LINCOLN Cathedral will be transformed with a breath taking display of flowers from all over the world this summer.
Tens of thousands of blooms form every corner of the globe will be turned into horses, chariots, flames and King Midas for the Olympic-inspired Flower Festival.
And this year visitors will also be treated to artwork specially commissioned from World-renowned paper sculptor Richard Sweeney.
This year’s annual Flower Festival, staged in the cathedral for the seventh year, will include 130 stunning floral arrangements designed to reflect the spirit, history and international flavour of the Olympics.
Displays at the event, called Dreams of Gold, will include a running track in the Chapter House and a swimming pool in the cloister plus depictions of cycling, sailing and equestrian sports – all created using thousands of flowers shipped to the city from every continent.
The exhibition, held between August 16 and 20 - will include four life sized horse sculptures, created using sheets of A1 paper, by artist Richard.
His display in the cathedral is a real coup for the flower festival organisers. His work has previously been shown in Italy, France, the US and London – including Selfridges Oxford Street shop window.
The components of his sculptures will be brought to Lincoln and he will spend a day assembling them in the Nave.
Meanwhile around 200  ladies from 26 flower arranging clubs across the county will spend 48 hours transforming the cathedral into a swathe of colours, smells and sights before the doors are thrown open to the public.

Last year the event attracted more than 10,000 visitors and this year organisers hope both the displays and the visitor numbers will be even better:
“We are really excited by this year’s theme and delighted that we will also be exhibiting the work of someone as talented and respected as Richard Sweeney,” said a spokesman for the Cathedral.
“Last year’s festival was a great success but all the volunteers, clubs and talented arrangers are determined to make this year’s event even more spectacular.”
Tickets for the event cost £10 for adults, £8 for concessions and £7.20 group price and any profits go to Fabric Fund. There will also be a prize draw for a mystery antique kindly donated by Hemswell Antique Centres.
To book tickets contact 01522 561644 or www.lincolncathedral.com/shop