RESIDENTS and traders from Wellington and its surrounding communities have helped the country’s oldest flower show to bounce back from a financial threat.

They visited and/or exhibited in the annual Taunton Flower Show, which has been described as the ‘Chelsea of the West’.

The show, held in Taunton’s Vivary Park on Friday and Saturday (August 2 and 3), attracted hoardes of visitors despite higher ticket prices of £25 for the Friday and £20 on Saturday because of financial losses suffered in the past couple of years and the lasting impact of the Covid pandemic.

Monkton Elm Garden Centre's Andrew Pitman lifts the gold award for Taunton Flower Show's large commercial display. PHOTO: Alain Lockyer.Street pastor rail responders Di Ruth (left) and Alan Miles at Taunton Flower Show. PHOTO: Alain Lockyer.Crowds returned to the annual Taunton Flower Show over the weekend. PHOTO: Alain Lockyer.So much to see at Taunton Flower Show. PHOTO: Alain Lockyer.James Grant, director of Wellington Slabs, which has been installing and maintaining driveways, patios, and walling since 1992, was among exhibitors at Taunton Flower Show. PHOTO: Alain Lockyer.Somerset Council chairman Cllr Mike Best (centre) with his wife Elizabeth and former Wellington MP David Nicholson inspecting produce entries in Taunton Flower Show. PHOTO: Alain Lockyer.Admiring the blooms at Taunton Flower Show. PHOTO: Alain Lockyer.Wellington's very own Clinton Rogers, a Somerset Deputy Lord Lieutenant, and president of the League of Friends of Musgrove Park Hospital, with league fund-raising chairman Liz Kingston at Taunton Flower Show. PHOTO: Alain Lockyer.A birds of prey show with K&H Falconry at Taunton Flower Show. PHOTO: Alain Lockyer.So much choice at Taunton Flower Show. PHOTO: Alain Lockyer.Amazing and colourful commercial displays filled marquees at Taunton Flower Show. PHOTO: Alain Lockyer.The Liberty Sisters were among a line-up providing live music for Taunton Flower Show. PHOTO: Alain Lockyer.Floral delights at every turn for visitors to Taunton Flower Show. PHOTO: Alain Lockyer.There was so much to admire at Taunton Flower Show. PHOTO: Alain Lockyer.Produce entries tempt visitors to Taunton Flower Show. PHOTO: Alain Lockyer.

Monkton Elm Garden Centre's Andrew Pitman lifts the gold award for Taunton Flower Show's large commercial display. PHOTO: Alain Lockyer.

Street pastor rail responders Di Ruth (left) and Alan Miles at Taunton Flower Show. PHOTO: Alain Lockyer.

Crowds returned to the annual Taunton Flower Show over the weekend. PHOTO: Alain Lockyer.

So much to see at Taunton Flower Show. PHOTO: Alain Lockyer.

James Grant, director of Wellington Slabs, which has been installing and maintaining driveways, patios, and walling since 1992, was among exhibitors at Taunton Flower Show. PHOTO: Alain Lockyer.

Somerset Council chairman Cllr Mike Best (centre) with his wife Elizabeth and former Wellington MP David Nicholson inspecting produce entries in Taunton Flower Show. PHOTO: Alain Lockyer.

Admiring the blooms at Taunton Flower Show. PHOTO: Alain Lockyer.

Wellington's very own Clinton Rogers, a Somerset Deputy Lord Lieutenant, and president of the League of Friends of Musgrove Park Hospital, with league fund-raising chairman Liz Kingston at Taunton Flower Show. PHOTO: Alain Lockyer.

A birds of prey show with K&H Falconry at Taunton Flower Show. PHOTO: Alain Lockyer.

So much choice at Taunton Flower Show. PHOTO: Alain Lockyer.

Amazing and colourful commercial displays filled marquees at Taunton Flower Show. PHOTO: Alain Lockyer.

The Liberty Sisters were among a line-up providing live music for Taunton Flower Show. PHOTO: Alain Lockyer.

Floral delights at every turn for visitors to Taunton Flower Show. PHOTO: Alain Lockyer.

There was so much to admire at Taunton Flower Show. PHOTO: Alain Lockyer.

Produce entries tempt visitors to Taunton Flower Show. PHOTO: Alain Lockyer.

This year was the 193rd show, the first being held in 1831, and event manager Becky Fox said she was ‘cautiously confident’ for the future as visitor numbers had rebounded.

Last year, the show was struck by high winds and rain during Storm Antoni, which saw the Met Office issue an amber weather warning, meaning a risk to life.

But Ms Fox said a boom in ticket sales for the weekend’s event helped by warm and sunny weather had given show organisers hope for the future.

As well as the competitive floral focus of the show with about 250 different classes, a host of other activities took place with talks and demonstrations in the marquees.

Nynehead Court's Deb Sparks (left) and Kim Horton were among the trade exhibitors at Taunton Flower Show.
Nynehead Court's Deb Sparks (left) and Kim Horton were among the trade exhibitors at Taunton Flower Show. PHOTO: Alain Lockyer. ( )

There was also a range of entertainment for all ages varying from sheepdogs to extreme biking in the main arena to magic and games in the show’s children's village.

Live music was performed on the show’s Wilton and Fountain Stages and culinary delights from all over the world were served by a host of different food traders.

Commercial displays in the floral marquee were being sold off at 4 pm on Saturday before the show was due to close at 5 pm.

Parking for Taunton Flower Show was being allowed by Bishop Fox’s School, which was said to be a 10-minute walk along Stockwell Stream from Vivary Park.

A £5 parking donation was being requested by Taunton Rotary, which was operating the car park, with all the money going toward helping to keep the flower show running for the future.