Beechgrove Garden’s Jim backs festival

Jim McColl, presenter of The Beechgrove Gareden for nearly 40 years and known as “the granddaddy of Scottish horticulture” is backing the first outing of the Ayr and District Flower Show. Although currently based in Aberdeen Jim’s roots are firmly in Ayrshire. His father was a gardening supervisor responsible for all the parks in Kilmarnock and Jim started his horticultural training at the West of Scotland College of Agriculture, at Auchincruive where he went on to spend several years on the staffff.

Jeff Banning, the chairman of the Ayr and District Flower Show said: “As soon as Jim heard about our efforts to maintain a grass roots flower show in Ayr he sent a mail generously offering his support in whatever way he could.”

The Ayr and District Flower Show takes place on Friday, August 18 and Saturday, 19 with an entry fee of just £ 5 and free entry to under 16’ s who are accompanied by an adult.

Jim has offered to attend on both days of the show and the plan is to stage a gardeners’ question time session on the Saturday morning.

This has been a hectic few months for the organisers ( all volunteers) of the show to put all the necessary arrangements in place but they have been buoyed in their efforts by the generous encourage of the local community and financial support from a range of both individuals and organisations.

“It’s been a hard slog and a steep learning curve,” said Jeff.

“We will all be working right down to the wire to make this event the success that the area deserves.”

Further information is available from the show website : www. ayay rand district flowers how. co.uk.