Gloucester Cathedral Flower Festival.

We had a real treat today and visited Gloucester Cathedral which was celebrating 'Glorious Gloucestershire' in floral displays. Every aspect of life seemed to have been represented including industry, art, music, literature, education, religion, sport, stately homes, and more. I have taken so many photos I will show just a few in this post and a few more in the next one. You will see that I prefer natural arrangements over the more formal ones, though there were many beautiful pedestal arrangements.
This exhibit represents the Rococco Gardens at Painswick and you can pick out the white temple and the pink folly at the top. Kiftsgate Court, Hidcote Manor and Snowshill Manor were also represented, but I have picked my favourite.

This is known as the Lancastrian Tomb for a knight and his lady. There is no name for them but they must have been rather important to have a tomb in Gloucester Cathedral. They sleep in this lovely rose-filled bower. My photo doesn't do it justice - it was delightful.

Just before I reached the 'rosy' tomb I came to the entry representing mining in the Forest of Dean. It is very rustic as you can see, and huge, with sturdy 'pit props' and lumps of coal at the base.

The small photo of a miner on the left is of a sculpture which, I believe, stands in the town square in Cinderford. I seem to have blurred this picture. Although it looks as if there were not many visitors, it was really difficult to get a clear view and the place was packed. People arrived by the coachload and I couldn't get near some arrangements. I had to be quick and pick a gap in the crowd to get a clear view.

I think this little 'wood' was made by an organisation called Nature First. If I am wrong, I apologise. It was delightful and so realistic with bark chippings acting as the woodland floor and quite a selection of different trees and saplings.

This scrap-metal sculpture of a goat was part of the display by Lime Kiln Farm Dairy Goats. If you look carefully you may be able to see that the goat is eating a mouthful of flowers.

On my way round I couldn't resist taking pictures of my favourite bits - here is the beautiful fan vaulted ceiling of the cloisters.

And here is where the monks washed - just at one end of the cloisters.

Both sides of the choir were hung with these lovely swags.

The piece de resistance is this amazing floral carpet in the nave. It must have taken hours to make and the detail in the plain green areas is fascinating - so many different leaves and green things, even olives, have been included to vary the textures and add interest. It is like Well Dressing on a massive scale.

There are little tea lights in each of the small purple circles and groups of candles in the larger central circles. The whole thing is entitled Monument to Osric who was a Prince of Mercia and founded the first religious house on the site in 679.

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I'll be back tomorrow or the next day with the next instalment.