A landscape gardener with *Southport Flower Show in her blood” is looking forward to returning to create a show garden at this year’s event.
Jackie Knight, owner of Jackie Knight Landscapes, is putting together the show’s first ever Menopause Garden, building a haven for women to explore health and wellbeing.
She is following in the footsteps of her father, Douglas Knight, an iconic landscape gardener at Victoria Park for many years.
Jackie is working alongside husband Paul and designer Carolyn Hardern to put together the showpiece space.
The garden – titled ‘Circles of Strength’ – will feature plants used in the production of menopause remedies and described by Carolyn as a ‘riot of colour’.
Jackie Knight said: “There is a chaotic path leading up from the base of the Menopause Garden, with women feeling uncertain and disconcerted as it begins.
“When they reach the top there will be a throne, a sculpture and an area of tranquillity.
“This will be our first show garden at Southport Flower Show for 10 years, with our last one being done in 2013.
“We completed our first show garden 31 years ago, just after we came back from our honeymoon!
“As we arrived back from Antigua, my Dad said ‘you are doing the show garden at Southport Flower Show’!
“We are building this Menopause Garden on what used to be Dad’s site.
“Southport Flower Show is definitely in the blood!
Jackie Knight, owner of Jackie Knight Landscapes, is creating the show’s first Menopause Garden. Photo by Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport
“There are photos of me in Dad’s show garden when I was two years old, 50 odd years ago.
“Dad is 81 years old now, but he still loves coming down while we’re working. He is normally sitting in a chair at the back.
“We came to Southport Flower Show last year for a day out.
“It had a really lovely vibe to it. We loved it.
“It is such a lovely, friendly environment to be in and we are so pleased to be back creating a show garden this year.
“It is a fabulous place to showcase your skills and remind people that you are still there!
“There is a great sense of friendship between all the various gardeners, it is a great place to learn from each other.
“The weather has been really kind so far while we have been working and it is looking really good for the show.”
Southport Flower Show is to feature its first-ever Menopause Garden, building a haven for women to explore health and wellbeing
The Circles of Strength show garden is a project inspired very much by Carolyn’s own personal experience. Ten years ago she feared she would have to give up her successful career as a garden designer after suffering a series of unexplained panic attacks.
She lost her confidence and self-esteem and couldn’t see a way to carry on with her work.
But a conversation with a friend and relative, and then a doctor, helped the Cheshire-based designer to understand that her condition was linked to the menopause.
She went back to the drawing board to come up with more award-winning designs, including a top prize for best planting at the Southport Flower Show in 2019.
She is enjoying working with Jackie Knight on the project and hopes the show garden will celebrate ‘women reaching an inner-strength and empowerment’.
The design features plants used in production of menopause remedies and also many plants with female names.
Supporters of the garden include Bridge Inn Community Farm, JA Jones, Jenny Pickford, Massams Supplies Ltd and Total Timber.
Alan Adams, General Manager of Southport Flower Show, said: “I am delighted to feature our first ever Menopause Garden, it will be an important addition to the show this year.
“I want to thank all of our supporters who have helped to create Circles of Strength and we are looking forward to opening it up to visitors in August.”
Circles of Strength is one of eleven show gardens which will be open to visitors at this year’s Southport Flower Show – including gardens from professional landscapers and charities.
With its combination of garden and floral displays, cookery demonstrations, shopping village, arena entertainment, live music and much more, Southport Flower Show is a great day out for the whole family.
This year’s star guests include Countdown host Rachel Riley and her Strictly Come Dancing partner Pasha Kovalev.
Celebrity chefs John Torode and Lisa Faulkner are among the top names in the demonstration kitchen along with Masterchef’s Gabriella Margiotta and Lizzie Acker from the Great British Bake Off.
Kids go free to Southport Flower Show and younger visitors will be entertained by children’s TV star Justin Fletcher, who is returning with his acclaimed stage show.
And sharing their growing expertise will be Gardeners’ World presenter Frances Tophill, Garden Ninja Lee Burkhill, urban gardener Jason Williams and broadcaster James Wong.
Southport Flower Show, sponsored by Harrison Holidays, runs over four days from Thursday 17th August to Sunday 20th August and is held in the 34-acre Victoria Park close to the centre of the seaside town.
Some of the nation’s top growers compete for prizes every year at Southport and the show is famous for its spectacular grand floral marquee.
Tickets are £28 on the gate but buy in advance for an early bird discount with tickets purchased before 11.59pm on Wednesday 16th August available for £25.
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