Saturday 8 October to Sunday 6 November (or longer)
Japan will prove it is well on the road to recovery, following this March’s devastating earthquake and tsunami, as it prepares for a star studded international gardening championship outdoing the Royal Horticulture Society’s Chelsea Flower show in budget and visitor numbers.
If the success of last year’s first Gardening World Cup can be repeated then Japan sends out a powerful message to the world that it’s safe to travel and there are still wonderful things to see and do.
Last year’s show saw 100,000 people visiting in the first week and the show was so popular that it was extended by a further three months. The event proved how capable the Japanese are at taking ideas from others and making them more successful. The organisers, backed by a budget of several million, have made it clear that they want to rival the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show and are setting out to steal its crown with this year’s event.
The only gardening show of its kind in Japan and the world it takes place in the South East near Nagasaki. It is situated in the palace grounds of Huis Ten Bosch, a 375 acre theme park built as an astonishing replica of a Dutch town complete with windmills, villas, palaces, canals and tulip fields. With its proximity to Nagasaki, the theme is deliberately, ‘gardens for world peace and a prayer for Japanese recovery’. This year it is being held in aid of the victims of the Japanese Tsunami.
With designers picked to represent 12 countries from five continents and the playing field made equal with fixed budgets and pitch sizes; it’s like no other world class gardening competition. The event ensures visitors get to see the best designers from Australia, North America, Europe, Africa and Asia competing for medals.
Fifteen garden designers, including this year’s Chelsea gold medalists Sarah Eberle (UK) David Davidson (South Africa) and Jim Fogarty (Australia) will again compete for gardening glory with their designs for show and court yard gardens. They have two weeks to build their gardens ahead of a televised Oscar nomination style awards ceremony on the 7th October 2011 at which the judges announce the winners. Last year Andy Sturgeon, who had won “Best in Show” at Chelsea, won the top prize and this year he returns as a judge. Sarah Eberle, who won her eighth RHS gold medal at Chelsea this May with her stunning Monaco garden, takes his place as a competitor representing the UK.
2011’s Gardening World cup promises to be even better than last year with gardeners from all five continents taking part and a new courtyard section being added.
For more information visit: gardeningworldcup.com