GLORIOUS sunshine welcomed thousands of visitors to Tatton Park as the RHS Flower Show opened today.

The five-day celebration, which runs until Sunday, July 23, encourages everyone to relax, enjoy nature and explore new ideas.

Stunning displays, amazing flowers and imaginative show gardens provide plenty of inspiration.

Knutsford Guardian: The Floral MarqueeThe Floral Marquee (Image: Newsquest)

Subtle colours blend together in some designs to create a calm, reflective mood.

Knutsford Guardian: Top growers were proud to showcase their fruit and vegetablesTop growers were proud to showcase their fruit and vegetables (Image: Newsquest)

In others, vibrant intoxicating blooms explode to lift your spirits.

Knutsford Guardian: Cheshire chainsaw sculptor Andy BurgessCheshire chainsaw sculptor Andy Burgess (Image: Newsquest)

Crowds rambled round, wheeling boxes crammed with unusual plants and flowers to take home.

Knutsford Guardian: Henry Cooke, two, has fun making music on the Percussion Play displayHenry Cooke, two, has fun making music on the Percussion Play display (Image: Newsquest)

People were surprised to discover that you don’t have to have lots of space to create something special.

Knutsford Guardian: Fay Breed and Abbie Doyle with baskets of British grown flowers symbolising the message of hope at the Psalm 27 Bible Society gardenFay Breed and Abbie Doyle with baskets of British grown flowers symbolising the message of hope at the Psalm 27 Bible Society garden (Image: Newsquest)

Designers demonstrated novel ways to bring new life into small terrace gardens.

A bath overflowing with flowers showed how you can brighten up a narrow alleyway with colour.

Knutsford Guardian: Dougal Johnston and mum Alison playing with dinosaurs in the Escape T Rex gardenDougal Johnston and mum Alison playing with dinosaurs in the Escape T Rex garden (Image: Newsquest)

A sensory theme in the long borders created gardens that can be sensitive and tactile.

Bold colours and long, wispy grasses blowing in the breeze create visual inspiration as well as soothing sounds.

Knutsford Guardian: Visitors were delighted to see so many different varieties of flowersVisitors were delighted to see so many different varieties of flowers (Image: Newsquest)

Retired Sam Youd, head gardener at Tatton for 32 years, was the instigator of this magnificent annual event.

The 76-year-old, from Knutsford, said: “I brought the show here. It took 14 years of negotiating.

Knutsford Guardian: Retired Sam Youd, head gardener at Tatton for 32 yerars, who brought the RHS Flower Show to TattonRetired Sam Youd, head gardener at Tatton for 32 yerars, who brought the RHS Flower Show to Tatton (Image: Newsquest)

“Since the first one in 1999, it has given a lot of people a lot of pleasure.

“I’ve been gardening since I was eight.

Knutsford Guardian: Visitors capture stunning images of flowers on their phonesVisitors capture stunning images of flowers on their phones (Image: Newsquest)

“I feel as though I’ve never done a day’s work in my life, I love it so much and want to keep on going.”

To book tickets visit rhs.org.uk/tatton