Preparations in full swing for flower show

Shrewsbury Flower Show has taken place nearly every year since 1875, with the only exceptions being breaks for the first and second world wars.

The event routinely attracts thousands of visitors to Shrewsbury's Quarry and this year's show takes place on Friday and Saturday, August 11 and 12.

TV chef John Torode, known for his work on Masterchef, will be joined by expert gardeners Joe Swift and Penny Meadmore, while the main arena will feature a spectacular headline performance from the The Royal Signals Motorcycle Display Team – The White Helmets.

The show will also feature live Friday night music from London Community Gospel Choir and on Saturday from The Overtones.

Performances from Shrewsbury Male Voice Choir and Of One Accord with a Massed Band Finale wrap up both nights, along with the hugely anticipated fireworks display.

Helen Griffiths, of flower show organisers Shropshire Horticultural Society, said they were delighted to have put together an exciting programme of events for this year's show.

She said: "Our arena offers a variety of entertainment to suit every taste. The major attraction for 2017 is The Royal Signals Motorcycle Display Team – The White Helmets, who are undertaking their final tour. They last came to the Shrewsbury Flower Show in 2011.

"Other highlights include Grade A Showjumping, duck and dog agility and an aerial display from some of the world’s most amazing birds of prey."

The celebrity line-up will give people gardening advice and cooking tips.

She said: "For the green fingered visitors, horticultural expert and TV personalities Joe Swift and Penny Meadmore will be sharing gardening tips and advice. Joe has been gardening since he left school and is a fully trained garden designer. He has been one of the main presenters on BBC2's flagship gardening show 'Gardeners World' since 1998 and also regularly appears in the BBC's coverage of RHS Chelsea, Hampton Court, Gardeners World Live and Tatton Park Flower shows.

"Over the years Joe has fronted Open Gardens, Small Town Gardens, Garden Makers and Garden Invaders. He appeared on Celebrity Masterchef and many other programmes as a guest. Joe has designed many gardens for TV, including one for Comic Relief, many for Gardeners World & all of the Alan Titchmarsh's 'How to be a Gardener 2' series.

"Penny is a Royal Horticultural Society award winning garden designer, and agronomist. With a design practice based in Lincolnshire she works across the country on gardens that range from roof terraces in London to the private grounds of a new rural hospice."

In the dedicated foodhall celebrity chef, John Torode will be entertaining the public by creating mouth-watering dishes.

He became a familiar face to TV audiences back in 1996 as the resident chef on ITV's This Morning with Richard and Judy and since 2004 has paired up with Gregg Wallace, handing out feedback, criticism and support to hundreds of hopefuls aiming to be crowned MasterChef - or indeed Celebrity MasterChef.

Children 15 years and under are admitted free when accompanied with an adult and the event will feature a dedicated children’s area with a host of activities, unusual animals to see, and ponies and ducks to pet.

The large Quarry Marquee also features top national nurseries and growers who create stunning displays.

The show's Severn Marquee is full of home grown flowers and vegetables and people can get advice on from exhibitors and horticultural organisations.