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Gardeners World Live 2011
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Message 1.Â
Posted by honestGreengrass (U11104227) on Friday, 17th June 2011
Has anyone else gone yet?
I went yesterday and was so so so disappointed
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Message 2
Posted by Trillium (U2170869) on Friday, 17th June 2011
It is very commercial/celeb oriented and if you don't like that, you're not likely to find it to your liking.
There are usually some gems that make the trip worthwhile - the floral marquee always has something to make my eyes light up and I can recall one show garden from each year which has really caught my attention - in a good way. I couldn't go this year myself, but will be watching tonight's coverage in case Simon Webster's Worm is on it.
Tatton is much more of a real garden/gardening show - set in a deer park instead of a car park. -
Message 3
Posted by Colin (U2252951) on Friday, 17th June 2011
The 'extra' 30 mins of GW was completely wasted on 17th June, just an extended advert for the show.
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Message 4
Posted by honestGreengrass (U11104227) on Friday, 17th June 2011
I'd been going for the past 6 years and this year I felt was by far the worst.
£24 each to get in and £8 to park the car. The indoor hall had a lot of clothing and jewellery stands and felt like an indoor market with a handful of plant exhibits. Whatever happened to the rows of indoor nursery stands and society exhibits?
Years ago two halls were packed with gardening-related stands and there were many concurrent talks by celebs and experts.
The floral marquee was OK but certainly not as spectacular as it appeared on TV tonight!
The outside seemed to have a lot less show gardens and outdoor stands compared to previous years.
My interpretation of what I saw, but I certainly won't be going next year. -
Message 5
Posted by Stressed out (U11163734) on Saturday, 18th June 2011
honestGreengrass
It was poor last year - we went on Sunday as I had a couple of complementary tickets. We are going tomorrow and as you say the £8 parking is a rip off.
I don't think it helps mixing the food show with the gardening. I know how much the stands are and so the plant prices are bumped up by a couple of quid to cover that.
Most of the stuff that was there last year was neither interesting or unusual and was straight off the back of a dutch lorry for a hopefully fast profit.
Last year all the stall holders I know said it was a dead loss commercially and I suppose that is why it will be even slower this year - because it is not worth the effort.
Sunday is regarded as chav day anyway (so I am told) - as there is a lot of visitors not spending any money - just there for a day out -
Message 6
Posted by garyhobson (U11055016) on Saturday, 18th June 2011
The is first year, for a long time, that I haven't been. So I can't say what this year's show is like. But it's interesting to read the comments above.
A long time ago this used to be a good show. Over the past few years I wasn't returning with anything wonderful. Nothing there was as good as stuff I'd bought there years ago. Last year I came back with just a few lily bulbs, and some junk.
The entrance fee and car park are expensive, for what you get. On the TV coverage for one RHS show (not GWL) Carol Klein said that a great bargain was some plant labels. Well, are plant labels really a bargain at £30? It really doesn't make any sense to buy small-value items at a show like this.
For me, this show used to be about impulse buying - seeing something novel that would be good in your garden - and buying it on the spot. For me, this was no longer happening at the show.
There are a few specific plants and things that I want for my garden right now, but I'll either get them from the local nursery if I can, or otherwise order them on-line.
We saw what Monty bought at this year's show - 3 grass plants for £20+entrance.
If I came back with 3 grass plants for £50, I wouldn't be going again in a hurry. -
Message 7
Posted by honestGreengrass (U11104227) on Saturday, 18th June 2011
I'd be really interested to hear how you rate the show this year RowanCottage.
Last year's show had a lot more inside the hall although many stall holders were complaining about poor sales and inflated costs. I guess, as a consequence, most of them didn't bother exhibiting this year.
The only good point was there was no queue to the car parks, loads of parking spaces close to the bus shuttle stop, no queue to buy an entry ticket and lots of space to sit and eat!
I felt very sorry for the hog roast, fish & chip and baguette stalls who had no customers during the time we looked around that area. Must have cost a small fortune to have a stall there and stock it. -
Message 8
Posted by thedogcody (U14659366) on Saturday, 18th June 2011
I am interested in all your comments- strange how the show was hardly mentioned prior to the event- perhaps the bbc will distance themselves from it and it won't return in its present format - seems quite an expensive day out.
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Message 9
Posted by Stressed out (U11163734) on Sunday, 19th June 2011
honestGreengrass
There were a number of interesting observations
1/ There were quite a lot of people there - but not as many as I expected
apparently there were 27,000 there yesterday
2/ The floral marque was quite poor and now had quite a big seating area inside.
A lot of the smaller stands were gone
3/ In the main exhibition hall it was mainly jewellery - handbags and non gardening related products. Very little tools - especially power tools - strimmers etc.
Didn't see any of the poly-tunnel sellers. No label printers or engravers
the other half of the hall was food sellers
4/ In the glass area that runs the length of the main exhibition hall there always used to be botanical artist of all sorts - nothing there today at all
5/ Outside a lot of the sellers you normally see were not there - people you see every year no where in sight
6/ Display gardens were not up to scratch - the one with the three dead trees painted white took the biscuit.
Not sure if we will be going next year the only highlight of the day was getting a spare pair of felco secateurs for subscribing to GW mag.
Also got a maple I had been looking for Acer Palmatum 'Ukon' -
Message 10
Posted by Sheila1 (U2826143) on Sunday, 19th June 2011
Have read all messages on this subject. I was there on Thursday and had a great day there. I found a lack of things in all areas mentioned in other messages. Car park fees are atrocious,but we went by coach. Will certainly go again next year,but there is a recession on,you know!
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Message 11
Posted by Sheila1 (U2826143) on Sunday, 19th June 2011
Don't agree. Tatton Show is a rip off. Doesn't matter where the show is held. I want plants and anything to do with gardening when I go to a show. where it is held doesn't matter. We have just been to Gardener's World Show by coach and payed for tickets and coach fee for £2 less than Tatton Park tickets alone.When you get in the show EVERYTHING is dearer than anywhere else. No wonder it is called the Chelsea of the noth!
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Message 12
Posted by JADEVINE (U14671401) on Monday, 20th June 2011
We went on Saturday, tickets birthday pressie from OH. Had a good day, but disappointed at the lack of nurseries in the main hall, and so many more stands selling 'tat' (my OH sentiments!)
I didnt find anything that I felt I had to have in my garden and anything I did fancy I will get from my local nursery at half the cost. Didnt rate the show gardens, floral marquee was ok, but not so many stands, the plant park was in there this year, that is normally in the main hall.
Used to enjoy it more when it was just gardening. Was suprised how much they were trying to sell tickets for next year at 20% off!
All in all had a good day out but probably wont bother next year, have never been to Tatton Park so cant comment on that, hope to go to Harrogate next year as have heard that is good. -
Message 13
Posted by Braidman (U11753668) on Monday, 20th June 2011
.
Talking about shows not being as good as previous years, our gardening club has for years run a coach to the Malvern shows (spring and autumn) but last autumns and this springs we were unable to get enough people to make the trip viable for either.
There was always a waiting list in previous years!
The reason given when asked was usually that the cost was unreasonable and the shows were not up to previous years standards!
I myself was not going for the above reason, I just went down to the garden centre and bought myself some plants I wanted instead!
Cheers! -
Message 14
Posted by Trillium (U2170869) on Monday, 20th June 2011
Not quite sure how Tatton is dearer/worse value than GW live.
An earlier poster said GW Live tickets were £24 + £8 for parking. Tatton is £23 and free parking. It's a much bigger gardening show too - many more gardens, bigger floral marquee plus a load of other stuff. -
Message 15
Posted by Ian W (U8604472) on Monday, 20th June 2011
Well it sounds like me and Sheila were the only ones to enjoy the day. We went Thursday too and had a great day out, in fact we ran out of time. Mind you we did plan to go to both shows, food and gardening. Yes there were some tat stalls but not that many - not as many as some are making out. I think it depends on your expectations but we have been going every 2 years and I suspect we'll go again in 2 years time.
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Message 16
Posted by ravenjoy (U13905126) on Tuesday, 21st June 2011
I agree with the above post. We went there on Saturday and really enjoyed our day. Went to several of the talks and thought they were interesting. It was easy to walk round the Floral marquee and see everything unlike Chelsea and Hampton Court. Thought the gardens were really good too!
We also went into the Food Show and watched the Masterchef show and managed to sample a few things!
I do think that there were quite a few unnecessary stalls selling clothes, jewellery etc but these are always at this type of show and we just ignore them.
I can't understand what everyone is complaining about -
Message 17
Posted by honestGreengrass (U11104227) on Tuesday, 21st June 2011
I'm sorry to disagree with Ian W and ravenjoy, but in my opinion the show isn't a patch on what it used to be 5 or 6 years ago.
In those years, the show wasn't run alongside the Good Food show etc... but was on its own, filling at least two halls, the glass walkways and all the outside grass areas right up to the carpark boundary.
The halls used to be full of nursery exhibits selling every type of plant you could imagine, then there were all the exhibits from the specific grower associations. I remember a huge queue of people waiting to have their plant problems identified at a Pest and Disease marquee and all sorts of charity garden exhibits such as the RNLI.
There used to be a number of the arenas throughout the show where people could sit and listen to celebrities all day as well as a large seated area where talks and demonstrations were given by B&Q on things like how to make hanging basket displays, control garden pest etc etc..
There even used to be a section of the halls where everything connected with ponds was sold from aquatic plants to exotic fountains.
I never heard any exhibitors complaining in the old days and was even told they had an evening party laid on for them by the organisers one evening after the doors closed with free food and drink as a thank you!
Things have certainly changed and the economic climate certainly hasn't helped. -
Message 18
Posted by PenylanSue (U13901201) on Tuesday, 21st June 2011
I'm going to chip in here with my two penneth worth. The last time I went to this show was 3 years ago and I thought exactly the same as you honestGG at the time and it sounds to me as if it hasn't got any better.
Combining it with the food show was the worst thing they could have done.
It meant less gardening stuff and that was all we went for.
If we wanted the food side then we would have gone to a food show.
I still think Tatton is one of the best and I may go to that this year.
re the Harrogate show. I love this one but it isn't like the others. It is the Horticultural show for showing off veg and flower arranging etc and all the societies are there. There's lots of plants to buy in the floral marquee and outside, brass bands playing and plenty of food to eat. There are some food exhibitors but they're not mixed up with the plants so you can choose to visit them or not. Crafts as well, in their own place and we often do our Xmas shopping there. You can get round it all in a day.
There are no show gardens unless the agricultural college puts something on but it's well organised, the parking is brilliant with buses to take you from the car park and for free. Can't remember the price of the show but I think it's reasonable. It is in Yorkshire, after all.
The Harrogate show has been going for so long, I can't remember how long and used to be held in the exhibition halls in the middle of town, so must have been much smaller a show.
Sue -
Message 19
Posted by PenylanSue (U13901201) on Tuesday, 21st June 2011
Just checked the Harrogate website and the most you can pay is £14 with free parking.
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Message 20
Posted by the cycling gardener (U2350416) on Thursday, 23rd June 2011
I stopped going to GWL when they combined it with The Food Show. The prices were the same despite a smaller gardening event. The previous year I spoke to a couple of suppliers at the show who complained that sales didn't offset the cost of exhibiting so they wouldn't bother again. I wonder how many other traders felt the same, hence the gardening/food combo? The posts on here confirm my suspicions that its gone downhill which is sad as it used to be a fun day out.
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Message 21
Posted by Lowena (U14575314) on Thursday, 23rd June 2011
I spoke to my friend yesterday.She is a qualified horticulturist and garden designer, and she had ( as a surprise by a non gardening spouse) tickets for GW Live as a birthday present.I expected to commiserate with her about the shortcomings of the show,( she has been known to be a bit "precious" about gardening,plants and shows
whereupon, to my amazement, she said "you must go" she thought it was excellent,......I was gobsmacked 
it just shows.....we ain't all the same
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