A TOWN’S flower festival has been hailed as a great success with floral decorations helping raise around £10,000.

The Wimborne Minster Flower Festival was held from September 2 to 5 and was held to mark the 900th anniversary of the start of the present Minster building as seen today.

Entitled ‘Trades – Past and Present’ a number of the arrangements portrayed the subject including the gamekeeper, wine merchant, rope makers, drapers, glaziers and herbalists among others.

The festival, which had been postponed from 2020 due to the Covid pandemic, saw a steady flow of visitors throughout the weekend. Taking part were Flower Clubs from across Dorset, one from Hampshire and the Minster’s own arrangers’ group.

There were also several festival sponsors including the Wimborne BID.

It is hoped that around £10,000 will have been raised for Minster Funds, with a donation also being given to the Forest Holme Hospice.

The Sunday also marked the Minsters Patronal Festival where the new Bishop of Salisbury, the Right Revd Stephen Lake, was welcomed for his first visit to the Minster.

The Lord Lieutenant of Dorset, High Sheriff and the town mayor were also present. The Bishop cut a celebratory cake after the service.