HOW do you make one of Hampshire’s most beautiful buildings even more attractive?

You transform it into a fantastic floral display — and that’s what’s happened at Winchester Cathedral.

The Symphony of Flowers festival opened yesterday (June 12) and is the first such event at the cathedral for 10 years.

Thousands of flowers decorate its interior in assorted displays arranged by creative director Angela Turner and her team, Pip Bensley and Pauline Hurran, who have all exhibited at the Chelsea Flower Show.

A further touch of class was added at the launch on Tuesday (June 11) when actress, Patricia Routledge, a.k.a. Hyacinth Bucket (“Bouquet”) from Keeping Up Appearances, opened the event.

Ms Turner said she was thrilled the event had finally begun after months of hard work.

“Lots of flower festivals have two-to-three years to prepare, but we’ve had less than one. It’s been quite frantic, but now we are here I’m really excited and so thrilled because everything has gone exactly to plan.

“It’s a magnificent building here and we really want to do it justice. There was quite a lot of pressure on us because excitement has been building over what we might produce, since the last festival here was wonderful.”

The event is organised by the cathedral and the National Association of Flower Arrangement Societies and displays have been created by more than 300 volunteers.

Jan Meloy, chairman of the Wessex and Jersey Area of NAFAS, said: “We were thrilled when we were invited to stage such a massive flower festival. I hope we get a few wows from the public.

“People will be able to see a variety of designs and there really is something to suit everyone.”

Ms Turner added: “Words can’t express how much I want to thank everyone for their hard work. They have put their hearts and souls into it.”

In keeping with the title, every display has a musical theme, while the festival is also raising funds to refurbish the cathedral organ, which dates to the Great Exhibition in 1851.

The cathedral flower arranging team has also created a Jane Austen display by her grave to mark the 200th anniversary of publication of Pride and Prejudice.

It also features a concert on Saturday (June 15), at 7pm.

Symphony of Flowers runs until Sunday, June 16, between 9am-5pm, but remains open until 8pm on Friday (June 14), with tickets £10. For more details, call 01962 857 275, or visit winchester-cathedral.org.uk.