ISLAND LIFE
Spring up to Robin Hill
No fewer than16 of the UK’s top plant nurseries
will be taking space and exhibiting in the
Wightlink Floral marquee at the annual Isle of
Wight Spring Garden show at Robin Hill over
the weekend of April 28 and 29.
There will be dazzling displays of colour as
the nurseries compete for £1,000 worth of prize
money at what has become one of Southern
England’s most popular spring events over the
last few years with Jim Buttress taking charge of
the proceedings.
Visitors will be able to take a bit of magic home
with them too, with the opportunity to purchase
some of the best quality plants from the top
growers, and there will a range of quality locally
grown plants from the Island’s best independent
nurseries.
Local and regional food takes an equal
Turner sketch on display
at Shanklin Chine
precedence with the Southern Co-operatives
‘Finest Flavours pavilion’ hosting a range of
Isle of Wight sketches by one of England’s
tantalising food stalls and the popular food
greatest artists will form the centrepiece of
theatre with guest local chefs and the finals of
a summer-long exhibition on the Island.
two exciting Masterchef competitions.
Tickets are available in advance from the
J.M.W. Turner visited the Island twice, in
1795 and again in 1827, and appropriately
show’s website; gardenshow.robin-hill.com, as
one of his sketches was of Shanklin Chine,
well as over the weekend. These are valid for
the venue for the exhibition which will
both days.
open at the Chine’s Heritage Centre this
month.
The Chine is reckoned to be the Island’s
oldest tourist attraction, visited for almost
St Blasius celebrates 60 Glorious Years
200 years, and Turner’s 1795 drawing
St. Blasius Old Parish Church, Shanklin
and also share their experiences with
Sketchbook forms part of the Turner
has chosen ‘Sixty Glorious Years’ as the
younger generations who have never
Bequest collection on permanent display
name for a very special exhibition to
walked on Shanklin Pier or paid sixpence
at the Tate Britain in London.
mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee at the to go into Shanklin Chine!
beginning of June.
There will be flowers, and lots of them
There will be special activities for
of it was featured on his Isle of Wight
The exhibition has been organised by
Shanklin Chine owner Anne Springman,
children and ‘memory books’ for everyone
along with Professor Robin McInnes, who
but it will not be just another Flower
to write their own Jubilee stories. Visitors
has extensively researched and written
Festival. It is a celebration of the six
are invited to go along and see for
decades of the Queen’s reign in which
themselves between June 2 and 10, from
church and community members will
11.00am to 5.00pm or 2.00pm to 6.00pm
join together to exhibit pictures, photos,
on Sundays. Admission is free and there
newspapers, programmes, books and
is disabled access to the church. See
music.
www.st-blasius-church.org.uk for further
It is sure to bring back lots of memories details.
for those who lived through those years
acclaimed accounts of the Island’s rich
artistic legacy, and James Dearden, author
of Turner’s Isle of Wight Sketchbook.
Opening times for Shanklin Chine this
year are April 1 to November 2 10.00am to
5.00pm with an extension of 10.00am to
10.00pm between May 25 and September 9.
www.visitislandlife.com
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