Tag: Flower Festival

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Step into the world of Beatrix Potter at 10th Flower Festival

The much-loved Flower Festival at Willow Wood Hospice is marking its 10th edition with an enchanting theme. 

Taking place on Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th May 2026, the popular event will this year be inspired by the magical world of Beatrix Potter.

The author’s recognisable characters such as Peter Rabbit, Jemima Puddle-Duck and Mrs Tiggy-Winkle will be brought to life by local individuals and community groups through creative floral displays.

The festival, based at the Hospice on Willow Wood Close in Ashton-under-Lyne, offers visitors a chance to explore the exhibits at your leisure, while supporting the compassionate care of patients from Tameside and Glossop with any life-limiting illness.

Many of the floral displays will also be available to purchase at the end of the festival, helping to generate even more funds for the Hospice.

On Saturday 9th May at 11am, the event will be officially opened by former Willow Wood patron and trustee, and long-time supporter of the Hospice, Mark Llewellin DL, the High Sheriff of Greater Manchester, who will cut the ribbon.

The cherished annual fundraiser – organised by a dedicated committee of volunteers – has raised around £70,000 over the years. This has funded the care of all services at the Hospice and in the community for a whole week.

Eileen Smith, on behalf of the Flower Festival committee, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to be celebrating the 10th Flower Festival this year, and the Beatrix Potter theme has given everyone so much inspiration. It’s wonderful to see our local community coming together to create such imaginative and beautiful displays, all in support of the Hospice.

“The festival is always a special weekend for us, not only because of the creativity on show, but because of the difference it makes. Every visit helps us to continue supporting Willow Wood Hospice and the essential care it provides to patients and those closest to them.”

The event will run from 10am to 4pm on the Saturday and 11am to 4pm on the Sunday.

Entry is £3.50 per person with all proceeds going to the Hospice, while children aged 12 and under can attend for free.

Light refreshments will be available to buy throughout the weekend.

Before the Flower Festival takes place, the committee has also organised a Coffee Morning at the Hospice on Saturday 18th April from 10am to midday – which includes a talk by Hospice Lead Gardener, Sophie Cordingley, on preparing your garden for spring and summer.

Admission is £3 per person, which includes tea/coffee and biscuits. All proceeds will go towards the Flower Festival.

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Flower Festival blooms again at Willow Wood with magical success

Hundreds of visitors visited the ninth annual Flower Festival at Willow Wood Hospice across a sun-soaked weekend to experience the spellbinding sights and floral delights.

The event has already raised over £6,000 towards patient care at the Hospice, based in Ashton-under-Lyne, with more money still to come in.

Guests who came on Saturday, May 10, and Sunday, May 11, wandered through an enchanting array of 21 floral displays which followed the theme of the magical world of Harry Potter.

The wizarding world of Hogwarts was reflected – from the Ministry of Magic and Quidditch, to The Prisoner of Azkaban and even Professor Pomona Sprout’s Herbology Class.

To further boost Hospice funds, each display had a price tag attached so they could be purchased by those in attendance and collected at the end of the festival.

The festival was officially opened on Saturday morning by Hospice patron Ellie Leach – a former Coronation Street star and Strictly Come Dancing champion – who cut the ribbon.

Adding an extra touch of Harry Potter magic on Saturday was Bill Andrew — the real-life driver of the Hogwarts Express in all seven films — who shared stories from behind the scenes and signed books and photos for delighted fans.

Visitors also enjoyed posing for photos with life-sized cutouts of Harry Potter characters, generously donated by Star Cutouts UK, which were available to buy at the end of the weekend to raise additional funds for the Hospice.

There were also refreshments served by a band of volunteers in The Hive, and Prosecco in the Garden Room, where there was card, craft, wooden craft, cake, tombola and raffle stalls for visitors to browse.

Outside in the Hospice’s picturesque gardens, guests basked in the beautiful weather while enjoying live music from the Mossley Ukulele Group and Mike Styan and friends on Saturday, and the Sounds Familiar Ukulele Band on Sunday.

The festival is organised by a committee of dedicated volunteers, comprising Eileen Smith, Ann Fee, Pauline Giblin, Christine Lucas, Sheila Redfearn, Lorraine Vaughton, Moya Evans and Pam Chadwick.

Speaking on behalf of the Flower Festival Committee, Eileen said: “It was an amazing weekend and the weather was glorious. We’re so grateful to everyone who came along to support the festival. A special thank you to our Willow Wood patron Ellie Leach for opening the event, and to Bill Andrew for travelling from Crewe to share his unique Hogwarts stories.

“We would also like to thank everyone who helped in any way — from arranging flowers and sponsoring displays, to working in the kitchen and manning the stalls. A big shoutout goes to Jeanette, Christine and John who work all year to handcraft cards, cushions, and wooden gifts — donating 100 per cent of their takings to Willow Wood.”

As the petals settle on another successful festival, the committee will soon start looking ahead to next year’s event — which will mark the 10th edition of this much-loved community celebration.

It costs £3.6 million a year for Willow Wood Hospice to continue providing its vital services to deliver compassionate care to patients from Tameside and Glossop with a life-limiting illness.

With only around 24 per cent of that total coming from the Government, the Hospice relies on the generosity of the community by making donations; organising or supporting fundraising events; donating or buying goods to its charity shops; leaving gifts in Wills; joining the weekly lottery or volunteering.

If you would like to organise your own fundraiser for Willow Wood, the Hospice’s Fundraising team can support you – contact fundraising@willowwood.org.uk or call 0161 330 7788.

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Magical experience ahead at Willow Wood Flower Festival

Fans of Harry Potter are in for a treat as that’s the adopted theme for this year’s fundraising floral fundraiser event.

The much-anticipated Flower Festival returns to Willow Wood Hospice in 2025 for the ninth year, on Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th May.

Guided by a dedicated committee comprising Eileen Smith, Ann Fee, Sheila Redfern, Christine Lucas, Pauline Giblin, Judith Scott, Bernice Woodward and Lorraine Vaughton, this cherished annual event promises to be as vibrant as ever.

This year’s festival will be inspired by the theme of the magical world of Harry Potter. Throughout the weekend, visitors can immerse themselves in captivating displays, crafted by both individuals and groups.

While leisurely exploring the stunning exhibits, you can bask in the serenity of the Hospice’s picturesque gardens. Attendees will have the opportunity to purchase the showcased displays, adding a touch of beauty to their homes while making a difference to patients in our care.

The event will also include some life-sized Harry Potter cardboard cutouts to grab your photograph with, donated by Audenshaw business Star Cutouts Ltd. The licensed cutouts feature a range of Harry Potter characters that can be ordered online at mycardboardcutout.co.uk.

Members of the Flower Festival Committee and Lucy, our Community Fundraiser, with some familiar faces from the Harry Potter series

Star Cutouts Managing Director, Ian Ravey, said: “We thought it would be really nice to support Willow Wood Hospice and it’s an organisation I have had experience with, because they looked after my brother before he died. They rely on charitable donations so it is always good to help when we can.”

The cutouts – which normally cost around £40 each – will also be available to buy at the end of the festival by making a donation to the Hospice.

“We’re absolutely thrilled to be bringing the magic of Harry Potter to this year’s Flower Festival,” said the Willow Wood Hospice Flower Festival Committee.

“A huge thank you to Star Cutouts for their generous donation of the fantastic life-sized Harry Potter cutouts – they’ll add a fun element to the weekend, and we’re so grateful for their support in helping us raise vital funds for the Hospice.”

Bill Andrew, the driver of the Hogwarts Express in the Harry Potter films, will also be bringing lots of photos and signing copies of the books on the first day of the festival.

The Flower Festival will be open on Saturday 10th May from 10am to 4pm and Sunday 11th May from 11am to 4pm. Entry will be £3.50, with proceeds going to Willow Wood Hospice. Admission is free for children aged 12 or under. Light refreshments will also be available.

Parking at Willow Wood Hospice is restricted to patients, families, Blue Badge holders and the workforce. Alternative parking is available nearby at the Darnton Road Pay & Display car park (postcode OL6 6RL).

If you would like more information about the Flower Festival or you are interested in buying a cutout, please contact Eileen Smith on 07799 172 313.

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Flower Festival blooms funds for hospice care

Hundreds of people enjoyed Willow Wood’s popular Flower Festival last weekend, which raised over £6,000 in support of patient care at the Hospice.

The event was formally opened on Saturday 11th May by Ashton-under-Lyne MP Angela Rayner, along with Willow Wood Hospice’s new Chief Executive Officer, Tracy Minshull.

Local residents packed into the Hospice, based in Ashton-under-Lyne, over both days, which even brought some welcome sunshine.

The eighth annual festival held special significance as it commemorated 25 years of the Hospice providing compassionate care to patients from the local community, under the theme of ‘all things Willow Wood’.

Created by both individuals and groups, the vibrant displays represented services the Hospice offers, the Hospice’s charity shops, fundraising events both past and present, volunteers, the Willow Wood Hospice Choir and the Hospice’s picturesque gardens.

To further boost Hospice funds, each display had a price tag attached so they could be purchased by those in attendance and collected at the end of the festival.

There were also refreshments served by a band of volunteers – including from St Peter’s Church in Stalybridge – in The Hive and Prosecco in the Garden Room, where there was card, craft, wooden craft, cake, tombola and raffle stalls for visitors to browse.

Visitors were kept entertained by Mike Styan and friends from local amateur operatic societies on Saturday, and the Sounds Familiar Ukelele Band on Sunday.

Angela Rayner MP said: “It was my pleasure to officially open the annual Flower Festival at Willow Wood Hospice and this year was extra special as it marks the 25th anniversary.

“I have visited Willow Wood on many occasions during my time as MP and I am always struck by how dedicated and compassionate the staff and volunteers are and how much effort goes into creating such a peaceful and welcoming environment.

“I am incredibly proud to have such a wonderful facility within my constituency and I would like to thank everyone who works so hard to make it such a success. I am sure all the residents, visitors and their families who visit the hospice are grateful.”

The event is organised by a dedicated committee of volunteers, comprising Eileen Smith, Ann Fee, Pauline Giblin, Christine Lucas, Sheila Redfearn, Judith Scott, Lorraine Vaughton and Bernice Woodward.

Eileen Smith, on behalf of the committee, said: “It was a happy weekend, there was a lovely atmosphere and what a positive environment a hospice is.

“We wish to say a huge thank you to everyone who helped in any way to ensure the festival was a great success, everyone who attended and Angela Rayner for opening the event.”

The Hospice must raise at least £3.3 million every year to run and, with only around 20 per cent coming by way of Central Government, the generous support of the community is vital.

If you would like to organise a fundraising event for Willow Wood, please contact the Hospice’s Fundraising team by emailing fundraising@willowwood.org.uk or calling 0161 330 7788 so they can support you along the way.