PICTURES: Crowds flock to sunny Shrewsbury Flower Show - Day one

Kicking off the 129th show, organisers said one of their top priorities was ensuring the show catered to everyone who visited the town's Quarry Park.

Advance ticket sales showed this year's event was going to be a knockout and people had already starting queuing by the time gates opened yesterday at 10am.

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Confirmed by the Guinness Book of Records as the world's longest running horticultural show in one location, it attracts people from across the country.

Among the thousands of visitors was Suzanne Jones, who travelled to the show from her home in Barry Island, near Cardiff.

The 73-year-old retired teacher said: "I have been to some of the other shows around the country but I have to say, Shrewsbury Flower Show is my favourite.

"My favourite parts of the show are the marquees. The Quarry marquee is always very good and the displays each of the exhibitors put on are really imaginative. The Dingle and the Severn marquees are also

lovely.

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Some of the entries in the various competitions are outstanding. I particularly like the floral art.To see how each group has interpreted the theme is wonderful. This year's theme of handbags and Stepping out with Cinderella as well as a Botanical Cushion and Heavy Metal were very imaginative."

The show is now so famous it attracts some of the biggest names in gardening and cooking.

This year it was the turn of BBC Gardener's World presenter and author Sarah Raven and Sky Living's chef Gizzi Erskine. Both were fielding questions and demonstrating their chosen fields.

In the Future's marquee, Marcus Chilton-Jones used the theme of Birds, Bees and Butterflies for his show garden. Marcus, curator of the Dorothy Clive Garden near Market Drayton, shared his love of horticulture with his passion for nature in the garden.

Meanwhile, gardener Anni Kelsey showed visitors how to maintain a healthy balance between perennial vegetables and other plants to create a healthy, fertile and ecological mix.

Shropshire Wildlife Trust's display was based around water and peat, while Fordhall Farm, near Market Drayton, highlighted the power of community.

Anna Sutton, provost of University Centre Shrewsbury, celebrated after her show garden, entitled Home Grown, scooped a large gold medal. The garden, which was a team effort of seven people including designer Angela Bell and gardener Peter Gallagher, had been months in the planning. The theme they eventually settled on was a potager garden incorporating the UCS badge and three Salopian heads.

There was a backdrop of Rowley's House and bunting gave a nod to the Queen's birthday. Peter said: "We are delighted to have won. It really was a team effort. It seemed that the judges liked every aspect of it from the design to the colour."

Adam James and John Shellis, from Cooks Garden Centre in Stourport-on-Severn, were appearing at the show for the seventh time. It took two days to assemble their hydrangea display but they were awarded a large gold medal for their wedding breakfast-themed display complete with tall hydrangea, Calla lilies and sempervirens. They also won the show's Raymond Evison Millennium Trophy.

"We have won medals before but this is the best we have been awarded," said Adam. "The show is going really well for us so far and it is only getting busier."

A Hadnall-based rose nursery was also in the medals. Designer Jack Kitson, from Country Garden Roses, said: "I was really pleased to win the silver gilt. It was a step up from last year when we won silver. The design took a few months to pull together and it then took us five days to plant it up in here."

Cut flowers also formed part of the show this year with one couple awarded a silver gilt. Victoria and Barnie Martin, from The Flower Garden at Stokesay Court, grow blooms from seed and then use them for country house parties and weddings.

"It is our first time at the show so to win a silver gilt was amazing," said Victoria.

Over in the Dingle marquee, NAFAS judge Wendy Davies was tasked with casting her critical eye on the entries in the floral art section.

"The standard of entries this year has been exceptional," she said. "The children's art with the theme of the BFG was brilliant and the piece from Shrewsbury Flower Club used 600 gerbera alone. It was fabulous."

The show is not all about the flowers and plants. Each year the event attracts dozens of stallholders selling items ranging from garden implements and obelisks to jewellery and face cream. Show-goers tasted samples of award-winning cheeses and enjoyed high quality wines and spirits from Britain and beyond.

Visitors listened to the Band of the Yorkshire Volunteers and the Band of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers as well as the Of One Accord choir perform at the Bandstand.

Critically-acclaimed Red Hot Chilli Pipers, who flew in especially for their concert, performed in the main arena to finish off the day. The finale of the day was the showstopping fireworks staged by Kimbolton Fireworks. Always a crowd pleaser, it had the crowd oohing and aahing as they burst overhead.