WORCESTER residents are preparing the ground for one of the most colourful and family-friendly fun events in the city’s calendar.

The eighth annual Worcester City Flower Show is being held in Gheluvelt Park on Sunday, August 18, and this year there are lots of new opportunities for children to demonstrate their creativity.

For example, you can create your own miniature park using natural or recycled materials, construct a mechanical object or create your own miniature world in a shoe box.

Expert gardening advice will be on hand and there are also 93 classes for the green-fingered, craft lovers, budding photographers, cooks and children to enter.

This year, there will be nine societies – including the South Worcestershire Bonsai Society, North Worcestershire Fuchsia Society and Worcester Bee Keepers to name but a few.

Andrew Easton, presenter of the Drive Time show on BBC Hereford and Worcester, will host the day, with renowned gardening presenters Reg Moule and Mike George hosting a Gardeners’ Question Time. The Friends of Gheluvelt Park will be laying on Zumba and line dancing workshops, as well as local bands.

Children can ride on a model train, meet the Little Critters’ meercats and skunks, ride a Victorian carousel and enjoy bouncy castles and face painting.

Market street stalls will sell cakes, waffles, chutneys, plants, ceramics, jewellery and much more. To enter a class or to find out more about what’s on at the event, go to the website at worcester.gov.uk/ flowershow or call the customer service centre on 01905 722233.

WORCESTER CACTUS SOCIETY

I QUALIFIED as a judge of cactus and other succulent plants by attending the judges’ course organised by the British Cactus and Succulent Society (bcss.org.uk) and passing their rigorous tests.

The main qualities I am looking for as a judge are the general condition of the plant and its age.

Some of these wonderful plants can live to a considerable age and to keep them growing in tip top condition can be quite a challenge.

Show plants should be healthy and growing well. They should also be pest-free and presentable.

Cobwebs and other debris should be removed and the pots should be clean.

The photo shows a prize-winning cactus from the 2008 show.It is an astrophytum from Mexico. These are rather slow-growing plants and this one is about 30 years old and is about to open its large yellow flowers.

The unusual silver-grey body can easily get marked by the cold in winter or by scorch in spring or summer. This particular plant looks nice and clean, at least on the side we can see, but a judge inspects the plant from all sides, as exhibitors are likely to position their plants with any bad marks at the back!

The Worcester Cactus Society (limax.co.uk/wcs/) will have a display at the City of Worcester Flower Show and will also be selling plants and offering advice on cultivation.

We are a small friendly group, celebrating our 60th anniversary this year. We meet at Withington Village Hall on the first Tuesday of each month and we always welcome visitors.

JOHN FOSTER