Inside Salisbury: 30,000 blooms to create vibrant water-themed displays
Salisbury Cathedral's Flower Festival returns in May
By Annette J Beveridge
IMAGINE more than 30,000 blooms arranged to represent a river of flowers, or a world without water.
Work is already underway for this year’s Flower Festival which will take place at Salisbury Cathedral.
Creative Director of Flowers at the Cathedral, Michael Bowyer MBE, will lead the team alongside floral designer Debbie Wadge and Administrator Susan Branch, to transform the Cathedral into a fragrant floral masterpiece.
Michael led the design for the Cathedral’s flower festival in 2022 where more than 15,000 people attended. Michael works as a Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) judge and is the president of the South West area of the National Association of Flower Arrangement Societies (NAFAS).
Michael said: “It is a pleasure to once again be leading this incredible team on this project, including the hundreds of dedicated volunteers that will give their time and skill to make this event truly extraordinary. It will also be a particular delight to work with local artists this year to create even bigger and more impressive displays.”
An invitation has been extended for contributions from the local community for the ‘Under the Sea’ display, which will see visitors walking on the seabed and looking up at hundreds of fish, made by schools, care homes and local groups.
For the first time, a variety of textiles will accompany the displays. This will range from glass makers to painters. All visual artists are local to the area, with some previously being involved in the Plain Arts Salisbury’s Art Trail last year.
Artists include Willow Weaver Nicky Heal, who along with other artists, will build a spectacular willow ‘wave’ that will ‘wash’ over the high altar.
Sustainability underpins everything at the Cathedral and becomes a core factor at this festival.
Stands and frames from previous flower festivals will be used and organisers have chosen to use string or wire throughout the displays and floral exhibition spaces. Displays will not use floral foam and the flowers displayed as well as green waste produced throughout the festival will be fully composted.
Groups of ten or more people interested in visiting the festival should contact groups@salcath.co.uk or phone 01722 512156.
This festival is kindly sponsored by South Western Railway, with support from Parker Bullen, Ecclesiastical and Bluestone Vineyards. The Spirit of Water will run from 13-18 May. Book tickets here.
Tickets to the Exclusive Preview event on the evening of Monday 12 May are also available online, sponsored by Bluestone Vineyards.
Photo Credits: Images 1 and 2 Finnbarr Webster
Images 3, 4 and 5 - Spencer Mulholland
