RHS Malvern Spring Festival 2018 is set to take visitors on an exciting journey of discovery from May 10-13
Following on from last year’s hugely successful celebration of Malvern’s heritage as a Victorian spa resort, inspiration for this year’s show is being drawn from The Great Exhibition of 1851.
A global spotlight shone down on Malvern that year, when its prized waters formed the Great Exhibition centrepiece. At the opening ceremony, led by Queen Victoria, its waters cascaded through a magnificent 26ft crystal Schweppes fountain.
Inspired by this remarkable event, the theme for 2018 will bring the influences of The Great Exhibition into 21st century living, promising to offer innovation, education and a spectacular day out.
Hosted at the Three Counties Showground in Malvern and set against the backdrop of the picturesque Malvern Hills, the fabulous RHS Malvern Spring Festival will be packed with popular figures including the Godfather of Gardening, Alan Titchmarsh, Queen of our hearts, Carol Klein, BBC Gardeners’ World presenter and garden designer guru Joe Swift alongside many more gardening experts.
This year’s top highlights include:
Great pavilion of art and flowers
A space bursting with 2,600sqm of exquisite flowers and beautiful works of art will enchant visitors of all ages. The Pavilion will showcase the way the natural world has inspired artists throughout the centuries.
Show gardens
Always one of the biggest attractions, nine stunning show gardens will wow families. This year the creative spaces draw inspiration from the Great Exhibition. A unique Perfumer’s Garden will fill the air with heavenly scents, a very personal tribute to the WWI Centenary and a garden celebrating an iconic local ceramicist are amongst just a few of the spectacular gardens.
Floral marquee
Award-winning specialist nurseries will delight the senses with heavenly scents, a rainbow display of blooms and a wide variety of plants, where visitors can browse and buy from the very best.
Grow and cook
Hosted by award-winning food writer Mark Diacono, this animated live kitchen presents a line up of delicious cookery demonstrations from culinary experts and the country’s top chefs.
Indoor shopping arcades
A premium quality shopping experience introduced in 2017, visitors can pick up unique pieces in fashion, furniture, antiques, homewares, horticulture, gifts and more from independent designers, craftsmen, artisans and artists.
Family weekend
A visit to the festival is a perfect family day out as children under 16 go free and there’s plenty for parents and grandparents to enjoy too. It’s the ideal opportunity to engage children in the joy of gardening and the great outdoors. Expect kids’ cookery demonstrations, make and take crafts and plant and grow workshops with former Blue Peter Gardener, Chris Collins and more.
RHS Malvern Spring Festival takes place from Thursday, May 10 until Sunday, May 13. Tickets are now on sale. Free entry for children under the age of 16 is available throughout the festival. For more information on ticket prices, please call 0844 811 0050 (calls cost 7p per minute plus network extras) or visit www.rhsmalvern.co.uk. Click here to book your tickets.
