Salisbury Cathedral flower festival. Wednesday 14th May,

Salisbury Cathedral flower festival. Wednesday 14^th May, The Spirit of Water, is a companion piece to the Cathedral’s summer art exhibition, Living Water. Just as the art show explores the power of water, its ability to hold memories and shape the identity of a place, as well as our need to live in balance with this life sustaining force, the Flower Festival takes its inspiration from water in all its different forms – rain, water, ice and more. The Festival, which is being designed by Michael Bowyer MBE, Salisbury Cathedral’s Creative Director of Flowers, and floral designer Debbie Wadge, The theme of The Spirit of Water will see over 30,000 blooms across an array of arrangements, depicting water in its many settings – from displays representing ‘a world without water’ and semi-dry locations, to a journey along a ‘river of flowers’ and even an ‘ice’ display. A display depicting the seabed will include hundreds of fish made by local community groups. Above the Nave there will be an installation of woven willow ‘raindrops’, providing a spectacular canopy down the length of the Cathedral, while at the high altar, a huge ‘wave’ of woven cane will provide a focal point for visitors. Both these works will be created by a team led by Somerset-based florist and designer Nicky Heal, who teaches willow weaving at Bicton College. Elsewhere, umbrellas, cascading with flowers, will float above the North Transept and the South Transept will see a depiction of the five rivers that meet at Salisbury. There will also be displays in the Chapter House and Cloisters. Price £42.00 per person Coach departs Stevenage at 09.00