For my last Twitter Talk column before heading off to pastures new, I was keen to talk to the man behind Shrewsbury Flower Show’s twitter feed, ahead of this year’s eagerly-anticipated annual event, now in its 123rd year.

Christopher Chew, who uses @ShrewsFlowerShw to keep followers up to date on the show’s latest news, is a trustee on the Shropshire Horticultural Society committee and has been visiting the show for over a decade.

“We’ve got people from all over the world following us on Twitter, which is fantastic,” says Chris.

“We’ve even been tweeting with @ShrewsburyParks who are based in another Shrewsbury in Massachusetts, USA, and also hold an annual Shrewsbury Flower Show!

“There’s a strong worldwide following but we are still very much a local show and nothing gives us more pleasure than seeing local people there.”

Chris set up the Twitter feed after fellow committee member @DavidBattisby suggested it, and there’s a lot to tweet about – this year’s show will see the return of gardening expert Chris Beardshaw who will be giving lectures and helping to judge exhibits, as well as cookery demonstrations from the inimitable Hairy Bikers.

“David and I had a little straw poll on Twitter asking followers who they’d really like to see at the show, and the Hairy Bikers were a very popular choice!

“They’ll be doing three cookery demonstrations each day in the Marches Food Hall, where there’ll also be lots of small, cottage industry producers from Shropshire and beyond.

“We’d very much like to hear from more Shropshire producers who’d like to participate, we’re looking for as many local artisans as possible!”

There will also be visits from the Household Cavalry who will perform on horseback to music in the Arena, as well as professional amateur growers in the Severn Marquee and professional stage exhibits from lots of different growers and nurseries in the Quarry Marquee – all in all, we’re expecting around 3 million blooms!”

Shropshire dairy firm Muller, who are partially sponsoring this year’s event, will also have a strong presence at the show.

Chris admits to not being blessed with green fingers himself (“The best advice I’ve ever had is to plant things green side up!”) but says he really enjoys the show’s strong social element.

“One of my favourite parts of the show is the Severn Marquee. It’s incredible to see how passionate the exhibitors are about their produce and wonderful to see the results of a whole year’s toil in the soil!”

Money raised by the Shropshire Horticultural Society from the show and other activities throughout the year will be put towards good causes across the county.

“Through our fundraising efforts we’ve been able to make considerable donations to other local charities in Shropshire, including Oswestry Orthopaedic Hospital’s gait laboratory, and the grounds at Severn Hospice, which some of our members help out with.”

“Being an individual, you find you can’t achieve a lot, but being part of a large organisation, you can do almost anything!”

Follow @ShrewsFlowerShw on Twitter or find out more via the show’s official website at www.shrewsburyflowershow.org.uk