Welcome to the informational website of ‘Ayr Flower Show’. It is a family festival in which gardening enthusiasts have an opportunity to admire and purchase plants and related gardening items and enjoy some good food from across the UK. The Ayr Flower Show began in 1960 and has taken place each year from that date. Today, the show welcomes around 30,000 visitors from across the UK over the three days, with a significant number of visitors recently arriving from Northern Ireland. The entire event brings in more than £1 million into the local economy.
Attractions
The show offers a range of entertainments, floral art demonstrations and cookery demonstrations as well as regular forums for you to ask gardening experts for answers to your questions. You can buy plants from a range of garden centres and nurseries who will be present over the three day event. As well as selling plants, they can offer expert and specialist advice, not only on gardening but also on which is the most appropriate flowers for a gift depending on her interests. Other interesting ideas for a gift can be found on bestvalentinegifts.ca. Over the course of the event you can see the Ayr Bonsai Group, Scottish Begonia Society, Scottish Gardeners Forum and the Scottish Rock Garden Club among others.
With much of the show area covered as protection against inclement weather, the show attracts around 150 different trade stand, craft and food court stall-holders selling a variety of craft goods including handmade cards, leather goods, artisan glass, jewellery, paintings, pottery and other artworks. The food court will be selling everything from Scottish shortbread to venison to cheese. There’s also a Hospitality Marquee selling a traditional afternoon tea of sandwiches and scones, pastries and cakes with tea or coffee or a ploughman’s lunch and a craft beer. Other options include a seafood bar from local Ayr businesses where you can try steamed scallops in the shell.
Cook School Scotland
The Cook School Scotland will be returning for cookery demonstrations over the three days. Each day there will be six different demonstrations taking place, with chef’s sharing their tips and tricks of the trade. Demonstrations will be for dishes that promote the use of local produce and are tailored to the area.
Competitions
The Junior Marquee contains the largest Children’s Flower Show in Scotland with more than 850 young people submitting entries across the different classes in the Junior Section. Whether a first time novice or a regular exhibitor in the competitive classes of the Ayr Flower Show, there are plenty of classes for all, with associated rules and regulations. The following is a list of all the competitions, with most open to everyone. All judging will take place before the show officially opens. Judges will judge together and leave a copy of the score card by the exhibit.
Flowers
- Begonia classes
- Bonsai
- Cactus and succulent classes
- Carnation & sweet pea classes
- Chrysanthemum classes
- Dahlia classes
- Fuchsia classes
- Geranium and pelargonium classes
- Gladioli classes
- Pansy and viola classes
- Pot plant classes
- Rose classes
- Hanging baskets & patio containers
- Herbaceous and annuals classes
- Flower arrangement classes
- Fruit classes
- Vegetable classes
- Golden rose award
- Pallet gardens
- Junior classes
Usually there cannot be more than one entry made in each class, the exceptions include Bonsai Classes where no prize money is awarded.
Art, crafts, produce and baking
- Amateur art classes
- Handcraft
- Photographic classes
- Produce/baking
- Shepherds crooks & walking sticks
- Wine & beer
- Honey classes
The Ayr Flower Show is the perfect place to pick up a gift for someone celebrating a birthday, wedding anniversary or other special occasion. On sale are wood walking sticks, some carved or painted. There are photographs and embroidered pictures, jars of preserves and baked goods if you’re looking for a special dessert. There will be wine and beer on sale as well as comb honey, extracted honey and beeswax, either in a cake or in candles. There are also knitted goods, patchwork, crochet, cross-stitch and wool embroidery. Quilting and beadwork or perhaps you would prefer something knitted, a fashion knit for her or a knitted toy or hooded jacket for a new baby. If you’re celebrating a special anniversary, why not ask one of the craftspeople to create a bespoke gift for you.
The Pallet Garden Challenge
This competition offers gardening groups or individuals the chance to exhibit a decorative horticultural exhibit of predominantly living plant material. There are a number of restrictions to increase the challenge. A wooden pallet is provided, being 1.2 metres x 1.0 metres, with raised edging board.
The Golden Rose Award
This Award is given to the specialist society or gardening club staging the most attractive and informative stand. There are also a selection of trophies awarded for the best exhibits across many of the classes. The John Warwick Memorial Trophy will be awarded to to the winner of the most points in the Cut Flower Section across all flowers and The Laurence Marcantonio Trophy for the best display of Pot Plants in foliage and in flower. All exhibits stay on show until the end of the three-day event, though trade exhibitors have special arrangements to sell off from their stands prior to the close of the show.
Volunteers
With the help of volunteers, many of whom return year after year, the Ayr Flower Show is a great success. Whether supporting the management of the car park, directing visitors or keeping the grounds clear over the three days of the event, or volunteering in the preparations for the event or the work necessary once the festival is over. Volunteers have free access to all three days of the event, even if they are volunteering on just one day. Volunteers have access to behind-the-scenes preparations, allowing them a sneak preview without the crowds. At the dismantling of the displays, it has been known for volunteers to walk home with very impressive floral arrangements or even a palm tree!