Harrogate Show

Good morning everyone
I'm not sure I'm in the right place to post this but here goes.?

Just returned from the opening day of Harrogate Spring Show. Like many, the first after covid lockdown and what a surprise.
The depletion of exhibitors was evident this year.
Not many glowing stands packed with the season's first flower blooms, with Matthewmans Sweet peas being the exception.
For some years prior to covid, traders have complained about increased pitch prices, and the little fellows being asked to leave their allotted sites making way for the big boys in the industry.
Many have packed up never to return.
Fingers can be pointed but the underlying factor in my mind is down to money.
Everyone wants their cut, and with the electricity heating prices rising and the cost of fuel the impact must be enormous.
But that's for another discussion.
More worrying was the amateur tent which usually represents every plant and vegetable category sector, again visibly depleted of their presence.
While the crowd attendance wasn't up to pre covid numbers and the noticeable collapsible trolleys stuffed full of plants were non existent, it makes for a questionable future.
Sadly it was the elderly out in force on the first day.
I just hope this is not going to be the norm for the foreseeable future.
The boom days of Tichmarsh and Kim Wilde.....what happened to her?.....are just memories.
Will we have to wait till the cycle completes its revolution to see the greatest past time on this planet restored to its rightful glory, where RHS courses are book up and the young people become interested yet again?
Let's hope it's not too long.
PS. The Yorkshire made pie stand was still there...thank god.
Strolling round in the sunshine eating one of Yorkshires finest was well worth the effort, while the brass band kept the spirits up in the back ground.!!!

 

I thought Kim Wilde was a singer and never liked Titchmarsh anyway.
However it is possible that some exhibitors both professional and amateur have either died or retired.
Throw in the uncertainty about the show happening and the preparation time required to get things just so quite a few people probably didn't start preparing last year.
A lot of nurseries sold out via mail order at the start of Covid and mail order demand has continued to be high so perhaps little to sell on stalls at the moment.
Brexit and tighter phyto sanitary regulations have made it harder to import stock.
Even big nurseries have had problems bringing things in, having to bring in a load of one thing rather than a mixed load of plants. Each species requires inspection and certification at a cost of course.
The variable weather we get at the moment doesn't help with getting a good spring display.
I was at a show a few weeks ago which was similar fewer exhibitors and fewer people selling plants. I expect things to pick up over the rest of the year.
My bank manager isn't complaining about the lack of buying opportunities.

 

You probably need to add a fairground and some form of organised entertainment to get the crowds back.
I find that is how things are around here, not just gardening wise but in all things.
Unless it's loud and noisy nobody seems interested.

 

That's why I've given up on County Shows and such like.

 

Never the less if this happened at Chelsea it would make news headlines.

 

Here is like a ghost town on weekends now, people only going out for the basic's, it's very stange, in the news it was being said the retail spending is down and even the demand for fuel is lower, i think lots of people are staying home now (well some people have been out for 2 years) i only go out for shopping and paying bills and to get a few things i may need but that is only once a week

 

I was speaking with the barber I've used for the best part of 50 years and he said that he is not seeing the quantity of customers he saw before covid.
He reckons half of them are still scared to go out.
Although how you get an online haircut is a bit of a puzzle.

 

Grow a Pony Tail like I did sometime ago

 

Neigh, neigh.
I'd look more stupid than I do already.

 

I've been cutting Miss Jiff hair and mine for 2 & half years, cutting the back is the hardish but there i don't have to look it it

 

I've never been to Chelsea, even back in the days when I was really keen, it just never appealed to me and even back in those days I thought the ticket price was excessive.

Slightly different and probably off topic, but we have Leeds Castle nearby, quite a tourist trap, and you can't buy a day ticket, apparently, you have to buy one that allows multiple entries.
To me that is going too far at ripping off tourists.

 

Problem is Harrogate isn't London and you don't get the tourists. Also southern England end of May is more amenable to plant shows and visitors compared with Harrogate mid to end of April.
When I lived in Braintree I went to Chelsea quite often as it was an early train into London, across London and get in before it filled up. The last time I went was the first year they had the modern structure rather than the marquee. Price got silly to reduce numbers and I got fed up of being bundled out of the way by tourists trying to take photos of themselves at Chelsea. Never understood how all the tourists got in on RHS member days. Was never a great fan of the show gardens and much preferred the plant displays in the marquee.