MORE THAN 90,000 visitors are expected to flood the gates of the Three Counties Showground for the four-day RHS Malvern Spring Festival extravaganza.
This year’s annual show, starting tomorrow (Thursday) until Sunday, will see the likes of Alan Titchmarsh and Bake Off legend Mary Berry visiting the town as headline guests.
Running until Sunday, the thousands of visitors will be able to immerse themselves in a variety of stunning show gardens, a floral marquee and a vibrant food and drink pavilion overflowing with the finest produce Great Britain has to offer.
Top tips will be shared from TV chefs and gardening experts including Valentine Warner, Mark Diacono, The One Show’s Christine Walkden and BBC Gardeners’ World presenters Carol Klein and Joe Swift among others.
CBeebies favourite Ben Faulks as Mr Bloom coupled with BBC Blue Peter gardener Chris Collins will welcome budding gardeners to a dedicated family day on Sunday where children can get involved in a lively line up of workshops and activities throughout the day.
Ken Nottage, CEO of Three Counties, said: “The showground is a hive of activity with everyone working tirelessly to bring together another incredible show.
“Each year we strive to go bigger and better than before and this year promises to be no exception.
“Alan and Mary, two greats of both the gardening and food world, will ensure 2016 is a fantastic year.
“We cannot wait to see the showground filled with visitors enjoying themselves.”
Tickets for RHS Malvern Spring Festival are available on the gate from £21.
For more information call 01684 584900 or visit www.rhsmalvern.co.uk.
SHOW GARDENS
Set against the backdrop of the picturesque Malvern Hills, wow-factor show gardens will be on the cards for visitors at this year’s festival.
Occupying a larger space than ever before, Show Gardens come to life on the Festival Green sponsored by Worcester Bosch Group.
This year’s designs include:
Wyevale Garden Centres in partnership with Historic Royal Palaces, Gardening amidst ruins, a homage to Capability Brown by Todd Longstaffe-Gowan Landscape Design
The Garden of Romance by Villaggio Verde
A Japanese Reflection by Peter Dowle & Richard Jasper of Howle Hill Nursery
The Sunken Retreat by Graduate Gardeners
The UCARE Garden by Emily Sharpe of Garden Stories
The Woodcutter Garden by Mark Walker
‘Time is a Healer’ in support of The Primrose Hospice by Martyn Wilson
Macmillan Legacy Garden by Mark Eveleigh in support of Macmillan Cancer Support
A Garden of One Thousand Flowers by RHS Students of CW Horticultural Training
FESTIVAL GARDENS
Following the roaring success of its launch in 2014, the national festival garden competition will be making a return offering anyone with an interest in design the opportunity to showcase their works at the festival.
Entries for this year include:
Hidden Gems of Worcestershire by Sterling Homes and Gardens
The Low Line’ by Pro-gardeners Limited.
The Water Spout by Garden Inspiration
FOOD GLORIOUS FOOD
Valentine Warner with pal Mark Diacono will host the Kitchen Garden Theatre at the heart of the festival’s lively Food & Drink Pavilion.
An endless line up of culinary talent and experts will join Valentine and Mark in their dynamic kitchen, showcasing a bounty of great British produce.
Valentine will share his signature style of seasonal, simple, robust and flavoursome food from his four best selling cookery books while Mark will bring advice from home, Otter Farm and experience as head gardener at River Cottage.
Mark will also be hosting a ‘Grow It, Cook It, Eat It’ masterclass at the Kitchen Garden Theatre followed by a joint-workshop with Valentine on the final day of the show.
An array of street food will also fill the pavilion with the smells of fresh and exotic flavours.
The Indian Rasoi will offer traditional Indian family food, taking inspiration from authentic Punjab cuisine with fragrant dishes including homemade masalas while Bare Bones will treat visitors to wood fired pizzas, hot and fresh from an authentic wood fire oven.
FESTIVAL THEATRE AND FAMILIAR FACES
Joining Alan Titchmarsh and Mary Berry, BBC Gardeners’ World’s Carol Klein and Joe Swift rub shoulders with other food and garden experts in the Festival Theatre, hosted by award-winning broadcaster and writer James Alexander-Sinclair.
Visitors can take a seat as these experts share their bountiful knowledge on all things food and gardening.
Budding gardeners will also be inspired in the School Gardens Theatre as CBeebies star Ben Faulks as Mr Bloom takes to the stage on Sunday.
SCHOOL GARDENS
BBC Blue Peter gardener Chris Collins will nurture the next generation of gardening talent as he returns for his third year as champion of the award-winning School Gardens Challenge.
Aspiring young gardeners from across the country bring to life their show garden designs with 11 schools taking part in this unique area of the show.
Designs will celebrate the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare’s passing.
GROW YOUR OWN WEDDING
New for 2016, much-loved TV florist and international floral designer Jonathan Moseley will welcome British flower growers with a series of workshops inviting visitors to ‘Grow Your Own Wedding’.
The ‘Grow Your Own Wedding’ theatre will take place in a show garden, transforming The Garden of Romance by Villaggio Verde.
An array of growers from across the UK will join front man of the BBC’s Great Allotment Challenge with easy to follow sessions in bridal floristry covering all things from bouquets to buttonholes.
Jonathan said: “Homegrown flowers exude the style and personality that commercial flowers can only ever dream of.
“They have natural movement and charm with the added advantage of amazing fragrances.
“Naturally the idea of growing your own wedding could seem rather daunting, however many of the divine summer flowering annuals are incredibly easy to grow and you don’t need acres of space to produce them.”
GET GOING, GET GROWING
The Get Going, Get Growing arena will share a bounty of ‘Grow How’ from top experts including TV gardeners Christine Walkden, Carol Klein, Joe Swift and many more.
Award winning garden designer and RHS judge Jon Wheatley, Terry Walton and Martin Fish will also join the panel of gardeners to host an exciting line up of workshops.
New for 2016, this area will feature a display by the British beekeepers Association.
The Bee Experience draws attention to the importance of honey bees as pollinators of one-third of the world’s food supply.
THE POTTING BENCH
At the heart of the iconic Floral Marquee, The Potting Bench which is brought to RHS Malvern by Regent Seven Seas Cruises, invites visitors to pull up a perch to hear practical horticultural advice hosted by Reg Moule.
Peter Dowle of Howle Hill Nursery has transformed the stage with a design embracing the theme of Gardens Around The World.
Each day, TV personalities and nursery men and women will give talks and hands-on demonstrations on a range of inspirational gardening topics.
FLORAL MARQUEE
The iconic Floral Marquee will welcome back the finest nurseries in the UK and abroad.
Visitors can delight in the displays and stock up on old favourites and new varieties launched at the show.
