18th September 2012

The Edible Garden Show – a weather proof day out

Flash floods, torrential rain and storms wreaked havoc across England and Wales making the soggy summer of 2012 the biggest washout in 100 years.

Flash floods, torrential rain and storms wreaked havoc across England and Wales making the soggy summer of 2012 the biggest washout in 100 years.

Saturated show grounds resembled mud marshes forcing countless outdoor events to be cancelled. Some of the UK’s biggest agricultural events such as the Great Yorkshire Show in Harrogate and Leicestershire’s CLA Games Fair were axed this year due to bad weather. Months of planning washed away as more than 366mm of rain fell over the summer – just under the record 384.4mm in the summer of 1912.

As disappointed organisers count the cost of cancelled events, exhibitors and visitors searching for a show set to go ahead whatever the weather should look no further than The Edible Garden Show 2013.

Gardening enthusiasts, livestock experts, families and exhibitors can safely leave their wellies, waterproofs and brollies at home when they visit The Edible Garden Show at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire on March 15-17 as this unique award-winning grow-your- own event is staged entirely undercover.

Bringing the great outdoors indoors, the event is held inside two large exhibition halls and a giant marquee to protect visitors, celebrity guests, exhibitors and livestock including chickens, pigs, goats and bees against the elements.

The Edible Garden Show’s Events Director Bev Channell said: “My heart goes out to all the people involved in the outdoor summer events which had to be cancelled due to the bad weather. The months of hard work that goes into planning and organising these events just to have them washed away is terrible. Sadly, the weather is something we have no control over.

“We wanted to leave nothing to chance with The Edible Garden Show. As the event takes place in March, there are no guarantees with the weather. By holding the entire show undercover, we can ensure nothing rains on your parade and downpours don’t stop us putting on a fantastic event.”

The Great Yorkshire Show was one of the biggest casualties of the bad weather. The event was cancelled for the first time in 154 years after the showground flooded and cars became stuck in mud on day one of the three day agricultural show.

Other cancellations included the Cleveland Show in Middlesbrough, the Warwickshire & West Midlands Game & Country Fair near Nuneaton, Suffolk Show, Nantwich Show in Cheshire, Lakeland County Fair near Coniston and two Cumbrian country shows – the Millom & Broughton Show and Dentdale Show.

The Met Office announced summer 2012 was the fourth wettest since records began in 1727. And weathermen say summer 2012 is likely to be the dullest summer on record with just 399 hours sunshine up until 28 August. This makes it the dullest summer since 1980 when the UK saw only 396 hours of sunshine.

For more show information or to buy tickets visit: www.theediblegardenshow.co.uk or telephone 0844 338 8001

Runners Point