Blooming good show amid the Aldworth Giants

ALDWORTH’S St Mary’s Church put up a blooming good show at the weekend amid the cool grey stone of its famous Giants – 14th-century effigies of the De la Beche Knights and their Ladies – which were surrounded by a pop of hot colour courtesy of the Flower and Art Festival.

The porch entrance set the scene with a riot of colour, the theme of the two-day floral festivities being ‘Garden Flowers’ and flower arrangements and artwork were selected to reflect their beauty.

A first this year for the Flower Festival, 30 paintings were displayed around the church, curated by two of the village’s artists, Isobel Pigott and Mandy Monkcom.

Each exhibitor either lives or attends art classes in the village. Many of the works were for sale, with a percentage going to St Mary’s, and there was a good sprinkling of red dots.

One of the organisers, on the team of floral arrangers, Mary Iliffe, said the weekend had been very successful, with a steady stream of visitors, particularly on the Saturday.

“Visitors were very enthusiastic about the art,” she said. “The church adapted to being an art gallery very well and looked beautiful with the flowers.”

The event looks to have been a great success too in raising funds for the church, although the final tally is yet to be calculated.

“We sold many plants and made many cups of tea and sold several paintings, together with generous donations we are very grateful for.

“We would consider mixing art and flowers again.

“We always think how to make it different and interesting for the visitors.”