Cannon Hall flower festival for Yorkshire Cancer Centre

Jun 11 2009 by Anne-Marie Senior, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

THERE will be an explosion of colour at Cannon Hall this month when a charity flower festival takes place.

Forty floral designs will fill the grounds of the Cawthorne museum to help boost local cancer patients.

Visitors will also get chance to glimpse 16 large wooden figures decorated with flowers to help symbolise how anyone can be affected by cancer.

There will also be live demonstrations of flower-arranging and willow weaving and a gardeners’ question time.

The event – Festival for Life, an Exposition of Floral Fantasy – will be raising money for the Yorkshire Cancer Centre at St James’s Hospital in Leeds.

Flower arranging expert Catherine Gledhill, of Emley, is organising the display with friend Lynn Barghout of Leeds.

Catherine, a national demonstrator for the National Association of Flower Arrangement Societies, said: “The festival really is one not to be missed.

“Members of the public can enjoy the twice-daily demonstrations from our fantastic florists and flower designers in the marquee, watch willow weaving demonstrations by Phil Bradley, and take part in our fantastic gardeners question time feature.

“Unfortunately, cancer is something that does affect everyone, and this festival is our way of helping to raise not only awareness of the Yorkshire Cancer Centre, but also the funds for it to continue its life-saving work.”

The event will take place from June 19 to 21, from 10am to 5pm each day.

A champagne bar, refreshment areas and shopping opportunities – including handmade picnic hampers from Cannon Hall Farm Shop – will also be available.

Celebrity gardeners including Sir Roddy Llewellyn, Martin Fish, Nigel Harrison and Examiner gardening expert Graham Porter will be taking part in the festival.

There will also be music performed by Pennine Jazz.

A special gala preview evening is being held on June 20 to give people chance to meet the celebrities and be first to see the floral displays.

The festival will also end with a fathers’ fun day on the final day to mark to Father’s Day.

Families are invited to take part in the fun which will include a children’s entertainer and a hog roast to mark the occasion.

Catherine added: “We want as many people as possible to enjoy this spectacular event.

“We would ask that a donation is given to the Yorkshire Cancer Centre – your help will really make a difference.”

For more information or to apply for tickets for the gala preview evening contact Catherine Gledhill on 01484 602662 or email catherine@festival4life.org.uk