The Manchester Flower Festival will soon be upon us, with the city centre adorned in flowers and blooms over the late May bank holiday weekend, and an Official Trail to help people discover all the floral delights.

The Royal Exchange will be home to one such delight: Manchester’s very own Hilda Ogden.

The iconic and much-loved Coronation Street character will be represented by a floral display in the Arcade, created by Royal Exchange Flowers, celebrating the legendary Hilda Ogden in a wonderfully spectacular floral vision.

To capture Hilda’s signature look, her hair has been fashioned from various grasses wrapped around curlers underneath her head scarf and her tabard has been recreated from a mosaic of fresh flowers including orchids, craspedia, thistles, Limonium and chrysanthemums.

Hilda will be in the Arcade from Friday 26^th May, stood in a garden of late spring flowers alongside a bench where people can capture a selfie with her.

If you want to be in with a chance to win a £50 voucher to spend at The Royal Exchange, just follow and tag @royalexchangemanchester when you post your Hilda selfie on Instagram, and you’ll be in the draw!

Bee Trail

If you’re heading into Manchester over the bank holiday weekend, The Royal Exchange is also having a fun Bee Trail treasure hunt on Saturday 27^th and Sunday 28^th May. It’s open to everyone: friends, families, couples and any other fun-seeker who wants to solve the clues and find the bees.

There are some fabulous prizes up for grabs, including a £100 voucher to spend at French Connection, Afternoon Tea  for Two at Annies, a £50 floral bouquet from Royal Exchange Flowers, a meal for two at Pastan, vouchers from TGI Fridays and Michaels coffeehouse, and gifts from Hotel Chocolat, L’Occitane, The Body Shop and Sostrene Grene.

All you need to do is come along, pick up an entry form from one of the above-mentioned participating stores and have fun.

How to take part in the Bee Trail:

1. Grab an entry form on the day from any of the participating outlets*
2. Each of the clues will, when solved, direct you to a specific outlet.
3. Once there, locate the hidden Bee picture and note its unique number down on the entry form next to the store or eatery’s name.
4. Once you’ve completed the Trail, fill in your contact details and hand your entry form back in to one of the participating stores so that you will be entered in to the draw.
5. Keep your fingers crossed that you’ve won a prize!
6. Winners will be drawn and notified within two weeks of the closing date.

Participating outlets: French Connection, Annies restaurant, Pastan, Royal Exchange Flowers, L’Occitane, TGI Fridays, Michaels coffeehouse, Hotel Chocolat, The Body Shop and Sostrene Grene.

The Royal Exchange Manchester Bee Trail runs all day on Saturday 27^th and Sunday 28^th May.

And don’t forget your Hilda selfie for an extra chance to win! #HildaSelfie

Happy shopping, happy hunting -and good luck!