THE level of creativity in the flower tent at this year’s show was astounding, with some really quirky and modern designs sitting alongside more traditional bouquets — there really was something to catch everyone’s eye.

There were some very impressive displays in the children’s section with young eight-year-old Natalia Cornish winning her first floral art section class. Her grandmother, show chairman Liz Hodgson, said: “I’m very proud. My granddaughter Natalia Cornish has been entering children’s craft classes for a few years now, but as she’s now eight she’s eligible to do the eight to 13-year-old class in the Floral Art section, so she won the Edwin Stanbury Cup for young flower arranger.”

Also clutching an armful of trophies at the end of the day was Joan Trewin, of Bude, who has been attending and competing in the flower tent for many years now. She was delighted with one win in particular, the best in show for her unusual ‘cirque’ floral art entry. Joan explained more in depth the technicalities of such a display which had to be created using a 66cm hula hoop: “I’ve done something similar in the past using rusted wire giving a more ‘rustique’ look. This time I thought coloured wire would be good and that would match in with the berries to give a more summer feel to the display. The little grass bird you can see I got whilst on holiday in the Carribean and I thought it would be nice to try and incorporate him into the piece. I bought it at the roadside from a boy who was making and selling them, it is made from local grasses and I just really like him.

“The display can be used any time of year by swapping out the variety of foliage, berries etc. for more seasonal ones.”

Joan said it had been a nice challenge and the materials she had used, as far as possible, had been natural: “I’ve wrapped white string around the hoop, which is natural, and that has been followed through and the rest of the materials are mainly things from my garden; rose hips, poppy seed heads, pussy willow and something called ‘lambs ears’, not sure on their official name but that’s what I’ve always called them!”

Joan said she was ‘delighted’ with her achievement and had also been surprised to win judge’s choice for her pedestal and a first place for her ‘A Glade Somewhere’ piece which she said: “I chopped down all my sticks for that one myself.”

Joan also won a first for her Kokedama, which is a plant suspended in a ball of moss. Joan explained: “These plants are usually suspended from the ceiling and are very modern and becoming popular especially in London flats. It was an interesting one to create.”

Joan added: “On the whole it has been a really good show.”

This sentiment was shared by the flower show chairman. Liz said: “Thank you to my committee and all the exhibitors and everyone that helped out. To the show committee for giving us such a wonderful tent and for sponsoring our pedestal class and to Eric Clements, of Bleujen in Bude, for the wonderful display outside. She has created an incredible circle display that really stands out. I really wasn’t expecting, when I asked her to create something for outside our tent, for it to be such a ‘wow’ display — I’ve called in our welcome circle, and it has certainly welcomed a lot of people into the tent!”