New RHS Urban Show set to explore cutting-edge indoor gardening and blooming greener cities

A vibrant burst of greenery is set to grace Manchester this April with the arrival of a brand-new flower show tailored for urban gardening enthusiasts and houseplant lovers.

Departing from the conventional outdoor format of the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) shows, this innovative event will take root entirely indoors within the sprawling industrial expanse of a former railway.

The RHS Urban Show will spotlight the intersection of horticulture, well-being, and sustainable living and transform the industrial charm of Depot Mayfield into a vibrant hub for urban gardening from 18 to 21 April 2024.

READ MORE: The great country pub on the doorstep of a beloved national park

In a major milestone for the Royal Horticultural Society as it celebrates 220 years of enriching people’s lives through horticulture, the charity’s first large scale indoor show will explore the cutting-edge of modern gardening, from a seven-garden vision for a greener city to vertical structures for awkward urban spaces.

Anchoring the show's Talks Stage is none other than Michael Perry, popularly known as Mr. Plant Geek. Perry, a horticultural broadcaster, writer, and influencer, will headline a diverse lineup of expert talks and demonstrations set against the backdrop of the venue.

Major exhibits include RHS City Spaces: Cloudscape by Manchester Cloud Gardener Jason Williams, who challenges horticultural retailers, local authorities and developers to rethink the ways in which they interact with communities with a vision of how to make our towns and cities greener.

Designed through a collaborative process involving students on Manchester Metropolitan University’s Rise programme and Notcutts Garden Centre, the exhibit brings together four balconies