ABBOTS RIPTON HALL GARDEN & FOOD SHOW

Garden Opening 30th June- 1st July 2012 .

Abbots Ripton, Huntingdon 

PE28 2PQ .  Just off A1(M) & A14

TICKETS ON SALE FROM

1st January - Go to  

http://quay.it/abbotsriptonhall

 

Do make a date to visit this Major Charity Garden Show in 2012 in aid of

ABF the Soldiers Charity,Dreamdrops Childrens Charity, British Red Cross Cambridgshire Branch, Ormiston Childrens & Families Trust,  Huntingdon & Peterborough Womens Institute Federation, Huntingdon Cromwell Rotary Club Charities, local Churches and other local charities.

 

 

Full details are now on our 'Garden Show Programme 2012' Page.

 

 

 REPORT ON 2010 GARDEN SHOW.

"Thet Abbots Ripton Hall Garden Show was a success thanks to the knowledge and experience of Nigel Dyson. Only six years ago he did his first show in Little Bentley where he lives. The key to success he has discovered is, first and foremost, an interesting garden not normally open to the general public, secondly there must be a plentiful supply of willing helpers and thirdly generous local sponsors.

All three conditions were fulfilled at Abbots Ripton in spades. Gavin Smith, Head Gardener at the Hall, with the help of his team and supported by Roger Churton and his estate staff, had the garden looking its very best. There was much to see with over 1200 species of plants and trees, some extremely rare, growing in a background designed over the last 60 years by three of the best international garden designers. An enormous troup of volunteers from the Red Cross, the Rotary, the Women's Institutes, Ormiston Children and Families Trust and our five local churches made light work of caring for some 7,000 visitors in beautiful British summer weather. The World Cup match on the Sunday did knock our attendance, but the most important thing was everyone who attended was so complimentary about the Gardens, Trade Stand, NAFAS Show and the general organisation.

The Event started with a Gala evening on Friday sponsored by NFU Mutual & Smiths Gore with delicious canapes made and served by the Red CrossEntertainments.  The guests came to see included 90 trade stands, a very popular art show for local artists, the silent auction with a great variety of gifts from dry-fly fishing  rod, visit to Lola headquarters and much more.  The next two days included teas and cakes served in front of the Hall to the accompaniment of brass bands. The finals of the NAFAS Eastern Region's annual flower arranging competition attracted many visitors and added to the funds. The scale of all this is perhaps best illustrated by the fact that the Women's Institutes cooked and sold 700 home made cakes! 

Natural beauty has a strong spiritual side and so it was wonderfully appropriate that Bishop of Huntingdon came on Sunday to conduct a service in the shelter of the Rose Circle . The sound of hymns floating across the fields instead of being trapped in a building added an unexpectedly beautiful dimension.

But our second garden show wasn't just a successful example of communities working together, it was also a financial success raising far more for local charities than the normal occasional Sunday afternoon.Though the final accounts have yet to be completed, the majority of the money is in.  So, many thanks and congratulations to all those who gave so much time, energy and thought to making it such a success and to our sponsors who funded so much of it - Barclays Bank,Smiths Gore, NFU Mutual,  Vindis Audi and Bentley Norwich, Cheffins, , the Hunts Post, , Saffreys, Strutt & Parker,  and many others

And would we do it again? with everybody's help, Yes. And could we do it even better in 2012 ? You bet we could.

John De Ramsey."