Preparations for the 122nd Shrewsbury Flower Show are well under way with organisers promising a “fantastic” spectacle and keeping their fingers crossed for good weather.

Despite the economic gloom, organisers say ticket sales for the two-day show on August 14 and 15 are on par with last year’s event which saw more than 50,000 people pour into the Quarry park venue.

Ann Tudor, treasurer for Shropshire Horticultural Society which hosts the show, said advance ticket sales were about £1,000 down on last year but that the figure did not include internet sales, meaning overall sales could have risen.

She said the show was costing in the region of £800,000 to stage and that ticket sales typically account for £500,000 of show income.

She added that the show has been bucking the recession in terms of sponsorship deals, which she said had “picked up” in the two months leading up to it.

But because of the economic downturn, organisers say they expect to make just a tenth of the charitable donations they made to good causes across the county last year.

Mike Carver, society chairman, said he expects the society to be able to fund £30,000 of donations after this year’s show – compared to £300,000 last year.

In the past the show has funded a £120,000 laboratory at Oswestry Orthopaedic Hospital and a £75,000 garden at Severn Hospice in Telford.

Mr Carver said this year’s show would be real value for money for cash-strapped families as children get in free with a paying adult.

He said: “If you look at all the fantastic things we provide at the show you realise it represents great value for money considering you get 12 hours of non-stop entertainment.”

This year the Quarry Marquee has been redesigned and will have a larger section for show gardens and two enclosed sections for other exhibitors.

There will also be about 160 floral art exhibitors in the Dingle Marquee and up to 1,600 amateur flower and vegetable entries in the Severn Marquee. For tickets, call (01743) 234050.

By Tom Johannsen