Flower and food festival proving a hit

Bigger-than-expected crowds enjoy colourful extravaganza, with added attraction of 30th birthday cultural expo

The 30th Dundee Flower and Food Festival is in full swing with organisers already reporting higher visitor numbers than expected.

Around 5,000 plant lovers, foodies, tipple tasters and gardening enthusiasts attended the launch of the annual show at Camperdown Park yesterday, with tens of thousands more expected over the weekend.

As part of this year’s 30th birthday celebrations a cultural expo in Camperdown House celebrates the impact of design and the city’s status as the only UK Unseco City of Design.

BBC horticulturist Christine Walkden, who presents the awardwinning series Glorious Gardens, will provide gardening top tips over the weekend.

Dundee’s 71 Brewing are providing drinks in one of the two beer tents, while Tayside-based band the Happy Yukes will join scores of other musicians and dance groups on the entertainment stage.

Depute neighbourhood services convener and the council’s newly appointed tree champion Anne Rendall has been helping oversee the running of this year’s event.

She said: “It’s great that all the months of preparation are now coming together.

“I have no doubt that visitors will be delighted with the colourful floral displays and the quality of the celebrity guest that are starring over the weekend,” she added.

“With this year being the 30th anniversary we decided to do something extra: we’ve decided to open up Camperdown and let people see the cultural gems we have in the city.

“This year’s festival is on track to be as popular as ever and we have managed to attract a range of celebrities that will appeal to a wide audience.”

One of the festival organisers, Peter Sandwell, said the judges were impressed with this year’s standard of exhibits.

He added: “Friday was very busy, with a lot of families and children.

“It’s always quieter on the first day but we were busier than we expected. We had around 5,000 people including around 400 children.

“We’re expecting a great weekend overall.”

Pictures: Steven Brown. Left: Eve Keepax, Anne Rendall, Moira Coutts and Dr Viola Marx judge the pocket garden entries; right: Shona Leckie arranges a display for Dundee Floral Art Club.

Picture: Mhairi Edwards. Perpetual carnations attract admiring glances.