We left Mansfield for 8.30 and hit Chesterfield just after 9. The traffic was moving until about a mile from the Baslow Island, The big gates had been opened, we were in by 10.15 and parked row 14. We then had to walk to join the huge queue to get in. As Mum had no chance, I joined the queue which snaked up past the house, in front of the stables and started to snake down the other side. 15 minutes later, I collected Mum and Sis , and another 10 minutes we were in. The coffee place ran out of water as we got to the front of the queue. The white peak restaurant would not serve us as we hadn't booked. ( It was empty, more staff than customers) Mum nearly went tits up by the floral bridge, that corner is dangerous the slope needs sorting . Everywhere was sodden, mud everywhere. I expect the rest of the week to get worse unless they sort out a load more bark chippings. Shops were struggling to process credit cards as the mobile signal was poor. ( Middle of Derbyshire in a valley). That said, I liked most of the gardens except the one that looked like fly tipping, and the one that was the quarry men stand. A nice slab of stone and some rusty metal. Again, not what I call a garden.
Eagle sweet peas had a wonderful stand. The abutilons on the helter skelter moved directly from Chelsea. I also noted a good peony stand, one with dahlias and gladioli and lots of plants for sale at fairly reasonable prices. I didn't buy any as I have no space, but noted a lot for next year. Fantasywire have some giant dandelions by the floral bridge, and a small stand. Considering the site was evacuated yesterday on health and safety grounds as the wind was knocking over palm trees, I don't think they did too bad. Obviously plenty of room for improvement. Anyone going, start early, wear wellies. I found the most gorgeous oak table and seats. a snip at nearly £30,000. Ha. not unless I win the lottery. There was stuff from plants at 3 for a tenner to the skies the limit.
Coming out we got a ride on a shuttle bus to the car, and exited the way we came in, again slowly. We got back to mums around 7pm. Totally cream crackered.
I am a regular visitor to Chelsea which has been going for over 100 years. There is never enough seating for lunch/snacks etc and none at all in the main show garden and pavilion areas. I always take a black plastic bin bag to sit on, a sandwich or baguette and bottled water to avoid long queues and high prices.
Definitely book a wheelchair ahead or take a lightweight folding seat if there are none left and you have people with mobility problems booked to go with you. Wear comfy clothes and shoes.
Above all, enjoy yourselves.
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)."
Oh and the furthest bridge over the river, started to get a wobble on. Really wobbly. Like something out of Harry Potter. All we needed was a dementor sweeping down the valley.
I realise I'm in a MASSIVE grump so sorry if my post has put anyone off going. I'm sure given so much negative / constructive feedback they will be working hard over night to improve things.
I'm also sure that after a good nights sleep I will feel less annoyed. So on that note I'm off to bed! Tomorrow's a new day and I've booked it off work - roses to tidy up!
I have had an email from the RHS apologising for traffic chaos. I have emailed them back about the dangerous sloping path by the floral bridge. (the centre new one)
With forecasts for heavy rain again tomorrow and Saturday I very much doubt things will get any better as far as access to, and on, the site. Assuming the carparks are fields they are likely to be impassable after 2 days of cars trying to get on and off.
Some years ago they had similar weather at Malvern and almost every car had to be towed out of the car park, ourselves included. We'd got in OK, but there is a slope on the main parking field and everybody needed to go up it to get out.
We went to a local pumpkin fare one October and the rain was so bad all the cars had to be towed out of the fields by tractors. Took hours. Occupational hazard at country fairs, no matter who organises it.
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
We left Mansfield for 8.30 and hit Chesterfield just after 9. The traffic was moving until about a mile from the Baslow Island, The big gates had been opened, we were in by 10.15 and parked row 14. We then had to walk to join the huge queue to get in. As Mum had no chance, I joined the queue which snaked up past the house, in front of the stables and started to snake down the other side. 15 minutes later, I collected Mum and Sis , and another 10 minutes we were in. The coffee place ran out of water as we got to the front of the queue. The white peak restaurant would not serve us as we hadn't booked. ( It was empty, more staff than customers) Mum nearly went tits up by the floral bridge, that corner is dangerous the slope needs sorting . Everywhere was sodden, mud everywhere. I expect the rest of the week to get worse unless they sort out a load more bark chippings. Shops were struggling to process credit cards as the mobile signal was poor. ( Middle of Derbyshire in a valley). That said, I liked most of the gardens except the one that looked like fly tipping, and the one that was the quarry men stand. A nice slab of stone and some rusty metal. Again, not what I call a garden.
Eagle sweet peas had a wonderful stand. The abutilons on the helter skelter moved directly from Chelsea. I also noted a good peony stand, one with dahlias and gladioli and lots of plants for sale at fairly reasonable prices. I didn't buy any as I have no space, but noted a lot for next year. Fantasywire have some giant dandelions by the floral bridge, and a small stand. Considering the site was evacuated yesterday on health and safety grounds as the wind was knocking over palm trees, I don't think they did too bad. Obviously plenty of room for improvement. Anyone going, start early, wear wellies. I found the most gorgeous oak table and seats. a snip at nearly £30,000. Ha. not unless I win the lottery. There was stuff from plants at 3 for a tenner to the skies the limit.
Coming out we got a ride on a shuttle bus to the car, and exited the way we came in, again slowly. We got back to mums around 7pm. Totally cream crackered.
I am a regular visitor to Chelsea which has been going for over 100 years. There is never enough seating for lunch/snacks etc and none at all in the main show garden and pavilion areas. I always take a black plastic bin bag to sit on, a sandwich or baguette and bottled water to avoid long queues and high prices.
Definitely book a wheelchair ahead or take a lightweight folding seat if there are none left and you have people with mobility problems booked to go with you. Wear comfy clothes and shoes.
Above all, enjoy yourselves.
Oh and the furthest bridge over the river, started to get a wobble on. Really wobbly. Like something out of Harry Potter. All we needed was a dementor sweeping down the valley.
Need a lot of chocolate then!
I realise I'm in a MASSIVE grump so sorry if my post has put anyone off going. I'm sure given so much negative / constructive feedback they will be working hard over night to improve things.
I'm also sure that after a good nights sleep I will feel less annoyed. So on that note I'm off to bed! Tomorrow's a new day and I've booked it off work - roses to tidy up!
Night night X X
I have had an email from the RHS apologising for traffic chaos. I have emailed them back about the dangerous sloping path by the floral bridge. (the centre new one)
With forecasts for heavy rain again tomorrow and Saturday I very much doubt things will get any better as far as access to, and on, the site. Assuming the carparks are fields they are likely to be impassable after 2 days of cars trying to get on and off.
Some years ago they had similar weather at Malvern and almost every car had to be towed out of the car park, ourselves included. We'd got in OK, but there is a slope on the main parking field and everybody needed to go up it to get out.
We went to a local pumpkin fare one October and the rain was so bad all the cars had to be towed out of the fields by tractors. Took hours. Occupational hazard at country fairs, no matter who organises it.
Chatsworth staff are taking over traffic control from the RHS tomorrow so hopefully that will be better, can't see the rain helping though
I went today and enjoyed myself.
I have been to most of the RHS shows, some many times and I thought for a first effort this was good.
I did not have the traffic problems, but I only live 20 minutes away. We got there at 8.30 and had breakfast down by the river.
Joined queue at 9.00 and were amongst first in.
There were a lot more places to sit than at Chelsea and generally more space, to actually be able to see the gardens.
Overall, I enjoyed it, it is very difficult to do something like this for the first time.
Plus don't forget the location, no garden show I have been to is in such a lovely spot.
Also got to have a nice chat with Adam Frost.
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border