Ellerslie Flower Show to return to Christchurch

7:22 am on 30 July 2011

Christchurch City Council says the Ellerslie Flower Show will return to the city next year.

This year's show, due to take place just two weeks after the February quake, was cancelled.

But the council says the arrangements already in place were put to good use.

A marquee in Hagley Park housed 1000 people for the night, and plants that would have been displayed during the show were used at the national memorial service for victims of the quake.

The council says the cancellation cost $1.5 million, though

ticket-holders donated $60,000 to the Red Cross earthquake appeal.

Next year's show will be held in North Hagley Park in March.