The RHS Flower Show Tatton Park will return later this month, transforming the historic estate into a paradise for gardeners, horticulturalists and people who enjoy a great summer’s day out.
Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, the show will include unique gardens where you can get heaps of inspiration, flowers galore, talks and tips from experts, activities for children, great boutique shopping, an array of street food and loads more.
Already one of the most beautiful locations in the North West, Tatton Park will be bursting with colour and life for the RHS Flower Show.
Perfect for already-keen gardeners, people who are just getting started on their horticultural journey, or those who just want one of the most stunning summer days out in the region, there’ll be loads happening between 17 and 21 July.
Visitors can partake in activities like flower arranging workshops, as well as enjoying live entertainment, great food, and loads more.
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Special gardens this year will include My Name’5 Doddie, designed by Pip Probert, which will honour the late Doddie Weir and raise viral awareness for MND.
The garden will incorporate the colours of the player’s own private tartan, sculptures representing players in a line out, rugby goal posts and a water feature based on the tartan flower brooch used by the charity.
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New for this year will be the RHS Career Changer of the Year, a category at the flower show that will celebrate those who’ve found a new path in horticulture.
The RHS Flower Show Tatton Park is back for 2024
Last year’s Best Show Garden winners Carolyn Hardern and Jon Jarvis will be back this summer with The 1804 Garden, continuing their campaign to support construction workers, this time focusing on how a garden can be designed to mitigate against the risks of melanoma caused by excessive sun exposure.
There’ll be a little taste of the Andes via the Peak District at RHS Tatton Park too, as Tom Saunders showcases The Orchid Garden in the Terrace Gardens, inspired by his travels to South America.
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Sophie Godber’s Big Picture Garden highlights conscious consumerism, using objects sourced from a 19th century farmstead to demonstrate how building a new garden doesn’t need to cost the earth.
Meanwhile Hilary Newhall’s The Secret Garden: For Us, By Us raises awareness of autistic adults and the challenges they encounter.
The beautiful Long Borders will return, offering smaller spaces for designers and gardeners of any experience to show off their talents.
One such garden will be Barbie Says, ‘Women Can Be Anything They Want.’ (On the Shoulders of Giants), which will build on themes of women being given the right to vote and is filled with flowers that share girls’ names.
A couple celebrate their anniversary relaxing by the Woodland Stage band stand at RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival 2019.Visitors shopping on trade stands at RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival 2022.Visitors pose for photos with the floral RHS letters at RHS Tatton Park Flower Show 2021.Visitors look at the Young Designer ‘On Tropic’ Garden with fans in the hot weather at RHS Tatton Park Flower Show. Young Designer Garden, 361.
Other themes touched upon include the Cheshire rail network, LGBTQ+ rights, the Manchester skyline and an edible family garden.
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Sarah Poll, RHS Head of Shows Development, said: “What a fantastic line-up for the 25th anniversary of the wonderful RHS Flower Show Tatton Park.
“From gardens addressing illnesses such as MND to sustainability, arts and crafts, orchids and even Barbie – we’re delighted to showcase the best of cutting-edge design and thought provoking gardens.
“We’ve also got a superb range of food and drinks, live entertainment and shopping opportunities so everyone, young or old, families or individuals can come and enjoy a great day out.”
The next time that RHS Flower Show Tatton Park will be on the site will be in 2027, as part of a roster of changes to the show’s schedule announced by the RHS earlier this year – so you really don’t want to miss this one.
The RHS Flower Show Tatton Park is taking place between 17 and 21 July 2024. You can book your tickets here.
Rochdale to be filled with fiery sculptures for return of dazzling Ignite Fire Festival
Daisy Jackson
A magical trail of fire sculptures and light installations will return to Rochdale this month, spilling across the square and gardens around the almighty Rochdale Town Hall.
Ignite Fire Festival will be back in town this winter between 21 and 23 November, for three free nights of spectacular shows, light trails and family-friendly entertainment.
That’s alongside an ice rink and Christmas market, too.
It’s all in the lead-up to the festive lights switch-on and will include a 20-strong drumming collective, blazing fire sculptures, and illuminated installations.
This year’s Ignite Fire Festival will be the biggest yet, Rochdale Borough Council has promised, with artworks created once again by multi-award-winning outdoor arts specialists Walk the Plank.
The event will kick off on the Friday of the festival with a torchlight procession to officially launch the new Broadfield Slopes, which has been carefully restored to deliver new pathways and parkland in the town centre.
Thousands of people are expected to attend again, for an evening that includes flaming hot performances from some of the north’s top talent and ‘Drum Machine’ – the 20 strong drumming collective will be bringing their techno infused beats.
Rochdale Ignite Fire Festival. Credit: Walk the Plank / Alan Hamer
There‘ll also be hot food, mulled wine and other seasonal drinks.
Rochdale’s Ice Rink by Santa’s Village will also be open and running until 4 January, although advance booking is advised.
Councillor Sue Smith says: “Ignite Fire Festival and Christmas Light’s Switch On has been a huge hit with audiences across Greater Manchester.
“This year, with the addition of a new illuminated trail around our beautifully restored slopes area, the ice rink and the return of a Christmas Market it really will be the ultimate winter experience.”
Ignite Fire Festival, sponsored by car supermarket The Trade Centre UK, will open from Friday 21 to Sunday 23 November, with dazzling shows between 5pm and 8pm.
One of the installations from last yearDisplays will be open to walk through each eveningRochdale Ignite Fire Festival. Credit: Andy KruczekExpect flaming hot performances from some of the north’s top talent.Credit: Rochdale Borough CouncilBack again for 2025 is ‘Drum Machine’. Credit: Supplied
Then there’ll be the Christmas lights switch-on taking place from 5.30pm on the Sunday, with Father Christmas and his special guests, including the Mayor of Rochdale.
Ignite is organised by Rochdale Borough Council and Rochdale Development Agency in partnership with Culture Co-op, funded by the government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
The festival is also supported by The Casey Group – the contractor responsible for the restoration of the Broadfield Slopes, who will have plant equipment at the event to inspire future careers in the construction industry and highlight opportunities available.
BRSK – the full fibre broadband provider is also supporting, and will have a presence at the festival.
Find out more about Ignite Fire Festival in Rochdale HERE.
An apres-ski yurt village is returning to Greater Manchester for Christmas party season
Daisy Jackson
One of the coolest Christmas party venues in the UK will reopen its doors in Greater Manchester this winter, whisking you away for an apres-ski-inspired party.
All the vibes of a classic apres-ski experience will be brought to a pop-up Yurt Village, each one decorated with log fires, Christmas trees, ski racks, fur throws, and even cable cars.
Spending your Christmas ‘do at the YurtBar pop-up in Sale means you could have an evening packed with steins of beer, live music, and ski shots, surrounded by your loved ones (… or colleagues).
And to celebrate its triumphant return to Manchester, we’ve got a lovely 20% discount for The Manc readers – find out how to claim yours below.
Each yurt in the YurtBar’s pop-up village is a different size, so there’s the right event space for everything from a 350-strong private Christmas party to a table for six for a birthday night out.
An apres-ski yurt village is returning to Greater Manchester for Christmas party season
They’re all named after and inspired by iconic European ski resorts, like Chamonix, Val D’Isere, and Avoriaz.
On arrival at the festive Yurt Village you’ll be greeted with a welcome drink before tucking into an Alpine-themed three-course meal by The Hog and Apple.
That includes a festive arancini ‘snowball’, slow-cooked beef daube with mash, cabbage and a sticky bourguignon sauce, and an Alpine sharing board for dessert with a chocolate log, Aperol spritz cheesecake, and lemon posset pots.
And to get the party started there’s a full cocktail bar, plus live music with a DJ and saxophonist.
You’ll be able to document your festive celebration in a photobooth with an Alpine themed backdrop, as well as a 360 degree videobooth.
Billed by previous customers as ‘the best night of the year’, YurtBar bookings are now open for minimum tables of six.
The Manc readers can get an exclusive 20% off their booking by using the code yurtbar20 – book your party HERE.
Daisy Jackson -
8th July 2024 
