Battle of Flowers organisers must now look to Europe for blooms

Monday 11th May 2009, 2:29PM BST.

Battle of Flowers 2009 co-ordinator Ruth Mahy is reminding participants in the floral competition to get their flowers. (Picture by Peter Frankland, 0769517)

THIS year’s blooms for the Battle of Flowers will be coming from Europe rather than the Channel Islands.

Battle co-ordinator Ruth Mahy said it was no longer possible to source the flowers they needed for the event from within the islands.

‘The aster grower in Jersey has decided to stop growing,’ she said.

‘So now we have to order them from Holland.’

The flowers will have to be shipped from Holland to the UK before travelling onwards to Guernsey.

Due to the distances they will have to travel, float builders will have to order their flowers within the next few days.

‘Islanders have been able to order up until two weeks before the battle in previous years, but now the deadline is much closer,’ said Mrs Mahy.

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1
Guern abroad

May 11, 2009 at 4:20 pm

Whilst I love the Battle of Flowers I have not enjoyed the ever increasing size of the floats that has occured over the years.
If the floats were more modestly sized then maybe there would be enough flowers grown locally to support the event, and in turn the organiser/floats would be supporting local businesses.

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2
John

May 11, 2009 at 5:48 pm

Guern abroaad how long have you been out of the Island? there are not enough flowers grown locally to supply florists let alone the Battle of Flowers
As for the size of the floats they are no bigger now than they were when there was a Battle of Flowers

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3
Jackie

May 13, 2009 at 10:56 am

The floats have been getting smaller for years, many of which are now made from paper.

Neither the last three years weather or the gate price has helped the show.

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