Hundreds of people attend annual Warwick Horticultural and Craft Show

The Court House and Pageant Garden hosted the show, which is run by the Warwick Horticultural and Allotment Society, when it returned for its seventh year.

Organisers said the “attendance record was shattered once again”, with almost 750 people visiting the show in the Ballroom on the Sunday and Monday.

They also said that around 1,400 visitors also visited Pageant Garden, where there was refreshments, stalls, tombola and craft stalls.

Charitable groups such as the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust and Hill Close Gardens also had displays.

A raffle was also held with prizes donated by local businesses.

This year there were around 250 entries competing in almost 70 categories.

A spokesperson from the Warwick Horticultural and Allotment Society said: “In a year which has not seen the best growing conditions, the quality of the exhibits was outstanding, and the independent panel of judges needed to spend a long time on Saturday afternoon choosing the class winners.

“As well as classes for floral art, flowers, vegetables, fruit, cakes and jams, and children’s crafts, an open class was held to celebrate the recent Paris Olympic Games, in which entrants were free to use any design they chose.

“The Eiffel Tower, the tricolour and bronze, silver and gold flowers were much in evidence.

“The winning entry in the WHAS Growers’ Challenge premier class for gardening groups also focused on the Olympics, with an amazing display from Guy’s Cliffe Walled Garden including an Eiffel Tower made from vegetables.

“Second and third prizes in this challenging Class were awarded to the PEAS allotment group and Hill Close Gardens respectively, who also produced spectacular entries.”

Schools and children were also invited to produce bug hotels for the show.

There were two submitted, both from Coten End – an individual entry and one from the Kidz Own out-of-school club. Both were awarded prizes.

Prizes and trophies were presented on the Monday afternoon by the Mayor of Warwick, Cllr Dave Skinner, who is also president of the WHAS.

The WHAS spokesperson added: “It was pleasing to see more show entries from young people this year, with five entrants altogether, all of whom won prizes, certificates and packets of wildflower seeds.

“The leaders were both from the Pascoe family, with four first prizes and one second prize each – Ruby in the four to seven year old section and Jackson in the eight to 11 year section.

"Jackson was also awarded Hintons’ “Best in Show” for his outstanding miniature garden in a seed tray, beating all the adult show entrants.”

The overall show winner accumulating the most points from his entries was Nils Purser with 39-points.

He won two trophies – one being for the leading WHAS member and the Banksian Medal from the Royal Horticultural Society, which is awarded to the leading entrant each year.

The WHAS spokesperson said: “With the show now over, we would like to acknowledge the financial support and cooperation provided by Warwick Town Council, and for generous prize sponsorship from eminent florist Simon Lycett, who hails from Warwick and is a vice-president of the WHAS.

“And, of course, to the many volunteers who gave so much of their time and effort to make the show a success, both in preparatory work and in support over the weekend.

“We look forward to returning next year.”