ONE of the finest flower shows at Royal Cornwall was enjoyed by visitors this year.

What can be achieved with 7,000 potatoes, over 500 cauliflowers and a lot of time, effort and creativity? — Lifton Farm Shop’s Royal Cornwall Show display of course.

The team pulled out all the stops this year to create a bigger and better display than ever before.

Lifton Farm Shop has something of a reputation for big and beautiful displays, and this year did not disappoint with their rendition of ‘Shaun the Sheep’.

Assistant manager Lucy Bounsall, dressed in a matching sheep costume, said the team was delighted to have won, she added: “We won the ‘Large Gold’ for our rather large display. We are very pleased with what we have created and it’s just a bit of a bonus to win and have all the hard work pay off.

“It’s nice to see that it is putting a smile on lots of people’s faces as well, everyone loves Shaun the Sheep!”

Lucy explained that work began the Sunday before the show, she said: “We began ‘potatoing’ the house on Sunday, which took about three to four days to complete, but it is definitely worth it, especially with the win.”

Every potato was put on by hand, all 7,000 of them, to create ‘The Farmers’’ large farmhouse seen in the children’s TV classic.

The naughty flock of sheep, performing a daredevil act reaching the roof of the tent, was created using more than 500 caulifowers.

Lucy said: “Thanks has to go to owner Jo [Mounce] who is brilliant with ideas. She gets the ball rolling and we all pile on!”

Their win at Royal Cornwall Show followed on from their success at Devon County Show where they retained the large gold award for their display, much to the delight of the staff. Lucy said: “We won a large gold at Devon County too, so it’s been great to add to that especially as there is much harder competition here. It’s been fantastic!”

Philip Knight from Lezant, who has stewarded the flower show for many years with the help of his wife Fay, was pleased to win the 2017 Cornish Nursery Association Perpetual Challenge Cup for best hanging basket.

The Knights also picked up a 3rd place for their window box, 3rd place for a patio container, and a 1st and 3rd place for hanging pouch with most colour.

Mr Knight, who is vice chair of his local horticultural society, said of this year’s show: “It’s been really good, with lots of positive comments for the flower tent.

“We really enjoy it. The committee’s nice and there’s a nice atmosphere.”

There was surprise for the Wyevale Garden Centres’ Bude team when they beat two Chelsea Flower Show winners at the Royal Cornwall Show 2017.

The Wyevale team won the ‘Large Gold’ award for their display in the flower tent of ‘nursery stock’.

Jackie Hill, of the Brooks Garden Centre Bude store, designed the display. She explained that four teams from the Wyevale group came together to help create the display.

This was the first year Wyevale submitted a team in the flower tent’s trade exhibitor’s competition, Jackie said: “We are really pleased to have won a Large Gold award. It is the first time I and Wyevale has ever done something like this. It was even more of a shock because we’ve got two Chelsea gold winners either side of us.”

Their display was a mix of the tropical and English garden styles. Jackie said it took the teams about three days to put together, she added: “In reality it took more like three weeks because there was a lot of preparation needed.”

Mr Kenneth Willcock, flower show director, said of this year’s show: “The standard was very high, and there was very strong competition. It’s one of the finest we have ever had — the volume of people coming in is great. The stands have fantastic plants from all over the world.

“Lifton Farm Shop has put on a very educational stand with beautiful home produce, fruit and veg. The sweet peas are outstanding, likewise the carnivorous plants. The colour of the crysanths are fantastic and there’s plants for all interests from alpines to bonsai.”

Local competitive results: One vase of any flowering tree or shrub — 3rd, Bridget Hickman, Gunnislake. Hanging basket — 1st, Philip Knight. Window box — 3rd, Philip Knight. A patio container — 3rd, Philip Knight. Hanging pouch with most colour — 1st and 3rd, Philip Knight.

Local floral art results: ‘Colourburst’ — 3rd, Elaine Reynolds, Delabole; commended, Mrs M Andrews/Mrs A Short, Camelford. ‘The only way is up!’ — very highly commended, Mrs C Harrington, Rilla Mill. ‘Dare to be different’ — 2nd, Mrs J Churchill-Brown, Tresmeer; very highly commended and commended, Mrs C Harrington. ‘Classic with a twist’ — 3rd, Elaine Reynolds; commended, Mrs C Harrington. ‘Mosaic of colour and texture’ — 2nd, Elaine Reynolds. ‘Creative expression’ — 1st, Mrs J Churchill-Brown. ‘Wild and funky’ — very highly commended, Mrs M Andrews; commended, Mrs J Churchill-Brown; commended, Miss F Churchill, Tresmeer.

Local junior classes results: A piece of farm machinery made from vegetables and/or fruit (pre-school and key stage 1) — 4th, Year 2, Otterham Primary School. Key stage 2 — 2nd, Class 1, Otterham Primary School. Collage (key stage 2) — 2nd and highly commended, Class 1, Otterham Primary School. A mask of an animal seen at the show — highly commended, Year R/1, Otterham Primary School. A farmer scarecrow — highly commended, Angelia Setiawan, St Joseph’s School. Window boxes — 2nd, Year 2, Otterham Primary School.