Green-fingered locals get the opportunity to ‘unearth’ their ‘natural’ talents in the Largs Flower Show spectacular this Saturday, and it promises to be a floral masterclass. And even the Vikings are getting on in the act with the junior competition.

This is a great day to enjoy the talent and abilities of the local gardeners, handicrafters, bakers, and flower arrangers.

Largs and District Horticultural Society are hosting the show in the Dunn Memorial Hall on Saturday 23 August from 9.30am-4pm. There is a wide variety of exhibits expected - it will be a feast of colour and splendour.

You don’t have to be an experienced exhibitor to show - help is at hand to stage your exhibits. Just bring them down to the hall on Friday 22 August from 2-6.15pm. There are lots of sections to enter including cut flowers, pot plants, fruit and vegetables, decorative, hobbies and crafts and baking.

There is plenty of time to get kids involved too with a junior section plus hobbies and crafts or the Viking Festival competition for primary school children ‘making a Viking longship using different types of materials, flowers, and foliage. The full schedule is available to download online at http://www.largshorticultural.org.uk/ Secretary Etta Strachan said: “It is going to be a busy day with a lot of activities and flower displays. We have North Ayrshire Council coming to promote litter prevention, as well as a display from Skelmorlie Camera Club, and the Largs Viking Festival will be providing a new cup this year for the children’s prize.

“The flower show goes back to around about 1842 in Largs - we originally started off as a joint show with the Agricultural Society and then we broke away and had our own horticultural with professional and amateur gardens. It has always been well supported in the town. It has been going for over 150 years or so, and we have been told that it may be one of the oldest societies still going in this area.

“We are just going to have a one day show, Friday will be for the exhibiting between 2-6.15pm, following by the judging at 6.30pm, and then we are open to the public all day on the Saturday. The prize ceremony takes place at 4pm on Saturday, and then we will draw the raffle.” The Flower Show would like to thank their sponsors: North Ayrshire Councill, Largs Viking Festival, Willowbank Hotel and Mr I. Halbert.

Show schedules are available from the library or information bureau in Largs Main Street. If you would like any further details, or a show schedule, please contact the secretary on 01475 689423.