Worcestershire
WR13 6NW UK
Tel: 01684 584900
For more information please contact:
Sharon Gilbert
Press & PR Manager
Telephone:
01684 584929
Fax:
01684 584930
E-mail: sharon@threecounties.co.uk
Editor's Notes:
The Malvern Spring Gardening Show is a joint venture of the Royal Horticultural Society and the Three Counties Agricultural Society, and took place at the Three Counties Showground, Malvern, Worcestershire, between Thursday 7 and Sunday 10 May 2007.
24th Malvern Spring Gardening Show
Defies The Odds
Gardens and borders, flowers and fashion, food, cookery, crafts and even chickens – it was probably the most diverse collection of attractions in the Malvern Spring Gardening Show’s 24 year history, and a veritable recipe for success, as 92,000 visitors flocked to Worcestershire’s beautiful Showground last weekend, to see horticulture in all her finery!
In spite of the country’s financial troubles and a somewhat cautious mood, garden designers, exhibitors, visitors and the media were out in force this year to demonstrate that gardening, and making the most of our outdoor living space, is still very much a priority, with many hailing the event as one of the most enjoyable yet.
A record 22 Show Gardens were built in just three weeks, and the Showground’s partner, the Royal Horticultural Society, awarded medals to each and every one of them.
Best In Show was Mark Draper’s ‘Chic City Space’ for Graduate Gardeners Ltd, Stroud, which featured a piece of artwork by Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, and won a prestigious Gold medal.
Also celebrating was designer Alex Bell of Horsham, who too earned Gold, and the accolade of Most Creative Garden for ‘Learning Curve’, a sustainable, educational space, built in conjunction with St. Matthias School, Malvern and sponsored by Ringway.
Malvern is a renowned champion of up and coming designers, and 16 year old Jack Dunckley, also from West Sussex, who built his first display here last year, came away with a Silver Gilt for his delightful florist’s shop garden, packed with cottage blooms, and inspired by his grandmother.
There were 7 school gardens at Malvern 2009, and Walsall’s Q3 Academy won a Highly Commended Award, and Best In Show, for its ‘Remembrance Garden’.
10 short listed candidates went head to head for the Chris Beardshaw Mentoring Scholarship, sponsored by Bradstone, competition this year, and after a tough judging process, Paul Hervey-Brookes of Box Court Plants & Gardens in Newent, whose garden Il Ballo Della Vita Humana won the People’s Choice Award on Saturday 9, was crowned Scholar 2009.
Judges awarded 41 Gold medals, 26 Silver Gilts, 35 Silvers and 5 Bronzes in the spectacular Malvern Floral Marquee which was resplendent in colour and scent. Fernatix won Best In Show, and Peter Smith Alstromerias won Most Creative Award.
A brand new designated Fashion Day, with show garden-inspired designs from Worcester College of Technology students, was a roaring success, and some of the students even made costumes for BBC Gardeners’ World presenters Toby Buckland, Joe Swift, Carol Klein and Alys Fowler, who were filming from Wednesday 6 onwards.
A First Day treat was the unveiling of ‘Fire and Ice’ – two hitherto unseen models, complete with body paint and jewelled make-up and created by designer Iain Burton-Legge - who burst into life at a Secret Garden Party; their arrival announced with pyrotechnics!
Felice’s Kitchen, where Felice Tocchini and other local chefs cooked with flavours of the world, both in the Gardeners’ Shopping Pavilion, and from the gardens, was also very popular with visitors, and in keeping with the horticultural theme, Felice created a spectacular edible garden cake, based on Paul Hervey-Brookes’ show garden, which was revealed at the First Day celebrations.
In the Floral Art competition – the biggest of its kind in the country – Gillian Collett won Best In Show for her ‘Tradition’ display, and Mr. Arnaud Metairie won Best Use of Foliage and Best Novice, and was presented with his award by Malvern Spring Gardening Show founder, Malcolm Hodges.
Brand new for 2009 was the Eco Home & Garden area, complete with a chicken-friendly garden and hen coop by Chris Greenwood of Poultry Park in the Forest of Dean.
Chris, and his favourite hen, Lightning, appeared on stage in the Design For Living Theatre, and feeling safe and warm in the arms of Theatre host, television gardener James Alexander-Sinclair, she promptly laid an egg!
Actor John Challis was at the Show over the weekend, helping out at the Hedgehog Preservation Society’s stand and television’s Carol Vorderman dropped by and kindly did the lunchtime live interview with BBC Midlands Today!
Next year’s Malvern Spring Gardening Show takes place between 6 and 9 May.
A full list of the Malvern Spring Gardening Show 2009 Results is available here.
For more information please contact:
Sharon Gilbert – Press & PR Manager
Three Counties Agricultural Society
Telephone: 01684 584929 (direct dial)
E-mail: sharon@threecounties.co.uk
Show Web Site: www.threecounties.co.uk/springgardening
Ticket Hotline: +44 (0) 1684 584 900/924
This press release is available by e-mail and via RSS feed.
Released: 13/05/2009