Plant a seed to regrow Ayr Flower Show

The future of Ayr Flower Show begins this Friday at a public show of support to resurrect it.

The community is being asked to volunteer for the new “grassroots” show. A flower summit is being staged at Ayr Town Hall at 2.30pm.

It follows the dramatic axing of the show when Ayrshire Horticultural Society threw in the towel after fed- up South Ayrshire Council refused to back them.

They claimed the show at Rozelle had become overblown, with massive amounts of money splashed out on tents and fences.

The people behind it were accused of intransigence when they wouldn’t adapt.

The meeting has been organised by MSP John Scott who was showered with support after a story appeared in the Ayrshire Post.

He said: “We want to see all keen gardeners and enthusiasts who

want to see it resurrected. We want to start totally afresh. It is not about how it was in 1964, 1973 or 2016. “This will be a low- cost Ryanair solution to save it.” Backing has been received from floral societies. The MSP added: “They just want a proper flower show. It is all about the plants. I have no idea yet how we are going to fund it but we need to keep it going for the good of society here.

“We want as many volunteers – people who are prepared to roll up sleeves and get on with it – can come to the meeting.

“It will be a basic show, back to grassroots, and we will see how it will develop.”

Ayr Racecourse is being tipped as a possible venue, and Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce may come aboard.

Chamber chief executive Valerie Russell said: “The Chamber hopes a solution can be found to continuing the Ayr Flower Show in some shape or form and is happy to support where we can.”