It is being hailed as massive momentum to link Knutsford with the RHS Tatton Flower Show. 21 traders in the King Street area have joined forces with Macclesfield Borough Council and Visit Chester & Cheshire to create the Knutsford Floral Walk, providing a trail of hanging baskets and floral window displays to the entrance to Tatton Park.
MP George Osborne presented the joint winners, Summerhouse of Minshull Street and Cherry Tree Galleries of King Street with a glassware trophy, at a ceremony in the alfresco dining area of Belle Epoque Restaurant which boasted a specially-laid lawn. Mr Osborne said: “It’s great that independent retailers have taken matters into their own hands and maybe it will help if the big chains become involved next year. The RHS Show is such a national event and the town could be more closely linked with it. I feel we could be in Provence tonight. I flew over the Flower Show coming here today and it’s looking great.
“It’s been great to see the traders getting involved. We’ve been trying to link the town to the flower show for some 10 years.”
Chris Brown from Visit Chester & Cheshire said: “In our various different campaigns to recognise the strengths of our gardens programme, we’re looking at how to bring businesses together. This is one of the signs of the way forward, with for example a food festival in October. It’s all about building partnerships. There’s no point doing in now and not next year.”
Restaurateur Matthew Mooney paid tribute to the efforts of VCC’s Macclesfield tourism manager Alice Ferguson which he hopes will bring the Tatton Flower Show closer to the town: “It’s massive momentum and a marvellous job to getting independent traders motivated. It’s the best the town’s ever been and it all adds to the visitor experience.”
The winners were Sara Mount of The Summerhouse in Minshull Street, and Sarah Hoodfer of Cherry Tree Gallery.
| 
