Winchester Cathedral Flower Festival is back

Opened by gardener, broadcaster and author, Alan Titchmarsh and designed by Chelsea Flower Show regular, Angela Turner, Winchester Flower Festival is back!

Illumination: A Festival of Flowers is inspired by the Winchester Bible, the largest and finest surviving 12th-century English bible. It opens to the public this Wed 5 Sept and runs until 9 Sept.

Alan Titchmarsh will open the festival at a special preview evening on Tuesday 4 Sept and visitors should expect to see something really special from the flower arrangements evoking the Winchester Bible’s exquisite illuminated initials and elaborate decorative schemes coloured with gold and lapis lazuli.

Creative Director Angela Turner is back after designing the Cathedral’s Flower Festival in 2013. Angela is a regular exhibitor at RHS Chelsea Flower Show and has won many of their highly coveted RHS gold medals. Most of the flower arrangers will come from across the region of Wessex and Jersey NAFAS (National Association of Flower Arranging Societies).

Canon Annabelle Boyes, the Cathedral’s Receiver General, said:

“We are delighted to welcome Angela back to Winchester Cathedral and have no doubt that Angela’s skill and creativity will result in a truly unique and spectacular event.

“This year our Flower Festival is inspired by the 12th-century Winchester Bible, a medieval masterpiece and a national treasure. We look forward to seeing the exquisite decorative schemes within the Bible brought to life in flowers, as we share the story of the Winchester Bible with visitors from far and wide.”

One volume of the Winchester Bible is currently on display in the North Transept of Winchester Cathedral. From next year, all four volumes of the Winchester Bible will be on display in the Cathedral’s new multi-million-pound exhibition Kings and Scribes, opening in 2019.

Ticket prices range from £7 – £12 with a variety of concessions available.

Book via Winchester Cathedral Box Office on 01962 857 275 or visit their website.