RHS Flower Show move targets 'different audience'

Holding the famous annual Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Flower Show in South Yorkshire in 2025 will see the event "hitting a different audience", organisers have promised.

Tens of thousands of people are expected to descend on the Grade I listed Wentworth Woodhouse, near Rotherham, when the show temporarily moves from its traditional home in Cheshire in July 2025.

Earlier this year, the RHS confirmed the much-loved event would be held at different locations in coming years - and would not return to Tatton Park until 2027.

Sarah Poll, head of shows development for the RHS, said: "This is a new venue for us. We've been at Tatton Park for a good number of years and we wanted a new location."

Announcing the change in April, the RHS said the aim of holding the event in other locations was to "promote gardening to as many people as possible".

It said a show would be held at Wentworth Woodhouse in 2025 and on Norfolk's Sandringham Estate, one of King Charles's royal residences, in 2026.

Ms Poll said Wentworth Woodhouse was an "absolutely stunning" location for the show, which has been running for 25 years and annually attracts about 80,000 visitors.

"The house is quite exciting and has an incredible history, which we think will be an interesting side for our visitors," she said.

"We wanted to stay in the North so we were hitting a different audience."

As well as being held in the grounds of the historic house, the flower show would also be extended to the interior of the stately home, Ms Poll said.

"We've got some beautiful rooms inside the house and a stunning ballroom," she added.

"It will be mostly floristry installations, but we'll also have workshops and we've also got a fruit and vegetable competition."

Sarah McLeod, chief executive officer of Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust, said there was currently a "real buzz in South Yorkshire" and the choice of Wentworth Woodhouse for the RHS Flower Show reflected that.

"Barnsley is doing some great stuff, and Doncaster, Sheffield and now Rotherham," she said.

"Things are really starting to pick up and people are now looking to this part of the world and realising South Yorkshire is buzzing, which is a positive thing.

"I think an organisation like the RHS coming here really helps that."

Ms McLeod explained that the RHS had originally contacted the Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust about the flower show move.

"I think they heard about the great work we do as a trust in terms of engaging with our community," she said.

"We've won a lot of awards for our work and we've really focused very hard on making sure everyone in this community feels welcome here and is able to access culture."

Wentworth Woodhouse was built between 1725 and 1750 and its 600ft (183m) long Palladian East Front is wider than Buckingham Palace.

The preservation trust bought the house, which stands in parkland and which has more than 200 rooms, for £7m in 2017.

The house is currently undergoing a multi-million pound restoration which, once complete, will feature event spaces, offices, overnight accommodation, retail, bar and restaurant attractions.

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