More than 50,000 people flocked to this summer’s event and organisers say they want to innovate and attract even more next year to the showcase which takes place in August at Victoria Park

Traditional story-telling, folklore and legend will be the theme of the Southport Flower Show when it returns in 2018.

More than 50,000 people flocked to this summer’s event and organisers say they want to innovate and attract even more next year.

The 2018 show – taking place from Thursday, August 16, to Sunday, August 19, at Victoria Park – will be themed ‘Once Upon a Time’. Early bird tickets are available now until the end of November.

Using gardens as the narrative, the show will bring traditional tales to life with competitors being asked to create a garden based on a famous story.

The 2018 show’s enchanting theme follows on from this year’s event, which saw visitors enjoy the event’s ‘Curious Garden’, designed to convey a sense of mystery, wonder and curiosity.

Since its launch in 1924, the Southport Flower Show has attracted garden-lovers from across the country and has become a firm fixture on the UK summer event calendar.

In 2017 the four-day show featured a bumper line-up of celebrity guests, including popular broadcasters John Craven and Charlie Dimmock, along with children’s TV personalities Justin Fletcher and Ben Faulks – CBeebies Mr Bloom.

A host of high-profile gardening and horticultural experts, including Gardeners’ World regulars, Carol Klein and Pippa Greenwood also presented at the show.

Ray Roukin general manager of the Southport Flower Show, said, “We hope our ‘Once Upon a Time’ theme will capture the imaginations of visitors of all ages.

“The North West has a rich heritage of story-telling and has produced many well-known authors and poets.

“We will be celebrating this and weaving a story of our own through spell-binding gardens, floral galleries, stalls and entertainment.”