THOUSANDS of people are set to descend on Salisbury Cathedral this spring for the ever-popular flower festival.

Around 500 arrangers are busy making their final preparations ahead of the cathedral being transformed into a fragrant floral masterpiece from May 13 to 18 – and organisers have said this year will be even bigger and better than before.

This year’s theme is ‘The Spirit of Water’ which will see more than 30,000 blooms in stunning floral arrays depicting water in its many forms, including designs based on a world without water, a river of flowers and even an ice display.

Michael Bowyer MBE, creative director of flowers at Salisbury Cathedral, will lead the team alongside floral designer Debbie Wadge and administrator Susan Branch as the popular festival returns to the city this spring.

Michael led the design for Salisbury Cathedral’s last flower festival in 2022, which was enjoyed by over 15,000 people.

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He also works as a Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) judge and the president of the south west area of the National Association of Flower Arrangement Societies (NAFAS).

A new ‘Under the Sea’ display will see visitors walking on the seabed and looking up at hundreds of fish, made by schools, care homes and local groups.

New to the festival this year will be the incorporation of different textiles that will accompany the displays.

Ranging from glassmakers to painters, all the visual artists are local to the area, with some previously being involved in Plain Arts Salisbury’s Art Trail last year.

Artists include Willow Weaver Nicky Heal, who will be collaborating with other artists to build a spectacular willow ‘wave’ that will ‘wash’ over the high altar.

The team says sustainability is at the core of the festival.

They said that as many stands and frames as possible will be taken from previous years’ flower festivals, and to avoid the use of unsustainable plastics, a preference has been made for the use of string or wire throughout the displays and floral exhibition spaces.

The festival draws crowds from across the southwest Picture: Spencer Mulholland

There will be no floral foam used in any of the displays, and all the flowers displayed as well as green waste produced throughout the festival will be fully composted to avoid waste.

The event promises to be a treat for the senses, with beautiful visuals and fragrant blooms, but visitors will also enjoy musical performances in the North Transept from musicians including Salisbury Cathedral’s director of music David Halls and assistant director of music John Challenger to complement the event.

Michael Bowyer MBE, creative director of flowers at Salisbury Cathedral, said: “It is a pleasure to once again be leading this incredible team on this project, including the hundreds of dedicated volunteers that will give their time and skill to make this event truly extraordinary.

“It will also be a particular delight to work with local artists this year to create even bigger and more impressive displays.”

Tickets for The Spirit of Water Flower Festival are on sale via the cathedral website, and for those looking for a very special experience, tickets to the exclusive preview event on the evening of Monday, May 12 are also available online, sponsored by Bluestone Vineyards.

Groups (10 people or more) interested in visiting the festival should contact groups@salcath.co.uk or phone 01722 512156.

This festival is sponsored by South Western Railway, with support from Parker Bullen, Ecclesiastical and Bluestone Vineyards.