Thornfield Properties Plc the development partners of Springfields
Horticultural society, worked closely with South Holland district
Council in formulating a truly unique concept, that involves Gardens,
Leisure and retail in a truly stunning environment. The £30 Million
regeneration project has now delivered the Festival Gardens (with Free
admission), superb leisure facilities for all the family and one of the
best Factory Outlet Shopping centres in the UK. The scheme opened its
doors in April 2004”.
Since 1966 the
Gardens have been the headquarters of the UK flower
bulb industry, and provided growers with the opportunity to
have
beds of daffodils and tulips planted out, giving a wonderful
display to the thousands of visitors who come here each
year. What better shop window for this sector of
the
ornamentals market than for consumers to actually see the
flowers
in bloom, and then head off to their local garden centre or
DIY
store to purchase their own bulbs.
The Gardens themselves would be restocked and replanted to
virtually the same acreage and offer the opportunity for
many
more local growers to display their product range throughout
the
seasons.
As well as
regenerating the activity
profile within the gardens have other added
benefits. The
traditional Flower Parade has been developed to become an
international attraction with the possibility of actually
growing
and marketing Flower Parade tulips as an additional
commercial
venture.
The development project enabled Springfield’s Exhibition
complex
to undertake the refurbishment of its facilities and
continue
to
provide a regional centre for business conferences and
exhibitions, social and community functions, specialist
shows
and
large entertainment events. This commercial
activity has,
for many years, financially underpinned both the charitable
status of Springfields Horticultural Society and the
viability of
the Spalding Flower Parade.
With support from a
wide cross section of the horticultural industry, local
officials, businesses and the public, the gardens meet the
needs
of the UK flower bulb industry, whilst maintaining the
traditional charitable objectives of the Gardens and the
pageant
of the Spalding Flower Parade, not to mention the vast
amount
of
visitor revenue intolocal economy.
