Britain's longest running flower show finally returns to Taunton

  • Watch Ben McGrail's report

The oldest and longest running flower show in the country has made a return to Somerset.

Taunton Flower Show is a highlight of the year in the county, seeing thousands of people descend on Vivary Park each year.

The two-day festival of colour, food, drink and entertainment is back after a two year break due to the pandemic.

People across the county have welcomed its return after it was cancelled in 2020, and a smaller show was held on Castle Green in 2021.

Julie and Andrew Haylock won the prestigious Designer Garden competition.

One visitor to the 190th show this year told ITV News: "I just think it's a lovely place to meet. The flowers in the marquee are wonderful. You get ideas and think 'oh that'll be nice in the garden'."

Another said: "Some of the displays are just out of this world, so getting all of that knowledge and information, we take back to our own garden."

The Designer Garden competition is considered by many to be the centrepiece of the whole show.

The couple who won this year, Julie and Andrew Haylock, dedicated their entry to loved ones who they've recently lost.

Julie said: "Sadly I lost my mum last October and Andrew lost his mum the year before. But the year prior to that, a good friend that I used to work with, he passed away with leukaemia.

"So the garden was in memory to those three very special people", she added.

Andrew added: "I felt that because of the times we'd been through that it's nice to go into the garden and reflect and we thought that by having a garden like this, it would resonate with a lot of people."

Julie and Andrew Haylock's winning garden

For some, like Phoebe and Clive Aubury, it was their first time entering the competition. Their entry was called 'Persian Paradise'.

"It's our first time ever doing the show garden. We wanted to go back to the history and origins of the first gradens that were ever created", Phoebe said.

"We wanted to bring home the notion that your garden really is your paradise and everyone has the power and potential to create a little piece of paradise in their own garden", she added.

There will be no public parking for the event this year, with people encouraged to either park in town centre car parks or use the free park and ride service.

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Friday 5 August 2022

Members Only - 9.30am

General Public - 10.30am

Late Entry - 4pm

Show Closes 6pm

Saturday 6 August 2022

Gates open for all visitors - 9.30am 

Late Entry - 4pm

Show Closes 6pm