Not only does the area of Garstang have a reputation for serving up some of Lancashire's finest produce but it is also a twice Gold winner of Britain in Bloom and yesterday hosted a visit by the judges of the European equivalent - The Entente Florale!
Adrian and I joined the hard working horticulturalists of Garstang and the European judges at the Garstang Country Hotel & Golf club last night to celebrate the blooming achievement of this Lancashire village.
The talk over dinner was of a day filled with canal trips and boats laden with blooms, floral filled churches, themed shop window displays, cheese making and clog dancing. The judges certainly sounded impressed by this varied itinerary and applauded the dedication of the in-bloom team together with the warm-hearted Lancastrian welcome they received.
The dinner menu sampled some of Lancashire's treats including Bowland beef for the main course (sponsored by LBTB) and a cheese board by Dew-Lay cheese makers. To start we had a choice of melon with strawberries & lychees or Broccoli & stilton soup. I opted for the latter which was very good. It was apple pie or fruit salad for pudding - the slices of home-made apple pie were gigantic!
Whether is fair trade, local produce or floral displays, Garstang certainly has a knack for achieving international fame. From the world's biggest Lancashire hotpot to the Entente Florale there is no stopping them. What's next?
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