Flower show reflects on long history

THE seeds of success were sown almost 150 years ago and this weekend Leeds Flower Show will bloom once more to the delight of thousands of visitors.
By The Newsroom
Published 1st Aug 2010, 23:54 BST
Updated 1st Aug 2010, 23:54 BST

Around 300 stalls will display beautiful begonias, fabulous fuchsias, marvellous marrows and a huge range of arts and crafts, with prizes in various competition categories.

Its popularity is now such that the extended halls at the Grammar School at Leeds will be the new venue. Last year's event attracted 2,000 entries and this year, organisers, the Leeds Horticultural Society, are hoping to exceed that.

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A fascinating historical discovery has made this year's event even more special.

A recent trawl through newspaper archives revealed the first ever Leeds Flower Show was held in 1864 at the Leeds Volunteer Rifles' Army drill hall in Oxford Place. This discovery stunned society members whose own archives only stretched back to 1885.

Elizabeth Bidgood, chairman of the society, said: "We have gone back to the Grammar School at Leeds this year and will be using their junior assembly halls as well. We are really pleased as it's a fabulous venue."

The Leeds Flower and Vegetable Show 2010 will be on August 7 and 8. Stalls are priced 50. For more information visit www.leedshs.org.uk or contact Patrick McLoughlin on 0113 2168392 or by email on [email protected]

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