Britain's best-known gardening expert, Monty Don, is to open the 2018 Southport Flower Show, partnered by Everest.



The popular star, who was awarded an OBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours list this summer after passing on gardening tips to British TV viewers for more than 25 years, will be welcoming visitors to the seaside show this summer.

Monty has been the face of the BBC show Gardeners' World since 2003 and also appeared on This Morning on ITV and Channel 4's Real Gardens.

He has entertained a generation of gardeners with a laid back presenting style delivered on screen in his trademark blue working jacket and trousers and often interrupted by his pet golden retrievers Nigel and Nellie.

He will be appearing at Southport on Thursday 16th August for the opening day of Britain's largest independent flower show as it celebrates its 89th year.

Monty said:"I am very much looking forward to returning to Southport Flower Show this year and sharing the colour, talent and fun of a great local show. I look forward to seeing you there.”

This year's Southport Flower Show will invite visitors to 'step into the story' with the theme being 'Once Upon a Time'.

Other highlights include the stunning Show Gardens, the Grand Floral Marquee with displays from some of Britain's top growers and the Amateur Growers Competitions which have all been attracting visitors to the Lancashire coastal resort for more than eight decades.

The 2018 line-up also features entertainment for all the family, with Justin Fletcher on hand to entertain the children, who can enter free with a paying adult.

Monty will join a host of famous names at Southport this year including Carol Klein, Christine Walkden and Matthew Wilson who will be passing on their gardening tips.

Southport Flower Show, which last year attracted over 50,000 visitors, runs from Thursday 16th to Sunday 19th August. Advance tickets are available for just £20.

www.southportflowershow.co.uk