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Traffic chaos - Chatsworth!!
Tootles
Posts: 1,469
Yep, it's a nightmare! We set off really early and are stuck in Chesterfield where it's gridlock.
Sooooo annoying!!!!
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Posts
What a disaster! If you are coming tomorrow set off now, bring your lottery winnings if you want to buy anything, get into training to trek from the car park to the show, best of luck finding any actual plant stalls, and if you want lunch, good luck!
I feel like a complete mug for being so excited. Never again.
What a shame Tootles. There's nothing wrong with being excited for what should have been a lovely day out. You must be so disappointed.
On top of the bad weather, it sounds like a case of poor planning by the organizers contributed to your awful day.
I'm sorry that your visit wasn't the great one you had planned
It was fabulous ! Yes there were queues, but there were 20,000 people today. The car park was obviously full, but it's a pleasant walk across the river
the staff were really helpful. The grounds were rather waterlogged, but staff were diligent in putting down bark clippings and plastic paths. Rather too many wheel chairs and buggies but it was brilliant
The gardens were much less formal than I've seen at other shows, some lovely wildflower gardens, very inspirational
the exhibitors must have had a nightmare recovering from yesterday
i bought lots of plants, there were some good offers, took a picnic
dont be discouraged by the previous post ( altho it's all sold out I think)
We can't have been at the same show. The staff we spoke to were all, and I mean ALL, pulling their hair out and complaining that is was disorganised chaos, as were the majority of people we met. One woman staff member was actually crying!!
I feel very sorry for the stall holders, again a lot complaining of it being really badly organised. Yes, some lovely stalls but we saw no gardens - perhaps that is because there were no signs and we didn't much feel like forking out £5 for a map after paying for a ticket and sitting in traffic for three hours!
I know the weather yesterday must have been challenging, but conditions were downright dangerous. We saw two mobility scooters stuck in the mud. We also saw one poor lady fall flat on the wet steep temporary bridge. We saw two people carted off on stretchers. One of the maintenance men was saying the temporary walk ways all needed lifting tonight because they weren't put down properly.
And what about seating?? People were sitting on the wet ground!
A pleasant walk to find your car it may be if you can tackle hills, mud and miles - not suitable for the two people over 75 that I was with.
They have decided to keep it open for an extra hour tonight to "make up" for the problems. What a joke. Better off banging the organisers heads together to improve it before tomorrow.
Really safe!
RHS have posted an apology on Facebook
A A Milne
I can hardly think you can blame them for the weather, and people who decided to use wheelchairs and pushchairs did so at their own risk - that would have been the same whether they were out walking in the countryside
I didn't buy a guide but managed to find all the show gardens, it was hardly challenging
the stall holders were all very chirpy
we took waterproof stuff to sit on because we had noticed it was raining and wet ground is a natural result of rain
This is the first year they've done it, I would expect there to have been some lessons learned but myself and friends - in late 60s- had a fab day
Oh dear. We're going on Sunday and taking my young cousin from abroad who's on her first ever trip out of her home country. We are showing her the UK and thought Chatsworth flower show would be a nice introduction! Is it really that bad? Also my mum has plantar fascitis and can't walk much. So it'd be nice if there are seats dotted about in case she needs to rest.
No one is blaming anyone for the weather. That would be silly. But the organisers are responsible for the small matter of health and safety, adequate facilities, access for all including those in wheelchairs (who don't just 'decide' to use one!).
I'm glad you, and I am sure others, had a fab day. Sadly it did not reach my expectations on a number of levels - and I'm not about to reduce those I'm afraid.
Hope they do some serious work overnight to improve it so that anyone going after today enjoys it as much as Anne17.
Good luck!
I'm going on Sunday to...?