - Chelsea numbers will plummet if they do same next year.
ps-Best in Show? Compared with previous years? Words fail me.
From what I heard, it wasn't the RHS reducing the number of gardens, there just weren't as many designers applying. The deadline for this year coincided with Brexit, and this seems to have out sponsors off. Let's hope it picks up again next year.
As for what I liked, the Covent Garden garden is my favourite, I would live those arches for my garden. But there were plenty others I liked too. Maggies garden was good too, I'd love the gate...and the entrance into Chris Beardshaws garden is great too. The Maltese garden is somewhere I'd visit, but it's not something I'd want in my garden.
When I saw the comment about £100 tickets I thought somebody was joking - sadly they weren't. Reading an article in one newspaper and it referenced afternoon tickets with a face value of £41 selling for £190, it's utterly mad. When we went there for our first, and last visit, many years ago it was impossible to see the show gardens by mid-day, and food and drink was eye wateringly expensive.
There are clearly plenty of people around with either more money than sense who must be seen at these events, or lots get tickets as part of a hospitality package and probably don't know one end of a plant from the other!
I don't dispute that there are people who are prepared to pay those prices, but for anybody who has to travel any distance it's surely out of reach for most. If my wife and I wanted to attend it would cost at least £500 when travel and other costs are factored in.
I'm beginning to feel that the RHS may be facing a backlash from the "ordinary" members with regard to Chelsea, both in terms of the prices and the judging etc. I last went back in the late 80's and don't recall all this celeb carry-on !
I know things change & it'd be boring if they didn't, but the premise of the Chelsea FLOWER show as far as the show gardens are concerned seems to have just about been sidelined. I know the sponsers are important to the RHS , but call me cynical,isn't it funny how the sponser's garden always wins a gold medal.
The other thing is the RHS want to encourage young gardeners which I'm all in favour of, but don't forget the old farts who pay their membership & are just as important.
The other thing is the RHS want to encourage young gardeners which I'm all in favour of, but don't forget the old farts who pay their membership & are just as important.
The 'Old Farts' being just as important is one thing, the 'Old Farts' completely ruling the roost and not giving a damn about anybody else is another. It's a mentality you see in so many long established organisation such as the FA, MCC, Wimbledon. The 'Old Farts' see it as their sole domain and woe betide anybody who tries to change anything.
The main reason we stopped going to the Shrewsbury Show was the attitude of members - and not just the older ones in that instance. We actually saw people literally shoved out of the way because they were stood in front of the entrance to the members area. No 'excuse me' or 'may I get past', and when the people complained the response was 'You're blocking the entrance'. The final straw was seeing a couple who looked to be in their late 70's or 80's being berated for thinking they could get into the showground when they saw others doing so. The guy on the gate (complete with member's badge swinging from his lapel) shouted at them that they weren't members so get back in the queue. Totally unacceptable.
The RHS has changed a great deal since I joined in 1989. Being a member gets you free access to all of the RHS gardens, free access to many partner gardens and a monthly magazine as well as free advice from the experts on given groups pf plants and the scientists for id of plants and pests and diseases. Members do include landed gentry but in a small minority. There are also what some call the braying class. Easy enough to avoid. Most members are folk like me who just enjoy gardening and plants or else professional nurserymen and women and gardeners.
There is no excuse for rudeness in any walk of life or in in any event but i don't see why anyone should expect free entry to an event just because they(re old or a celebrity. Members' privileges are for paid up members. This could have been explained kindly.
I too get irritated by people who block entrances an exits to anywhere be it OH who has a gift for standing between me and the fridge or cooker when I'm making dinner to people who gather at the top pr bottom of escalators regardless of people trying to get on or off or blocking entrances, paths, dance floors or anything else. In a crowded world a little spatial awareness and courtesy is surely not too much to ask.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
Posts
Exactly!
I am just down south on the A50 from Tatton. The traffic was always bad for the RHS Flower show and the "Cheshire show." Not having to drive myself up there or to Chatsworth will be a delight.
'You must have some bread with it me duck!'
Much prefer HC & it's value for money, number & range of plantsmen in the main marquee/rose pavilion, less hustle & bustle to get through crowds, greater spacing, better location etc. I will say I do agree the coverage really isn't selling Chelsea well this year. Although on a complete different level, I'll be trying Wisley Flower Show this year.
Last edited: 28 May 2017 13:14:09
Me too Kitty, I'd have commuting added as well. Where does it stop eh? The only hope like mentioned above is to get in before the crowds descend & try to see most of the gardens in the first few hours, then it becomes unpleasant.
Last edited: 28 May 2017 13:21:37
From what I heard, it wasn't the RHS reducing the number of gardens, there just weren't as many designers applying. The deadline for this year coincided with Brexit, and this seems to have out sponsors off. Let's hope it picks up again next year.
As for what I liked, the Covent Garden garden is my favourite, I would live those arches for my garden. But there were plenty others I liked too. Maggies garden was good too, I'd love the gate...and the entrance into Chris Beardshaws garden is great too. The Maltese garden is somewhere I'd visit, but it's not something I'd want in my garden.
Last edited: 28 May 2017 13:52:19
I loved those arches too and the way the pots picked up the gorgeous colour. Clever.
When I saw the comment about £100 tickets I thought somebody was joking - sadly they weren't. Reading an article in one newspaper and it referenced afternoon tickets with a face value of £41 selling for £190, it's utterly mad. When we went there for our first, and last visit, many years ago it was impossible to see the show gardens by mid-day, and food and drink was eye wateringly expensive.
There are clearly plenty of people around with either more money than sense who must be seen at these events, or lots get tickets as part of a hospitality package and probably don't know one end of a plant from the other!
I don't dispute that there are people who are prepared to pay those prices, but for anybody who has to travel any distance it's surely out of reach for most. If my wife and I wanted to attend it would cost at least £500 when travel and other costs are factored in.
I'm beginning to feel that the RHS may be facing a backlash from the "ordinary" members with regard to Chelsea, both in terms of the prices and the judging etc. I last went back in the late 80's and don't recall all this celeb carry-on !
I know things change & it'd be boring if they didn't, but the premise of the Chelsea FLOWER show as far as the show gardens are concerned seems to have just about been sidelined. I know the sponsers are important to the RHS , but call me cynical,isn't it funny how the sponser's garden always wins a gold medal.
The other thing is the RHS want to encourage young gardeners which I'm all in favour of, but don't forget the old farts who pay their membership & are just as important.
Feel better now - it must be the heat !
;
Last edited: 28 May 2017 16:37:18
The 'Old Farts' being just as important is one thing, the 'Old Farts' completely ruling the roost and not giving a damn about anybody else is another. It's a mentality you see in so many long established organisation such as the FA, MCC, Wimbledon. The 'Old Farts' see it as their sole domain and woe betide anybody who tries to change anything.
The main reason we stopped going to the Shrewsbury Show was the attitude of members - and not just the older ones in that instance. We actually saw people literally shoved out of the way because they were stood in front of the entrance to the members area. No 'excuse me' or 'may I get past', and when the people complained the response was 'You're blocking the entrance'. The final straw was seeing a couple who looked to be in their late 70's or 80's being berated for thinking they could get into the showground when they saw others doing so. The guy on the gate (complete with member's badge swinging from his lapel) shouted at them that they weren't members so get back in the queue. Totally unacceptable.
The RHS has changed a great deal since I joined in 1989. Being a member gets you free access to all of the RHS gardens, free access to many partner gardens and a monthly magazine as well as free advice from the experts on given groups pf plants and the scientists for id of plants and pests and diseases. Members do include landed gentry but in a small minority. There are also what some call the braying class. Easy enough to avoid. Most members are folk like me who just enjoy gardening and plants or else professional nurserymen and women and gardeners.
There is no excuse for rudeness in any walk of life or in in any event but i don't see why anyone should expect free entry to an event just because they(re old or a celebrity. Members' privileges are for paid up members. This could have been explained kindly.
I too get irritated by people who block entrances an exits to anywhere be it OH who has a gift for standing between me and the fridge or cooker when I'm making dinner to people who gather at the top pr bottom of escalators regardless of people trying to get on or off or blocking entrances, paths, dance floors or anything else. In a crowded world a little spatial awareness and courtesy is surely not too much to ask.