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Category: Malvern Autumn Show

Horticultural heroes and gastronomic greats to feature at this year’s Malvern Autumn Show

A feast of familiar faces from the worlds of horticulture and baking will take to the stages at this year’s Malvern Autumn Show (27 – 29 September 2024 at Three Counties Showground), sharing their insights and expertise on everything from how to grow your own fruits, vegetables and flowers, to how to use what you’ve grown to create delicious dishes.

Malvern Autumn Show is one of the UK’s biggest annual harvest season celebrations, featuring the showstopping CANNA UK Giant Vegetables Championships (which each year sees new Guinness World Records set for spectacularly large crops), the prestigious RHS Flower Show, over 100 different Grow to Show classes to see in the Harvest Pavillion, plus barrows full of family fun and epicurean delights.

Hosting the Garden Theatre at this year’s Malvern Autumn Show will be BBC Radio Two and Escape to the Country presenter, Nicki Chapman. Special guests joining Nicki on stage throughout the weekend include BBC Gardeners’ World presenters, Adam Frost (Friday) and Rachel de Thame (Saturday), celebrity florist and floral expert on BBC’s The Big Allotment Challenge, Jonathan Moseley (Friday – Sunday), gardener, author, broadcaster and plant-based nature therapist, Ellen Mary (Friday – Sunday), and former Blue Peter gardener and head of horticulture for Garden Organic, Chris Collins (Sunday). Visitors can expect to pick up top tips on preparing for a beautiful spring garden, how to introduce seasonal colour over the autumn and winter months, the best late season edibles to plant, as well as the popular Gardener’s Question Time.

Gardening consultant and broadcaster, Martin Fish, will return to the show to host The Potting Shed theatre, located in the Harvest Pavillion, from Friday – Sunday, joined by a variety of guests throughout the weekend.

A brand-new feature for this year’s Malvern Autumn Show, The Great Malvern Cake Off tent will host well-known faces from popular series of BBC and Channel 4’s The Great British Bake Off, including Briony May Williams from 2018’s series (Sunday), and Giuseppe Dell’Anno from 2021’s series (Friday and Saturday). As well as Q&A sessions, visitors can enjoy cake and dessert baking demos, and fun challenges and competitions, including technical challenges and race against the clock competitions. Budding baking afficionados can even join in by entering themselves or their own bakes into competitions!

An extra special guest at this year’s show, former Strictly Come Dancing star, actor, professional dancer and choreographer, Kevin Cliton will dazzle visitors with his dancing skills at the Vintage Village on Saturday. For fans of Strictly, this is your chance to live out your dream as you can join Kevin and learn some dance moves from one of the very best! Kevin will also be joining Nicki Chapman on stage at the Garden Theatre on Saturday for a general Q&A session.   

More new features at this year’s show include the Tipple Zone, where visitors can enjoy samples from leading spirit, cider and beer producers as well as the opportunity to chat to them about their craft, purchase bottles to take home and enjoy live music. A brand new ‘dog day’ on Sunday 29th September will welcome visitors who’d like to bring their well-behaved dogs on short, non-retractable leads with them to enjoy the show. There will also be a dedicated Dog Show with fun, informal categories such as ‘waggiest tail’ and ‘softest coat’. Sunday dog entry tickets are free and need to be booked in advance at https://www.malvernautumn.co.uk/ (With the exception of assistance dogs, all other dogs will not be permitted for entry on Friday or Saturday at the show).

As always, Malvern Autumn Show will offer visitors plenty of botanical inspiration, and the Floral Marquee will once again be bursting with seasonal colour, plus top-quality plants, flowers and bulbs to purchase. The Bulb Market will also house an array of interesting bulbs, plants and flowers to shop, and the free plant creche and porter service will free visitors up to enjoy the show while their purchases are stored safely and conveniently transported back to cars when it’s time to leave.

For those visiting Malvern Autumn Show with children, there is plenty to keep kids of all ages entertained. The Family Green will host an exciting range of free entertainment and activities, including pedal tractors, a climbing wall and rural crafts, as well as the World of Animals area, where children can meet animals aplenty. Tickets for Malvern Autumn Show 2024 cost £20 in advance, with children under 16 free of charge, and are available to book here: https://www.malvernautumn.co.uk/

Apply to dress a stage at the Malvern Autumn Show

Are you a passionate creative that is looking for a new challenge to showcase your stage dressing and interior design talent?

We’re on the look-out for someone who can inject some added brilliance into our Garden Theatre:

Malvern Autumn Show is one of the UK’s biggest annual harvest season celebrations, featuring the showstopping CANNA UK Giant Vegetables Championships (which each year sees new Guinness World Records set for spectacularly large crops), the prestigious RHS Flower Show with Garden Theatre within, over 100 different Grow to Show classes to see in the Harvest Pavilion, plus barrows full of family fun and epicurean delights.

About the Stage

The Garden Theatre at Malvern Autumn is one of the highest footfall areas and most photographed areas of the Showground, setting a beautiful foreground for our Special Guests  familiar faces from the world of horticulture and beyond sharing their insights and expertise through their talks and demonstrations.

Important information

A celebration of harvest: Horticulture is at the heart of Malvern Autumn Show and we’d like to see this celebrated throughout the stage design as the dominant theme. We’d love to see the use of autumnal accents such as pumpkins and gourds and seasonal British blooms as well as structural height provided by an attractive backdrop.

Build-up begins at midday Monday 23 September and must be complete by 7pm Thursday 26 September.

Breakdown can begin at 6:15pm Sunday 29 September and must be cleared by midday Monday 30th September. The Showground does not accept responsibility for items used in set dressing.

Exhibitors must remove or put in the bins on site all items brought onsite, including rubbish and building materials etc.

How to apply

We’re asking all those eager to apply to submit their designs to Charlie Gwynne, Shows & Horticulture Executive: charlie.gwynne@threecounties.co.uk

This should include:

  • Proposed furniture & prop choices.
  • Flower/plant list including colours and/or themes.
  • A sketch/mood board of your design, with dimensions
  • Explain how you will achieve the design without floral foam.

Please ensure no banned plants/flowers are included in your design. The banned plant list can be found here.

If you know someone who would be ideal for this opportunity, or you think you could be the perfect fit, then click here to download the full factsheet.

Malvern Autumn Show rolls out its new Giant Red Apple

How do you like them apples?

Pictured L-R: Kate Dufton – Malvern Autumn Show Lead, Daisy Allen, David Prescott and Suzi Freely – Three Counties and Helen Weston – Westons Cider.

Much Marcle, Herefordshire

They say that the apple never falls far from the tree and that is definitely the case with Helen Weston, the great granddaughter of Westons founder Henry Weston, who heads up the famous cider makers. Helen and her team are proud Herefordians and keen supporters of the local Three Counties Showground in nearby Malvern, having a long association with Malvern Autumn Show they were only too happy to unveil the new giant apple at their Much Marcle factory.

The UK’s biggest harvest celebration, the Malvern Autumn Show has rolled out a giant 8ft apple in celebration of this year’s event. The ginormous rosy fruit couldn’t have been more at home when it was launched earlier this week by the head of Westons Cider, Helen Weston, at the cider makers UK headquarters in Herefordshire.

A selfie magnet for visitors to Westons Cider, the apple towers at over 8ft in height and weighs in at a whopping 75 kilos and will provide visitors to Much Marcle with lots of photo opportunities over the coming weeks, as a beacon for the country’s largest autumnal event.

Malvern Autumn Show Festival is athree-day seasonal extravaganza held at the Three Counties Showground, in association with Westons Cider from 22 – 24 September 2023, with a whole host of celebrity chefs, gardening experts, theatres, immersive experiences and interactive demonstrations.

The show features an unmissable line-up showcasing the country’s best-known expert horticulturalists and foodie personalities, including BBC Gardeners World presenters Adam Frost and Arit Anderson, plus celebrated authors Arthur Parkinson, Ben Dark and Kiran Sidhu and Great British Bake-Off stars Crystelle Pereira and Jurgen Krauss, alongside their fellow champion baker and Strictly star John Whaite.

Next on the Giant Apple Tour itinerary is John Lewis in Cheltenham, with the giant welly arriving on 24th August to 4th September, followed by Gloucester Quays from 4th September to 14th September and finally to Crowngate Shopping Centre in Worcester from 14th September to 21st September.

Pots of inspiration for cooking and gardening will be served up by a wealth of special guests at the Malvern Autumn Show.

Well-known faces and rising stars will be coming together at the event, which takes place at the Three Counties Showground on September 22, 23 and 24. The much-loved seasonal showcase is hosting the biggest group of authors, presenters and celebrities the event has ever seen!

A variety of cuisines will be on offer in the Kitchen Theatre, award-winning food and garden writer and photographer Mark Diacono will host for the 3 days, with demonstrations and information-packed talks from chefs, cooks and food experts. Don’t miss Expert forager Liz Knight, author of Forage: Wild Plant to Gather, Cook and Eat, will be appearing on Friday and Sunday and Helen Rebanks from the Lake District will be sharing her love and enthusiasm for food and farming with some delicious dishes. Familiar faces from the Great British Bake Off (GBBO) will be among some of the UK’s best-selling food and drink authors appearing in the Kitchen Theatre during a brand new Octopus Publishing takeover on Saturday, September 23.

Join Arthur Parkinson and Blanche Vaughan for a debate called Vegetable Versus Flower Gardening. Kew Gardens-trained Arthur’s new book Planting a Paradise, which is published in October, is an inspirational guide to growing flamboyant blooms for humans and bees. He is the designer of a garden for the Emma Bridgewater factory in Staffordshire which, like the accompanying book The Pottery Gardener, received wide acclaim. He followed up with The Flower Yard, which was one of the Times Best Gardening Books of 2021. He’s a guest presenter on BBC Gardeners’ World, writes about keeping poultry and co-hosts the Grow, Cook, Eat, Arrange podcast with Sarah Raven. Blanche Vaughan is a food writer and chef who worked at the River Café, Moro and St John. Her books include One Pot and Egg and itsu: the cookbook, which she wrote with Julian Metcalfe, while her latest, House & Garden A Year in the Kitchen, is published in September. Blanche is the food editor at House & Garden magazine.

Chef-turned-food and travel photographer Joe Woodhouse, whose More Daily Veg is published in September, will be discussing how to make vegetables the star of the meal with GBBO contestant Crystelle Pereira. Crystelle, the writer of Flavour Kitchen, was raised in London by Kenyan-born Portuguese-Goan parents and was included in the Vanity Fair list of Best Performances of 2021. Flavour Kitchen, published in May, showcases easy recipes using the most vibrant and exciting flavours.

John Whaite won the third series of GBBO and was runner up in the 2021 series of BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, on which he made history by being the show’s first all-male pairing. He’s written five cookery books and a memoir Dancing on Eggshells, published on August 24. At Malvern John will be sharing stories and memories through food.

Learn about Christmas traditions and how to prepare for your best festive season yet with The Ginger Pig Rebecca Seal and GBBO’s Jürgen Krauss. Rebecca has written 10 cook books, including seven produced in collaboration with the restaurant group LEON. Her latest is Ginger Pig Christmas Cook Book, which comes out in October. Jürgen, who won the hearts of many during GBBO’s 2021 season, hails from the Black Forest but now lives in Brighton. His German Baking, a celebrating of German home baking, is published in August.

Discover how to make cocktails in 60 seconds with ‘The World’s Best Spirits’ Joel Ridley and Neil Harrison/ how to match cocktails with canapes with Rebecca Seal. Joel and Neil are at the forefront of providing expertise and innovation within the drinks world and are regulars on Channel 4’s Sunday Brunch. Their latest book is 60 Second Cocktails.

The popular Garden Theatre will return for 2023, hosted by Escape to the Country presenter Nicki Chapman who will be joined by a star-studded line-up of guests, including Ben Dark head gardener and award-winning broadcaster working at the top of British horticulture. Plus, Kiran Sidhu, author of the moving and transformational book, I Can Hear the Cuckoo: Life in the Wilds of Wales. 

The Garden Theatre will provide plenty of tips on what to plant for seasonal colour outside, along with advice for the veg plot. BBC Gardeners’ World presenters Arit Anderson and Adam Frost will be making return visits, as will popular florist Jonathan Moseley, whose exuberant displays never fail to please audiences.

Meanwhile, Malvern favourite Martin Fish, who has a wealth of gardening knowledge and practical advice to share from his 35 years in horticulture, will be hosting the Potting Shed Stage in the Harvest Pavilion, talking to nurseries, growers and specialist plant societies.

He will take part in daily ‘Gardeners’ Question and Answers’ panels with regular appearances by Jon Wheatley of Stonebarn Landscapes, based in the Chew Valley near Bristol, who has created more than 20 Royal Horticultural Society gold medal-winning features at various events.

Martin will also team up with his wife Jill for ‘Gardening on the Menu’ talks, and there will be talks from Jonathan Moseley and Arit Anderson too.

The Malvern Autumn Show is the UK’s biggest harvest season celebration and packed full of exciting new experiences and unique entertainment. For more information visit: https://www.malvernautumn.co.uk/whats-on/special-guests/

Click here to register your interest in our Octopus Publishing special guest talks & demos on Saturday 23 September 2023.

MALVERN AUTUMN SHOW ANNOUNCES AN UNMISSABLE PROGRAMME OF FOOD, FLOWERS AND FAMILY FUN FOR SEPTEMBER 2023

The UK’s biggest harvest season celebration, the Malvern Autumn Show, is set to return to Three Counties Showground from 22 – 24 September 2023 with a programme packed full of exciting new experiences and unique entertainment. From the crowd-pleasing CANNA UK Giant Vegetables Championship to the colourful RHS Flower Show, here are nine new and unique experiences to expect from this year’s Malvern Autumn Show:

  1. CANNA UK Giant Vegetables Championships

Year after year, the CANNA UK Giant Vegetables Championships at the Malvern Autumn Show draws thousands of excited spectators eager to marvel at the enormous fruit and vegetables harvested by expert growers. Last year’s Show scored a record-breaking number of Guinness World Records, with 11 new titles set for everything from the heaviest field pumpkin (121.6kg by Mark Baggs from Dorset) to the longest turnip (4.605m by Joe Atherton from Nottinghamshire). A highlight of the Show for many visitors, this is a spectacle you won’t want to miss!

  1. RHS Flower Show

Another popular feature of the Malvern Autumn Show is the much-loved RHS Flower Show, which will bring with it a blaze of autumnal colour and dazzling seasonal blooms. This year will see a bumper crop of RHS medal winning nurseries displaying their finest bulbs, plants and flowers whilst once again competing for recognition from the esteemed RHS judges. Visitors can browse hundreds of beautiful blooms, as well as purchase interesting plants and bulbs to transform their own living spaces from the plant nurseries and plant and bulb arcades.

  1. Hear from some of the UK’s best-selling food & drink authors

A brand-new Octopus Publishing Takeover on Saturday 23 September will see some of the UK’s best-selling food and drink authors sharing snippets and insights from their latest books with Food & Drink Theatre host, and award-winning author and food writer himself, Mark Diacono. Visitors will also be treated to some special cooking demonstrations, plus the chance to meet some of the authors and snap up signed copies of their latest books. Keep an eye on the Malvern Autumn Show website for more updates and special guest announcements https://www.malvernautumn.co.uk

  1. A bigger and better than ever Family Green

The popular Family Green is back at this year’s Show and it will be bigger and better than before, packed full of free family fun for all ages. Youngsters can get ready for Halloween by making their very own magic wand, hand-carved from a piece of wood, as well as the chance to create their own broomstick to complete their magical toolkit. Families can get involved in weaving willow into the shape of a giant chilli, or try their hand at circus skills, including plate spinning, juggling, stilt walking, diabolos, unicycles and mini bikes. Plus, there will be plenty of arts and crafts activities to keep little hands busy throughout the weekend.

  1. Enjoy talks from horticultural experts and special guests

This year’s Garden Theatre will be hosted by BBC Escape to the Country host, Nikki Chapman, who will be chatting to expert horticulturalists and familiar faces from BBC Gardeners’ World, including Adam Frost and Arit Anderson. Catch sizzling live cooking demos from top chefs and best-selling cook book authors over at the Kitchen Theatre, hosted by food writer Mark Diacono. At the Harvest Pavilion, the Potting Shed Theatre will be hosted by gardening consultant, Martin Fish, who will be chatting to some of the UK’s leading nurseries, growers and specialist plant societies, sharing handy tips on plant care and creating and maintaining your own green spaces.

  1. Tuck in to some of the UK’s finest food & drink

Another new feature at this year’s Malvern Autumn Show will be the Great Taste Food & Drink Market. Enjoy a delectable array of artisan produce from a selection of award-winning food and drink producers, recognised by the world’s largest and most trusted food and drink accreditation scheme. Chat to the makers and find out more about their award-winning produce, indulge in a sample or two, and take home some tasty treats or stock up on special gifts.

  1. Meet some friendly furry friends at the World of Animals

A brand-new feature of this year’s Malvern Autumn Show, Joseph’s Amazing Racing Camels, promises to be a highlight of the weekend. Head to the World of Animals Arena to cheer on the camels as their compete in friendly races, and even meet these curious creatures up close. These are not just ordinary camels, these are celebrity camels, having features in numerous TV shows and films, working alongside well-known names including Sir David Attenborough, Will Smith, Jess Glynne and Tom Hiddleston.

The popular Exotic Animals area will return to this year’s Malvern Autumn Show, giving visitors the chance to get up close to fascinating creatures and learn more about them, including skunks, snakes, lizards, tarantulas, scorpions, pygmy hedgehogs and meerkats.

  1. Step back in time at the Vintage Village

Relive the golden days at the Vintage Village, back for this year’s Show with a bigger area featuring live bands performing toe-tapping music throughout the long weekend. Get into the spirit and don your finest vintage clothing, there’s also a ‘Best Dressed’ competition and a ‘Parade by Decade’ to get involved in. Learn some new (or old, as it may be!) moves in one of the free 1940s/50s dance lessons. A new vintage hair styling stand will see creative vintage hair-stylists curl, clip and spray hair into some of the most popular hair styles from yesteryear, with a free hair style per day offered to the winner of the ‘Best Dressed’ competition to complete their look.

Another new feature at this year’s Show, the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes (NAFFi) will have a range of vintage military vehicles for visitors to admire, with home-front re-enactors on hand to chat to visitors about the vehicles and the role that the home front played during World War II. 

  1. British Fuchsia Society’s 85th Birthday National Show

In celebration of the British Fuchsia Society’s 85th Birthday, a spectacular 10ft tall pyramid of beautiful fuchsias will feature in the Harvest Pavilion to mark the occasion. These dainty, ballerina-like flowers, originally from Central and South America, are popular plants for their versatility, and can be grown as standalone shrubs, informal hedges, climbers, in hanging baskets, patio pots or to bring colour to borders. Expert growers from the British Fuchsia Society will be on hand to offer tips and advice for growing these pretty plants at home.

For the full Malvern Autumn Show 2023 programme, and to book tickets (£20 in advance, with children aged 16 and under free of charge) visit: https://www.malvernautumn.co.uk/

Malvern Autumn Show launches fresh new look for 2023!

Malvern Autumn Show, in association with Westons, is the UK’s biggest harvest season celebration, held each autumn at Three Counties Showground, and new for its 27th annual event, the show has unveiled a fresh new identity for the three-day extravaganza, from 22 – 24 September 2023.

Nestled below Worcestershire’s glorious Malvern Hills, the event is a seasonal showcase celebrating the very best of autumn, from giant fruits and vegetables to demos from celebrity chefs, artisan ciders and perries to locally produced food and drink. 

A real highlight is always the CANNA UK National Giant Vegetables Championship, where competitors from across the country battle it out for a chance to win the coveted Guinness World Records title. Each year new records are set with gigantic legumes and enormous fruits. Visitors can peruse everything from super-sized pumpkins to extra-long leeks in a purpose-built marquee, housing hundreds of entrants. Meanwhile, in the colossal Harvest Pavilion, visitors can admire over 175 different Grow to Show classes where growers present the very best produce grown in their garden or allotment space including cut flowers, fruit, vegetables and succulents.

The RHS Flower Show will bring a riot of colour and fragrance with dazzling seasonal blooms, as some of the UK’s best nurseries and growers compete for recognition from the esteemed RHS judges. Visitors feeling inspired can pick up some interesting bulbs, plants and flowers to take home and transform their own outdoor space in the plant nurseries and plant and bulb arcades. Expert growers will be on hand to offer helpful suggestions and advice for the best plants to suit your space.

The Family Green will host a range of entertainment and activities for all ages, including willow weaving, pedal tractors, circus and bushcraft skills, wand making and broomstick making. There will also be animals to meet, including rabbits, cavies, ponies, dogs, pigs and exotic animals. After working up an appetite, tuck in to a delicious dish from an impressive range of street food traders in the Food and Drink Festival, or pick up foodie treats to take home from the Artisan Food and Drink Market.

Sit back and soak up the atmosphere and live music with a refreshing, locally produced cider in the Westons Cider Garden, or if perry is more your thing, head to the Festival of Perry, where over 50 different types will be available to sample, including single varieties, blends and international perries. Skilled perry producers will be on hand to share the art of perry making, tips on looking after an orchard and to share their love of this unique and highly valued drink.

Gin lovers will enjoy the dedicated Gin Garden and the Gin Show, supported by Ludlow Gin, featuring plenty of samples, shopping, live music and, of course, space to relax with a tipple surrounded by the beautiful backdrop of the Malvern Hills. Throughout the weekend, a selection of artisan producers will be on hand providing talks about their craft alongside samples of their creations.

This year’s show will once again welcome a host of familiar faces and well-known names to its theatres, with Nikki Chapman, Martin Fish and Jonathan Moseley already confirmed to provide interesting talks and top tips for green fingered visitors.

Jane Edwards, Head of Shows at Three Counties Showground, said: “This year’s Malvern Autumn Show is back with a brand-new look and feel, celebrating one of the best times of the year. We’re delighted to share a packed programme of vibrant seasonal flowers, plants, expert horticulturalists and growers, outstanding local food and drink, plus lots of family fun.”

Tickets for Malvern Autumn Show 2023 cost £20 in advance, with children aged 16 and under free of charge, and are available to book here.

Get 15% off Malvern Autumn Show tickets using code EARLYBIRD15 for a limited time only*. Don’t miss out, buy your tickets now!

*T&Cs

Book before midnight on Sunday 18 July for 15% off advance adult tickets on Friday, Saturday or Sunday of Malvern Autumn Show 2023 with code EARLYBIRD15.

Offer is valid for full price, adult tickets bought in advance only and is not applicable for Three Counties members tickets.

Offer cannot be applied retrospectively.

Booking fees apply.

Three Counties welcomes new CEO to drive forward investment and growth

We are pleased to announce that Three Counties Agricultural Society has appointed David Prescott as its new Chief Executive. David will start in January 2023 to take over the running of the society, following the announcement that Ken Nottage will be retiring from the post, after a hugely successful decade at the helm of one of the UK’s most prosperous showground enterprises.

David joins the society after a 27-year career with the Oxford based Bookseller Blackwell’s, where he held a variety of roles across the company from the shop floor to management and regional roles, before becoming Managing Director for Blackwell’s Bookshops in January 2011, and Chief Executive for Blackwell Limited in May 2013. He has also taken an active role in the UK Booksellers Association serving as Chair of the Academic and Professional Bookselling Group and as Vice President of the Association from 2011-17. He is currently a Trustee of the World Book Day Charity.

Ken Nottage commented, “At the heart of Three Counties is a committed and talented group of employees and volunteers, who I am sure will be supportive of David in his new role as CEO. David is strongly placed to lead the society in its future growth plans. In addition to his wide-ranging skills, he has invaluable business management experience which will contribute to the long-term future and success of the business.”

David will be on board at the beginning of the new 2023 shows season, with a full line-up of unmissable events and festivals, kicking off with CountryTastic in April, followed by the prestigious RHS Malvern Spring Festival in May, the annual celebration of food and farming, the Royal Three Counties Show in June and the finale to the year with the UK’s largest Harvest Festival, Malvern Autumn Show in September.

David said, “I’m hugely excited to be taking on the role of Three Counties Chief Executive. I’ve been really impressed with how well the Society is run and I know there’s lots of opportunity to build on what is a really impressive events calendar. Of course, I have some big shoes to fill with Ken having done such a fantastic job, but I know there is a great team here with a very supportive Board and Council, so I can’t wait to get started!”

Winter Glow lights the iconic Malvern skyline on opening weekend of the regions premier festive event

Winter Glow, the region’s largest multi-attraction event based at the Three Counties Showground, Malvern, has officially launched Christmas 2022!

Winter Glow kicked off the festive season this week and invited everyone to embrace all things Christmassy, with an impressive line-up of activities and excitement on offer. The brand-new immersive Light Trail, alongside the Giant Observation Wheel which can be seen from miles away, is a beacon of festive fun with so much more awaiting visitors at this regional winter wonderland.

Along with the Personalised Santa Experiences, visitors can also take part in a newly themed Light Trail ‘A Christmas Odyssey’, ride a 120ft Observation Wheel, skate on the Indoor Ice Rink, and browse Winter Glow’s brand-new Christmas Market, with a selection of local traders, crafters and artisans. The Food Quarter, Ice Cafe and Bavarian-style bar are also cosy places for visitors to refuel after all that festive fun!

With 4 bookable events to enjoy, the first visitors entered the spell binding grotto adventure for Personalised Santa Experiences, full of fantastical surprises. Families were transported to a festive wonderland as they arrived and were greeted by Santa’s Head Elf, Jingle, who has some cheeky challenges for them to complete before making their special journey through the winding buildings to Santa’s Toy Workshop.

On arrival to the workshop, full to the brim with authentic sights, sounds and smells, visitors were once again by greeted by Elves and invited to explore their magical surroundings. Each family were then shown to their special appointment to meet Santa in his cosy grotto.

The experience didn’t stop there! After their visit with the big man, families enjoyed Mrs Claus’ Bakery, where each child decorated their own Christmas biscuit, before heading back into the Winter Village through the The Old Sweet Shoppe and North Pole Letter Box, to enjoy a selection of festive street performers and the magical atmosphere that follows them.

The ice skating sessions are also now open daily and take place within one of the West Midlands’ largest Indoor Ice Rinks.The rink is open to all, with skate aids for children and seating close by for no skaters to sit and watch.

Heading outside, the Light Trail winds across the showground, taking in Candy Cane Lane, Christmas Island and even a Narwal and Ship, seeing is believing! The twinkly lights, giant installations and photo opportunities along the route, were enjoyed by throngs of early VIP visitors and on selected dates in December, there are even Dog Friendly light trail sessions for pampered pooches. Jingle the Head Elf added: “All of my elves are busy sprinkling our special brand of Winter Glow Christmas magic across the Three Counties Showground and we look forward to welcoming guests throughout the festive period, to our little corner of Christmas magic in Malvern.”

Group Travel is full steam ahead at Three Counties in 2023

Three Counties has announced that its group travel capacity will be back to pre-covid levels in 2023, heralding the return of all group bookings. Group organisers, tours and coach companies will have the option to pre-book groups for three large scale events next year, via the dedicated team at The Ticket Factory – the showground’s ticketing partner.

The prestigious RHS Malvern Spring Festival, 11-14 May 2023, is the first RHS show of the season and is an unmissable horticultural gem, set against the backdrop of the iconic Malvern hills. This annual event overflows with colour and style and there is always something different to see, such as new inspirational zones and theatres. Firm favourites, including the popular RHS Floral Marquee, Show and Feature Gardens, the very best nurseries from across the UK, shopping arcades, plus talks and demonstrations are also at the festival each year.

The theme for 2023’s festival is ‘Gardening for Everyone’ and there will be a focus on making gardening and horticulture open and accessible to all, while encouraging sustainable and planet-friendly practices that are kinder to the environment.

Find out more

Each summer the Showground hosts a three-day celebration of food and farming with the Royal Three Counties Show, 16-18 June 2023. Boasting thrilling Main Area entertainment, the ever-popular Countryside Arena, a dedicated Equine Village, thousands of animals to see, an artisan Food & Drink Festival, the very best countryside shopping and a whole host of celebrity guests, talks and live demonstrations.

Find out more

The UK’s largest Harvest Festival takes place annually at the Showground and is a real seasonal celebration. Malvern Autumn Show, 22-24 September 2023, is the final Three Counties event of the show season and is a jam-packed day out. Don’t miss the CANNA UK Giant Vegetables Championship, the prestigious RHS Flower Show, BBC Gardeners World presenters making regular appearances across no less than four Talk Theatres, one of the country’s biggest Grow to Show competitions, outdoor and countryside shopping arcades and bags of family fun and entertainment.

For out more

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Sensational Season Sees UK Scoop 11 World Records at Malvern Autumn Show!

Image – CANNA UK Giant Vegetables champions & new Guinness World Record holders at Malvern Autumn Show 2022 at Three Counties Showground, Malvern, Worcestershire.

This year’s Malvern Autumn Show has scored a record-breaking number of Guinness World Records, with 11 new prize winning giant vegetables awarded the ultimate accolade!

This whopping record breaks all previous Malvern Autumn Show tallies and is double the number of new Guinness World Records set at the 2021 show.

  • Heaviest Aubergine – 3.362kg – Peter Glazebrook
  • Longest Leek – 1.432m – Derek Hulme
  • Longest Turnip – 4.605m – Joe Atherton
  • Longest Luffa – 697mm – Ian Neale
  • Heaviest Luffa – 2.616kg – Ian Neale
  • Heaviest Field Pumpkin – 121.6kg – Mark Baggs
  • Heaviest Runner Bean – 176g – Lee Herrington
  • Longest Potato Plant – 2.847m – Kevin Fortey
  • Longest Broad Bean – 396mm – Ian Simpson
  • Heaviest Broad Bean – 184g – James Pearson
  • Longest Runner Bean – 769mm – Lee Herrington

The ginormous legumes form the CANNA UK Giant Vegetables Championships, which takes place at Malvern each autumn and is the ultimate location for giant growers coming together to compete in this globally recognised competition.

Entrants come from across the UK to take part and spend months preparing their entries in classes ranging from heaviest watermelon to longest chili. There are thirty three classes in total and whilst pumpkins are arguably the largest in size, the huge vegetables include Khol Rabi, cantaloupe melons, squash and so much more.

Jane Edwards, Head of Shows commented: “We are absolutely thrilled that the efforts of our world record breaking growers has resulted in the largest number of new Guinness World Record titles ever achieved at Malvern Autumn Show. The whole event is run in partnership with CANNA UK and is one of the most popular features at our annual celebration of Autumn.”

To find out more about the CANNA UK Giant Vegetables Championship, please visit – CANNA UK National Giant Vegetables Championship (malvernautumn.co.uk)

Nine reasons to visit the Malvern Autumn Show this September

Spectacular flowers, a mouth-watering array of food and drink, giant vegetables and lots of family fun are all in store with the return of the UK’s biggest Harvest Festival, the Malvern Autumn Show, on 23 – 25 September 2022 at Three Counties Showground.

Set against the backdrop of the glorious Malvern Hills, the three-day festival promises to celebrate the very best of the autumn season and here are nine reasons why you won’t want to miss it!

  • Resplendent RHS Flower Show

A real highlight of the Malvern Autumn Show is always the magnificent RHS Flower Show, which showcases the UK’s best nurseries and growers and their spectrum of specialist blooms, as they compete for the coveted gold medal from the RHS judges. Plus, there’s a chance to start planning next year’s spring pots and borders, with every kind of bulb, tuber and corm for sale, alongside expert advice to help your garden flourish.

  • Entertaining Celebrity and Special Guests

Special guests set to draw in crowds across the weekend include BBC’s Gardeners’ World favourites Arit Anderson, Adam Frost and Frances Tophill. Over at the Food & Drink Village, John Torode MBE, one of the most popular and influential figures on the UK culinary circuit, and TV cook show co-host and judge, will be delighting visitors with live cookery demonstrations. Also appearing over the weekend are award-winning food writer Mark Diacono, floristry extraordinaire Jonathan Moseley and archaeologist and TV presenter Jules Hudson, along with fellow BBC’s Escape to the Country co-host Nicki Chapman. And not forgetting Channel 4’s The Great British Bake Off finalist Chigs Parmar, and Reg Moule, one of Worcestershire’s best loved gardening personalities and radio broadcasters.

  • Mouth-watering Food

A delicious array of tasty treats will be on offer at the al fresco Food & Drink Village across the weekend. Visitors can expect to find delicacies from a wide range of outstanding local suppliers, from brownies to pancakes, pizzas to burgers, cheese to preserves, whatever takes your fancy you’ll find it here! Don’t miss the daily cooking demonstrations at the Kitchen Theatre, including John Torode MBE, Chigs Parmar and some brilliant regional chefs including Suki Pantal and James Mearing.

  • Exceptional Local Cider and Perry

The Three Counties are proud to produce over half of the UK’s cider apples and the majority of all UK perry pears, so where better to enjoy these traditional tipples than the very heart of these neighbouring counties?

The ever-popular Westons Cider Garden, courtesy of the show’s main sponsor, returns to the Malvern Autumn Show to offer visitors a comfy spot to relax after a busy morning exploring. Pull up a seat and enjoy a refreshing tipple of Hereford’s finest cider. Children and adults alike can also get involved in guessing the weight of the apples on the back of the vintage Westons Cider truck and be in with a chance to win some fantastic goodies!

The Festival of Perry will celebrate over 50 different varieties, with a range of Single Varieties, Blends and International Perries available to try. Visitors can discover the fascinating process of creating this time-honoured beverage with displays of presses, scratters and small-scale cider and perry making equipment. A range of skilful perry producers will be on hand to share the art of perry making and offer tips for looking after your own orchard.

Head over to the Orchard and Hopyard Pavilion where the National Fruit Show will take you on a ‘tour’ of an orchard and give you an insight into how the apple gets from the orchard to the supermarket shelf. There will also be tastings and hands-on activities running across the three days.

  • A Gin-lover’s Paradise

Gin-lovers are in for a treat as the Gin Village, supported by Ludlow Gin, will offer samples, shopping, live music and, of course, the Ludlow Gin bar where you can relax in the garden surrounded by the beautiful backdrop of the Malvern Hills. But that’s not all! The Gin Show will showcase producers from across the Three Counties, with an expert panel of judges on hand to present awards, including the ’People’s Choice Award’ voted by visitors at the show. Sit back, relax and listen to ‘gintastic’ talks, discover recipe ideas and take part in daily tasting sessions in the Gin Theatre, hosted by Andrew Easton from BBC Radio Hereford & Worcester.

  • CANNA UK National Giant Vegetables Championship

The CANNA UK National Giant Vegetables Championship feels a bit like stepping into wonderland as you walk among a remarkable world of gigantic legumes and enormous fruits. Growers this year are keen to beat the Guinness World Records set at the 2021 show for the heaviest marrow, aubergine and broad bean pod, and for the longest leek. Visitors can join in with the new ‘People’s Choice Award’ by voting for their favourite vegetable in each category.

  • New World of Animals Arena

A brand-new addition for this year’s Malvern Autumn Show, the World of Animals arena will host dazzling displays from The Horsemen of the Knight, the Three Counties Carriage Driving Group, and Suffolk Punch heavy horses. There will also be a fascinating Wildlife and Education Centre where curious visitors can discover more about their favourite animals. The Parade of Dogs and Parade of Animals is sure to be a highlight for many, featuring a wide variety of animals, including different breeds of dogs, horses, pigs, sheep and alpacas.

  • Lots of Family Fun

Over on the Family Green, there will be plenty to entertain visitors both young and old, including free have-a-go activities such as circus skills, croquet, giant Jenga, wand making workshops, broomstick making (Saturday & Sunday only) and pedal tractors, and animals aplenty. This is one of the most popular areas of the show and it’s no wonder why!

The Discover Harvest Village Show, a mini Harvest Festival, is also located on the family green and is jam-packed with imaginative home makes, including creatures made from fruit and vegetables, decorated plant pots and seasonal snaps. There’s still time to enter the competitions if your children would like to get involved, or they can simply get creative on the day. See https://www.malvernautumn.co.uk/ for details.

Children can also take part in the new Family Trail, sponsored by Bredon School. Workbooks and pencils will be available at all gates upon arrival and can ​be completed by finding the eight ‘Sid the Squirrel’ boards dotted around the showground. Once completed, head to the Bredon School stand to pick up a prize!

  • Marvellous Vintage Village

Enjoy a throwback to the good old days in the fabulous Vintage Village and Rural Pursuits zone. Dress up in your finery and enter the ‘Best Dressed’ competition, or take part in the ‘parade by decade’. Join in one of the fun free dance lessons celebrating the classic moves from the 40s and 50s. For a more relaxing afternoon, enjoy a cup of tea and slice of cake in the Vintage Tearoom, or head to the Wartime Pub for a pint in 1940s style surroundings. There will also be a vintage funfair, including a remarkable helter skelter, amazing vintage cars, original barrel organ, and a host of vintage machinery, including tractors, caravans and garden machinery.

The Rural Pursuits area will celebrate some of Britain’s most traditional activities, where visitors can learn from expert artisanal crafts people about some of the skills and pastimes which have survived over the years and continue to thrive today.

Tickets to the Malvern Autumn Show cost £18.85 per person, £17.85 for members and are free of charge for children under 16. Book tickets online in advance to save at www.malvernautumn.co.uk or call 01684 584900 for more information.

Spectacular Giant Vegetables Championship returns to Malvern Autumn Show this September

Expert growers will once again battle it out to win the coveted prize of heaviest or longest vegetable in the much-loved CANNA UK National Giant Vegetables Championship, when it returns to the Malvern Autumn Show at Three Counties Showground, from 23 – 25 September 2022.

Each year records are broken as expert growers wow spectators with their enormous fruit and vegetables, as adjudicators and representatives from the National Vegetable Society officiate the competition. At the 2021 competition, four new Guinness World Records were set for the heaviest marrow (at a huge 116.4kg, which is 22.7kg heavier than the previous record) by Vincent Sjodin (from Wales), heaviest aubergine (at 3.12kg) by Peter Glazebrook (from Nottingham), heaviest broad bean pod (at 106g) and longest leek (at 1.36m) both by Joe Atherton (also from Nottingham).

From giant pumpkins to enormous carrots, huge beetroots to massive parsnips, the competition promises to be packed full of fantastic fruits and vegetables like you’ve never seen before!

Competitors of all ages can get involved, with children from 5-15 years taking part in the Junior Sunflower classes to see who can grow the largest sunflower head. Other family-friendly fun over the weekend includes the World of Animals showcase, the Top Dogs Arena, as well as a jam-packed programme of free children’s activities including circus skills, croquet, giant Jenga and pedal tractors.

The Harvest Zone will celebrate the very best of the autumn season, with a beautiful display of locally grown vegetables, soft fruits and flowers housed in one of the UK’s largest harvest pavilions. Pick up growing tips from National Plant Societies and marvel at the Grow to Show competitions, featuring over 175 classes of cut flowers, vegetables, fruits, alpines, succulents and pot plants.

Also taking place over the long weekend is the spectacular RHS Flower Show, featuring a dazzling display of exceptional blooms. Special guests will be on hand to share expert advice, including Gardeners’ World favourites Adam Frost, Arit Anderson and Frances Tophill. A tantalising array of tasty treats will await in the Food & Drink Village, and refreshments will be on hand in the Gin Village supported by Ludlow Gin, Festival of Perry and Westons Cider Garden. The Countryside Shopping Pavilion is the place to head for original artwork, hand-made jewellery and other artisan crafts.

Advance tickets to the Malvern Autumn Show cost £18.85 per person and children under 16 go free. For further information or to book tickets see www.malvernautumn.co.uk or call 01684 584924.

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