Sweet smell of success for flower festival as attendance increases
The organisers of an annual sweet pea festival have hailed the event a success and said preparations already underway for next year's 30th anniversary show.
The Eckford Sweet Pea Society of Wem held its 29th Annual Sweet Pea Show in Wem on Saturday and Sunday at the Thomas Adams School.
There were more than 70 classes for sweet peas, from formal vases to bowls, baskets, plants, floral art, and a children’s section.
Show manager Karen Good said they had been delighted with the standard of exhibits – particularly because growers had been faced with testing weather conditions which had hampered their efforts.
She said: "The number of exhibits were down on the main show stands because of the weather but they were seriously up on the floral art section and the traders did very well.
"The standard is really high, the main growers just wont bring them unless they are to the standard."
Karen said that all the society's efforts would now go into preparations for next year's event, with big things planned for the 30th anniversary show.
She said: "We are already planning for next year. It will be a big show."
Show secretary Val Good said the show began when her late husband suggested to the national sweet pea society that they hold an event in Wem.
It initially started as a one day event but after three years was expanded into its current two day format.
Mrs Good said she had been thrilled with the turn out for the show, particularly given the challenges growers had faced with the weather.
She said: "We were very pleased with the way it went. There were not as many exhibitors because of the weather but we got an increase on the number of visitors on Saturday and we had a lot of people on Sunday.
She added: "We will take notes and get started on next year. We will have a committee meeting in a week or so and we will discuss the show and what we can do for next year."
