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Malvern Autumn Show returns September 2024 with a spectacular seasonal celebration!

Malvern Autumn Show is one of the UK’s biggest annual harvest season celebrations, held at Three Counties Showground, Malvern. This year the show will take place from 27 – 29 September 2024, bringing with it a blaze of autumnal colour, new features, unique experiences and barrows-full of family fun!

A real highlight of Malvern Autumn Show is the CANNA UK Giant Vegetables Championships, in which competitors from across the country battle it out for a chance to win the coveted Guinness World Records title. This year’s competition will be held in the newly built indoor Kildare Hall, and visitors will be able to peruse everything from super-sized pumpkins to extra-long leeks.

In sizeable contrast, but impressive in its own right, head over to the Harvest Pavilion and admire over 100 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 popular 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 looking for botanical inspiration should visit the Floral Marquee, which will be bursting with top quality plants, flowers and bulbs to admire or purchase. Expert growers will be on hand to offer helpful suggestions and advice for the best plants to suit all spaces. The Bulb Market will also house an array of interesting bulbs, plants and flowers to shop, and the handy 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.

New for 2024, The Great Malvern Cake Off tent will host well-known faces from previous series of BBC and Channel 4’s The Great British Bake Off (names to be announced soon), and will be the place to go for Bake Off fans and baking aficionados. Visitors can enjoy cake and dessert baking demos, Q&A sessions with special guests, as well as fun challenges and competitions, including technical challenges (à la The Great British Bake Off) and race against the clock competitions. Visitors can join in by entering themselves or their own bakes into competitions, or simply sit back, soak up the sweet-smelling atmosphere and enjoy the fun!

Another new feature for 2024’s Malvern Autumn Show will be the Tipple Zone, featuring some of the country’s very best alcohol producers. 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.

This year, Malvern Autumn Show will trial a brand new ‘dog day’ on Sunday 29th September, welcoming visitors who’d like to bring their well-behaved dogs on short, non-retractable leads along with them to enjoy the show. There will also be a dedicated Dog Show with fun, informal categories such as ‘waggiest tail’, ‘most obedient’, ‘softest coat’, ‘dog most like it’s owner’ that families can get involved in or cheer along their favourites. No pre-entry is required, simply stop by on Sunday to join in the four-legged fun. 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).

This year’s show will once again feature a tantalising selection of food and drink to sample or take home and enjoy. The Great Taste Market will offer delectable treats, from artisan produce, to sweet and savoury snacks, plus an array of tempting international items. After working up an appetite exploring the show, visitors can refuel at the Food Hall or head to the Family Green where some of the UK’s best street food vendors will pitch up.

Visitors can step back in time at the Vintage Village and immerse themselves in a bygone era. Don your finest vintage dress, hit the dancefloor, or sit back and enjoy a cuppa at the tearoom or something a little stronger at the pub. Youngsters will enjoy the vintage funfair, while visitors of all ages can admire the spectacular vintage vehicles on display. 

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 aged 16 and under free of charge, and are available to book here: https://www.malvernautumn.co.uk/

Royal Three Counties Show welcomes record numbers of breed society national shows, as it hosts the prestigious Burke Perpetual ChallengeTrophies

Pictured  (L-R) – Burke Trophy winners for the Catte Section: Beef Shorthorn, with the bull, Willlingham Spitfire, owned by Mrs Mary Cormack and the cow, High Sky Erin’s Enchantment, owned by Mrs Millie Birch

Royal Three Counties Show opened with extraordinary numbers of livestock entries this year, including over 2,000 sheep entires. Notable breeds who exhibited in high volumes featured the Coloured Rylands, Texels, Blue Texels and Hampshire Downs. The Show is one of the largest livestock and equestrian shows in the UK.

The Prestigious Burke Trophies for Beef and Dairy Cattle took centre stage on Saturday, chosen by the Royal Agricultural Society of England to take place at Three Counties Showground this year. The first Burke cattle awards took place over 70 years ago, recognising the best two animals of a breed male and female, in the beef cattle section and for the best two females, in a dairy cattle section. The winners in the beef cattle section were the Beef Shorthorn, with the bull, Willlingham Spitfire, owned by Mrs Mary Cormack and the cow, High Sky Erin’s Enchantment, owned by Mrs Millie Birch and the winners in the diary cattle section were a Holstein pair both owned by Molly Westwood, with Panda Ambrosia O’Kustard Red & Panda O’Christmas Red.

The three-day event is one of the UK’s largest livestock extravaganzas, with no fewer than 900 classes across 30 judging rings and a prize fund of £110,000 provided byThe Three Counties Agricultural Society.

Industry experts from across the UK were among the guest speakers at the event’s Future of Farming Theatre to guide, inspire and challenge those at the sharp end of agriculture and sponsored by Lightsource BP and Virgin Money.

The dedicated forum offered help and advice for growing and improving land-based businesses, including discussions over making the most of assets and finding alternative incomes and support in the current financial climate, and ample opportunities for asking questions and networking too.

Sixteen livestock breed societies held their national shows in the Farming Village during the three days and there were classes bringing together a large gathering of rare, minority and native animals.

Young farmers were encouraged to take part in the Rare Breeds Survival Trust’s Junior Handlers’ Classes, and there was a qualifying round for the Trust’s Young Shepherd of the Year competition.

Each day was rounded off with the Grand Parade of Livestock in the Main Arena, with a new Group of Three Cattle class leading the parade on Friday.

One of the Three Counties Agricultural Society’s chief aims is to support farmers and the rural community by raising awareness of the importance of British agriculture, providing professional development opportunities and hosting social events to bring people together. These included the CLA Big Breakfast on the Friday, Farmers Club and RASE events and the Stockman’s Dinner on Saturday evening.

The National Farmers’ Union Tent was another hub for farming discussions, with President Tom Bradshaw talking to members on Friday, and members of Young Farmers’ Clubs were made welcome with their own village where they held activities and competitions, such as the Tug of War, plus the offer of discounted tickets.

There was also an unbeatable opportunity to view and buy cutting edge equipment and find inspiration from the new ‘Machinery Mile’ as part of the Farming Village running from South Gate.

“Over the past century, the Royal Three Counties Show has become a much-loved event in the farming calendar,” says Alice Arnold, Royal Three Counties Show organiser. Hosting the prestigious Burke trophies was a huge honour for The Society this year after two days of outstanding livestock showing.

Future of Farming | Agri Tech | Educational Theatre for Farmers (royalthreecounties.co.uk)

RHS Malvern Celebrates Eight Medal-Winning Show Gardens On The Launch Of RHS Malvern Spring Festival 2024

Pictured: Top Left – Michael Lote, It Doesn’t Have to Cost the Earth. Top Right – Mark Draper, The Cotswold Garden. Bottom Left: Perennial’s The Laskett Garden designed by David Wyndham Lewis. Bottom Right: Eat, Drink and Be Rosemary designed by Laura Ashton-Phillips.

Today marks the launch of the RHS Show season across the UK, the much-anticipated start of RHS Malvern Spring Festival at Three Counties Showground in Malvern, Worcestershire, running until Sunday 12th May.

Boasting eight newly-created show gardens, alongside a brand-new feature garden, this year’s festival has a theme of Gardening For Change giving a platform to planet-friendly gardening as well as it’s benefits on communities and wellbeing.

RHS Malvern celebrates two RHS Gold Medals this year, one has been awarded to Michael Lote from MJL Garden Design for It doesn’t Have to Cost the Earth. The design takes inspiration from recycled materials and will be repurposed for community benefit at the Soil Association’s Woodoaks Farm.

Michael commented, “I’m really happy with the award, it was completely unexpected, so I’m over the moon. As this is my debut garden, here at RHS Malvern Spring Festival, the whole team has pulled together to make it a truly wonderful space.”

Top of the award-winning designers for 2024 is Mark Draper from Graduate Gardeners Ltd, who scooped up an RHS Gold Medal for The Cotswold Garden, as well as Best Show Garden and Best Construction Award. The triple-award-winning garden was created to celebrate Graduate Gardeners’ 50th anniversary in 2024 and reflecting their work in the Cotswolds using sympathetic materials.

Kate Dufton, RHS Show Lead commented, “The 2024 RHS Malvern Spring Festival is the 37th annual celebration of horticulture and gardening here at Three Counties Showground. It’s 4 days filled with floral inspiration, award winning gardens, unique plants, shrubs and trees and the wonderful new Festival of House Plants, plus an array of celebrity appearances, talks and demonstrations.”

David Wyndam Lewis was awarded a Silver-Gilt for Perennial’s The Laskett – An Autobiographical Garden, a beautiful space representing the essence of the Laskett Garden in Spring, with woodland planting and a central path drawing the eye toward the focal feature, the iconic Victoria and Albert Temple.

The second Silver-Gilt was taken by Ian McBain, with Concrete 2.0, supported by Red Rhino Crushers and build by Pickwell Paving. The garden showcases the use of sustainable and reclaimed materials, making use of cement-free concrete and recycled aggregates and emphasizing responsible water management with surface water captured by the studio roof used to feed water features and rainwater returning directly to the ground via wide channels of loose recycled aggregate.

Gloucestershire-based designer Laura Ashton-Phillips took Silver for Eat, Drink and be Rosemary, a garden designed for a young, environmentally-conscious family designed with zero wastage in mind.

The Show Gardens are the star of the show, alongside the stupendous Floral Marquee, a pioneering plant friendly zone, the brand-new Fire & Feast Stage and Tips & Tricks Theatre, plus the very best celebrity speakers, workshops and demonstrations.

Tickets for RHS Malvern Spring Festival 2024 start from just £25 (with under 16s free of charge). For full programme details and to book tickets, see https://www.rhsmalvern.co.uk/

Agricultural societies agree new location for the 2024 cattle Burke Trophies

The Royal Agricultural Society of England, the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association and the Three Counties Agricultural Society have agreed that the two cattle Burke Perpetual Challenge Trophies will now be presented at the 2024 Royal Three Counties Show.

Bluetongue control zones in Kent, Suffolk and Norfolk were lifted in February, but the decision was taken to offer the trophies to a Show in the west of the country as a precaution.

David Grint, CEO at RASE, shares the thinking behind the decision.

“The Burke Trophies attract higher numbers of cattle from a wider area to enter at the show where they are hosted, so moving the cattle trophies to be hosted in the west of the country is the appropriate decision given the recent history of bluetongue cases in the east,” he said.

The Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association will still be hosting the machinery Burke Trophy this year and will host all three trophies together in 2025.

“We thank the respective teams at both The Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association and the Three Counties Agricultural Society for their support in this timely decision, which is enabling the cattle Burke Trophies to be awarded this year without residual concerns around animal health and biosecurity.”

Mark Nicholas, Managing Director of The Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association says “We are delighted that the Burke Machinery Trophy will be awarded at this year’s Royal Norfolk Show. The RNAA and the Norfolk Farm Machinery Club (NORMAC) – a leading innovator in farm machinery solutions – are working to ensure a strong field of outstanding new innovations from manufacturers.

“It will be a great privilege to then reunite all three Burke Trophies and host them at the Royal Norfolk Show in 2025, reflecting the RNAA’s longstanding commitment to innovation and excellence and the importance we place on livestock at the heart of the Show.”

David Prescott, Chief Executive of the Three Counties Agricultural Society, says “Everyone at the Three Counties recognises the prestige attached to the Burke Livestock Trophies and so we are all exceptionally pleased that RASE have asked us to support them and our friends at Royal Norfolk in offering an alternative venue for this year’s presentation.

“The Royal Three Counties Show is hosting a record 17 National Breed Society Shows this year along with the largest gathering of rare and minority breeds in the country. The presentation of the two cattle Burke Perpetual Challenge Trophies will be the jewel in the crown to our three days of outstanding livestock showing and we are delighted to be able to host them.”

6000 visitors attend CountryTastic at Three Counties Showground

CountryTastic, the region’s favourite children’s countryside celebration, welcomed 6000 visitors to Three Counties Showground, Malvern on Thursday 28 March.

The much-loved kids day out, which takes place on the Thursday before Easter every year, is a fundraising event for Three Counties Agricultural Society. The charity event gave younger visitors the chance to learn about the countryside through meeting animals and exploratory play.

CountryTastic opened its gates for 6000 adults and children to get up close and personal with over 100 animals, including pigs, cows, alpacas, shire horses, goats, donkeys and rabbits, with dedicated handlers happy to speak to the crowds all about their different breeds.

Families were not deterred by the weather and popular on the day were the “unicorn rides” by Pampered Ponies, tractor and trailer rides, and dray rides. The Potato Dig saw lots of younger visitors using spades to dig in the earth for potatoes, find out all about different types of potatoes, and win prizes.

Organizers Three Counties filled three large barns with indoor activities. Children got stuck in to arts and crafts activities, tried out new sports skills, and posed for photos on tractors. Upon entering the “Play Barn”, visitors could discover a bouncy tractor slide, exotic animal shows and sing-and-dance extravaganza Monkeys in Motion.

Jane Edwards, Head of Shows at Three Counties, said, “We were delighted the weather didn’t dampen the spirits of our visitors at CountryTastic this year. Our team ensured additional indoor seating was available in our brand-new building Kildare Hall, in addition to a whole host of indoor activities for children to explore. We hope all the families we welcomed on the day had a brilliant day out, and we can’t wait to have them back to Royal Three Counties Show (14-16 June) for more family fun in the summer.”

Three Counties announces Howden as headline sponsor for Royal Three Counties Show 2024

Howden will sponsor Royal Three Counties Show (14-16 June 2024), the region’s biggest celebration of farming and food.

Pictured L-R Ryan Lane (Malvern Branch Manager, Howden Insurance), Ashley Sellers (Business Development Executive, Howden Insurance), Jessica Frater (Commercial Insurance Account Executive, Howden Insurance), Lindsey Craddock (Three Counties, County Director for Worcestershire), Jane Edwards (Head of Shows, Three Counties) and David Prescott (Chief Executive, Three Counties)

Three Counties has today announced a new headline sponsor for its flagship agricultural event, Royal Three Counties Show. Howden, the global insurance group with over 100 branches on high street across the UK, will sponsor the show, which celebrates the very best of farming and food from Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Gloucestershire with three days of hearty family fun each Summer at Three Counties Showground, Malvern.

Royal Three Counties Show showcases top quality livestock, with over 6000 animals attending the event in 2024. The event also champions the region’s best food and drink, with over 60 artisan producers across the site in the Food and Drink Festival and Artisan Food and Drink Market.

Howden supports the rural community with over 100 insurance products and services. As well as partnering with the show, Howden will also enjoy Main Arena naming rights. The Main Arena offers a vast array of thrilling entertainment across the three days, including Showjumping, Carriage Driving, motorcycle stunt display team The Bolddog Lings, jaw-dropping parachute displays from the Red Devils Parachute Regiment and the Grand Parade of Livestock where each winning animal takes a “victory lap” with their handler around the ring creating an unforgettable spectacle.

Esther Kane, Howden Head of Rural, said “We are delighted to be partnering with the Royal Three Counties Show, as headline sponsor in 2024. The Show has long been a stand out event within the farming calendar, and we are delighted to be associated with it. At Howden we’re all about the quality of service we provide for our clients, and with a near 30 year legacy of serving the rural community via insurance from a farming, estate, equine and private client perspective, we look forward to our conversations with visitors to this year’s show. We also have a 100 strong network of local branches, and the team from our Malvern branch will also be on hand to offer their specialist local knowledge.”

Royal Three Counties Show is a calendar highlight for the farming community each year, supporting and providing a platform for regional farmers, growers and producers whilst raising awareness of the importance of British agriculture.

Three Counties Chief Executive, David Prescott, commented “Three Counties is delighted to welcome Howden as the headline sponsor for Royal Three Counties Show 2024. This exciting partnership will help us to once again deliver the region’s largest celebration of food and farming to our visitors, featuring the very best livestock, food and drink and family entertainment, and will provide Howden with brand exposure to over 90,000 visitors across our three-day agricultural show, as well as sharing our new partnership in the lead up to the event.”

Tickets are on sale now for Royal Three Counties Show, which takes place on 14-16 June 2024 at Three Counties Showground, Malvern.

Three Counties welcomes Groups for 2024 events

Coach companies or group organisers can enjoy savings of up to £9 per ticket* for groups of 8+ people

Three Counties has announced tickets are on sale for its 2024 events programme and is welcoming group bookings. Group organisers, tours and coach companies can now book for larger parties of visitors, with considerable savings, through The Ticket Factory – the showground’s ticketing partner for RHS Malvern Spring Festival, Royal Three Counties Show and Malvern Autumn Show.

Special-Interest Group Days Out

The iconic RHS Malvern Spring Festival, 9-12 May 2024, is a true celebration of all things gardening. As the opening RHS Flower Show of the season, it sets the tone for horticultural excellence and is bursting with inspiration for gardeners. With an ever-evolving array of themed areas each year, there’s a world of new discoveries awaiting garden enthusiasts with floral displays, stunning show gardens, expert nurseries and a jam-packed RHS Floral Marquee. Visitors can also gain inspiration from the roster of celebrity favourites giving informative demonstrations and talks on a variety of topics.

Find out more at www.rhsmalvern.co.uk

Committed to celebrating the best of farming, food and family fun, The Royal Three Counties Show, 14 -16 June 2024, provides the chance to immerse yourself in the countryside and rural life.  Watch exciting live performances in the Main Arena, encounter over 6,000 animals and learn all there is to know about livestock from their dedicated handlers, experience a world of flavours in the Food and Drink Festival, and listen to talks from renowned figures from the farming and culinary worlds with a lineup of celebrity guests.

Find out more at www.royalthreecounties.co.uk

Malvern Autumn Show, 27-29 September 2024, is dedicated to honouring the essence of autumn and is bursting with harvest fun. Here you can witness Guinness-World-Record-breaking produce at the CANNA UK National Giant Vegetables Championship, gain inspiration for seasonal planting in the prestigious RHS Flower Show, meet animals and their handlers in the World of Animals zone, and see talks by BBC Gardeners World presenters, experts, and much more in the Garden Theatre.

Find out more www.malvernautumn.co.uk

Facilities for Groups

Ample free coach parking is available and all coach drivers will be provided with a free ticket for access to the show. The Showground has upgraded its facilities to include a Mobiloo, and each event is accessible via flat, tarmac walkways. Each event offers a bookable restaurant with sittings throughout each day, alongside plenty of food and drink outlets catering for every taste and ample seating around the site for a bring-your-own picnic.

Information for Group Bookings at Three Counties

For Coach Touring Companies, Coach Operators, special-interest Societies, or Members Groups, more information on how to book group event tickets can be found at https://www.threecounties.co.uk/visitor-guide/groups/

Groups of 8+ people can save up to £9 per ticket* by booking in advance through The Ticket Factory

To book and take advantage of the saving, call our dedicated Groups booking line, hosted by The Ticket Factory, on 0800 358 0058 or email groups@theticketfactory.com

*Based on a comparison of gate tickets to advance group ticket prices. Prices vary per show and per show day. Prices are 2024. Group savings only available in advance.

Four unmissable days out at Three Counties Showground in 2024

Tickets are on sale for four fantastic events taking place at Three Counties Showground, Malvern, plus a brand-new membership offer available for 2024.

CountryTastic – 28 March, 2024 – The region’s most popular children’s event takes place each Easter and promises a fun-filled day of indoor and outdoor activities where kids can learn all about farming and the countryside through exploratory play, meet farmyard animals, enjoy tractor rides, and explore arts, crafts, nature and sports. The event’s theme for 2024 is “Farming Heroes”. As this event sells out every year, tickets are limited and only available in advance.

RHS Malvern Spring Festival – 9-12 May 2024 – This spectacular Festival wows gardening lovers with the very best plants and flowers, interesting talks and demos from BBC Gardeners World celebrities, expert growers and chefs, and immersive food and drink experiences. Visitors can see the first Show Gardens of the year at RHS Malvern, with a full offering of spectacular gardens showcasing new and emerging talent, inspirational in planting, design and scale. This year’s event theme is “Gardening For Change” and will include a whole host of imaginative features that promote planet-friendly gardening, community projects and the positive change visitors can make through a love of gardening.

Royal Three Counties Show – 14-16 June 2024 – The annual celebration of food and farming is back for 2024 with 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.

Malvern Autumn Show – 27-29 September 2024 – The UK’s biggest harvest festival takes place each September at Three Counties Showground, bringing together the very best of the autumn season. Don’t miss the CANNA UK Giant Vegetables Championship, the prestigious RHS Flower Show where BBC Gardeners World presenters in the Garden Theatre, one of the country’s biggest Grow to Show competitions, outdoor and countryside shopping arcades and bags of family fun and entertainment.

By buying a ticket for a Three Counties event, visitors are helping to support Three Counties’ charitable objectives to promote agriculture and horticulture through its events programme and educational endeavors.

New Membership Offer

Three Counties has created an exciting new membership offer where, for just £75 per year or £25 per year if under 25 yrs, members can enjoy unlimited access to RHS Malvern Spring Festival, Royal Three Counties Show and Malvern Autumn Show – a potential saving of £223 per year. Three Counties members also benefit from friends and family discounts on tickets, enjoy use of the members areas at shows, and much more.

Take a look to find out more and buy tickets –

NEW 2024 membership programme – https://www.threecounties.co.uk/membership/

CountryTastic – https://www.countrytastic.co.uk/

RHS Malvern Spring Festival – https://www.rhsmalvern.co.uk/

Royal Three Counties Show – https://www.royalthreecounties.co.uk/

Malvern Autumn Show – https://www.malvernautumn.co.uk/

A spectacular showcase of large legumes, dazzling dahlias and fantastic florals at the UK’s biggest harvest celebration this September

Three Counties Showground in Malvern is set to transform into a blaze of autumnal colour when the Malvern Autumn Show returns from 22 – 24 September 2023. With an outstanding reputation as the UK’s biggest harvest season celebration, this year’s Show will not disappoint.

One of the defining features of the Malvern Autumn Show is the spectacular CANNA UK Giant Vegetables Championships, which is set to return again this year with more astounding oversized fruit, vegetables and legumes. Eleven new Guinness World Records were set at last year’s Show, including the heaviest aubergine (3.362kg by Peter Glazebrook from Nottinghamshire) and the longest leek (1.432m by Derek Hulme from Stoke-on-Trent). Once again, expert growers will battle it out at this year’s show in this globally recognised competition.

Drawing the esteemed RHS Flower Show season to a close for another year, the RHS Flower Show at the Malvern Autumn Show promises an abundant display of autumnal colour for visitors to enjoy. This year, a bumper selection of over 40 of the UK’s leading and RHS medal-winning nurseries will proudly display the fruits of their labour, whilst competing for recognition from the eager eyes of the RHS judges. The Floral Marquee will be filled to the brim with top quality plants, flowers and bulbs to admire or purchase. Expert growers will be on hand to offer inspiration and advice for planting your own seasonal colour at home.

The Plant and Bulb Markets will offer a wide range of excellent spring flowering bulbs to plant ahead, ready to enjoy next year, as well as rich Autumn perennials to bring instant colour to outdoor spaces, plus an interesting variety of shrubs and trees. The free Plant Creche service will be a handy place to leave purchases while exploring the rest of the show, and the free Porter Service will transport plants, flowers and trees back to the car without visitors even breaking a sweat.

New to this year’s show, Organic Gardener from Sidmouth, Devon, will feature in the Plant and Bulb Markets offering a selection of organic, eco-friendly plants, bulbs and seeds to purchase – all grown without the use of pesticides in an environmentally-conscious way.

Marit Bakker, from Organic Gardener, explains: “Conventional flower growing heavily relies on pesticides, chemical fertilizers and heating. Unbeknownst to most consumers, these practices have significant negative impacts on nature.

“Organic flower bulbs adhere to natural principles and practices instead. They are grown without the use of harmful pesticides, relying on natural fertilizers. The positive effects are far-reaching; benefiting pollinators and encouraging biodiversity, as well as contributing to soil health.

“By choosing organic plants and bulbs, you create a safe sanctuary for pollinators and wildlife visiting your garden, ensuring an environmentally friendly space.”

Jurassic Plants, a specialist nursery in Denbighshire, north-east Wales, will feature in this year’s Floral Marquee. Combining their passion for plants with horticultural research and a scientific background, husband and wife Dr Zoltan Hamori (PhD) and Magdolna Hamori-Kovacs (BSc) and their team have carefully cultivated over 600 different species of rare and exotic plants suitable for all sizes of garden. Visitors to the Jurassic Plants stand at the Malvern Autumn Show will be able to browse a fascinating selection of unusual and rare plants that can add vibrancy, uniqueness, flavour and ornamental value to any outdoor space.

Anna Johnson from Jurassic Plants said: Our highlight this year is our extensive Sechuan Pepper (Zanthoxylum) collection, also our personal favourite. It has given us so much enjoyment over the years, we decided to extend our range to six different species. Each with their own unique peppery flavour, pleasant lemony scent, and level of heat and spice. It gives us great pleasure picking the fresh, young, citrusy leaves and vibrant Sechuan peppercorn straight from our garden, adding fabulous flavours to Japanese and Chinese dishes.

“Another popular highlight includes our delicious fig varieties, pomegranates (some are seedless), mini kiwis and many South American superfruits from the Myrtus Family (Luma, Blepharocalyx, Myrceugenia, Ugni).

“We are also offering selected frost tolerant citrus species, like the Japanese Bitter Orange (Citrus trifoliata) which is fully hardy and fruits in the garden when established; or the Yuzu (Citrus junos) which is a culinary delicacy and the Sweet Lemon (Citrus limetta), both hardy to – 8C when established and can be grown in pots on the patio.”

This year’s Malvern Autumn Show will also feature a huge Harvest Pavilion, in which visitors can admire over 175 different Grow to Show classes, where talented growers proudly present the very best produce grown in their own garden or allotment spaces, including fruit, vegetables, cut flowers and succulents. The Harvest Pavilion also plays host to National Plant Societies who are keen to share their passion and gives tips and advice on growing the perfect specimen. This year, a remarkable 10ft pyramid of beautiful fuchsias will stand proudly in the Pavilion to mark the 85th birthday of the British National Fuchsia Society, with society members on hand to offer their expert advice on caring for these dainty little flowers.

Once again, a stellar line-up of green-fingered special guests will feature across the Malvern Autumn Show’s two gardening focused theatres. BBC Gardeners’ World presenters and horticultural experts, Adam Frost and Arit Anderson will be giving talks in the Garden Theatre, along with other gardening gurus, while in the Potting Shed Theatre, hosted by gardening consultant, Martin Fish, some of the UK’s top growers, nurseries and specialist plant societies will give visitors the chance to pick up plenty of helpful advice on growing, plant care, and maintaining your own green spaces.

All this, plus a delectable food and drink offering from some of the finest local and artisan producers, special guest chef demos in the Kitchen Theatre and plenty of family fun, makes the Malvern Autumn Show an unmissable day out this September.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/

The Insider’s Guide to a jam-packed day out at Three Counties Food & Drink Festival

Get ready to tempt your taste buds and celebrate the vibrant local foodie scene, as the fabulous new Three Counties Food and Drink Festival makes its debut at Three Counties Showground, Malvern, on Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th July.

With an impressive line-up of artisan producers and fun attractions, alongside celebrity chefs, demonstrations, workshops and live entertainment, this exciting event promises to be a feast for all the senses and a super summer day out.

Here are six tasty reasons why you should mark your calendars and head to Malvern at the end of the month, where we can guarantee that you certainly won’t go home hungry!

  1. Gain inspiration from celebrity guests

Prepare to see some great household names from the world of food, who will each take to the stage across the weekend to host demonstrations in the festival’s 500 seat Cookery Theatre. The line-up includes renowned TV chefs Rosemary Shrager, Jean Christophe Novelli and Matt Pritchard aka Dirty Vegan as well as Saturday Kitchen presenter Matt Tebbutt, Great British Bake Off winner and Strictly Come Dancing finalist John Whaite and 2022 MasterChef finalist Pookie. Eat Well For Less? presenter Chris Bavin, will host the Cookery Theatre across the whole weekend.

The Cookery Theatre is free and accessible to all ticketholders.

To see the full Celebrity schedule across the weekend, please visit https://www.threecountiesfoodfestival.com/celeb-chef-cookery-theatre/

  1. Expand your knowledge and refine your palate.

Along with the celebrity guests, there will be plenty of opportunities for festival visitors to get hands on in a range of expert led interactive sessions. The festival has announced an exciting range of drinks workshops, including Coffee Tasting with Black Mountain Roast (10:45am daily), Spirit Tasting with Black Mountain Botanicals (1:30pm) and Disco Divas Cocktail Classes (3pm). Woodthorpe Wines will also be hosting wine tasting sessions with a certified Sommelier at 12pm each day.

Places for these exclusive sessions are strictly limited, and it is advisable to book online in advance to guarantee availability.

Tickets can be secured in advance at https://www.threecountiesfoodfestival.com/whats-on/

  1. Enjoy a treasure trove of local flavours.

Immerse yourself in a world of local flavours as Three Counties Food and Drink Festival prepares to showcase over 150 traders from across Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire and beyond. From artisan cheeses and delectable pastries to freshly brewed craft beers, delicious sweet treats, boutique distillers and independent smokeries to unique homeware gifts, designer crafts and outdoor and garden exhibitors, there is something for everyone to enjoy and what’s more, you’ll be supporting lots of local businesses.

Don’t miss the massive selection of award-winning street food, bars and cocktails on offer, with flavours from around the world.

Confirmed traders include lots of well-known favourites with The Beefy Boys, Divine Donuts, Severn & Wye Smokery, and many more. 

To see a full line up of who’ll be there, please head to https://www.threecountiesfoodfestival.com/a-z-list-of-traders/

  1. Get the little ones involved

Three Counties Food and Drink Festival has plenty of activities and entertainment for younger visitors. For those aged 6 – 15, the Children’s Cookery School is sure to ignite a passion for food and cooking, with hands-on workshops hosted by talented tutors, young ones can learn how to make kitchen staples such as butter, cheese, ice cream and pasta.

Sessions cost just £4 per child and must be booked at the Cookery School on the day, on a first-come first-served basis.

Fun children’s activities include free arts and crafts sessions with Artventurers, along with a Circus School. Face painting, archery and fairground rides will also be available.

  1. Enjoy the festival spirit with live music

No festival is complete without live music, and Three Counties Food and Drink Festival is no exception. The festival experience never truly begins until you sit down with tasty food and a cold beverage. Guests can soak up the atmosphere in the Street Food Area with bars, cocktails, chilled and hot drinks too with a mix of acoustic musicians such as Jules Benjamin and Jasper Malone, while Si Ellis will offer chilled DJ sets as audiences relax and enjoy their delicious food and drink finds.

To discover the full musical line up, please head to https://www.threecountiesfoodfestival.com/live-music/

  1. Level up your grill skills

Summer is officially the season of backyard celebrations, and nothing can beat the sights and smells of live fire cooking. Therefore, BBQ enthusiasts won’t want to miss the chance to gain some inspiration from Savage BBQ. These talented pitmasters will impress with their Fire BBQ artistry as they host live Fire Cage Cooking demonstrations, with dishes such as Korean-style pulled pork and vegetable fritters.

What are you waiting for? Don’t miss this fantastic local addition to the festival calendar, and secure your place to taste and tipple your way around the Three Counties by booking your Advance tickets online today https://www.threecountiesfoodfestival.com

Advance tickets can be purchased at the discounted price of just £12.00 per adult and £8.00 per child (aged 6-16), with a family ticket costing £35.00 (2 adults and 2 children). Entrance for children aged 5 and under is FREE and everyone can enjoy FREE Parking and well-behaved dogs are also FREE.

A limited number of tickets will also be available to buy on arrival at the Three Counties Showground across the weekend on a first come, first served basis.

Discover the exciting array of activities at Three Counties Food and Drink Festival

There’s plenty of family fun on offer to delight visitors of all ages at the Midlands’ newest food and drink festival, which takes place at Three Counties Showground, Malvern, next month.

The Three Counties Food and Drink Festival has already announced its sensational line up of celebrity guests taking to its 500-seat Cookery Theatre on Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th July, including renowned TV Chef Rosemary Shrager, The Great British Bake Off winner and Strictly Come Dancing fan favourite John Whaite, and Saturday Kitchen host Matt Tebbutt, amongst many others. Visitors can pop into these free demonstrations throughout the day and gain inspiration and top tips.

At the heart of the festival is a fantastic selection of over 150 local food and drink traders, including many award-winners. From delectable street food to tantalising cocktails, sweet treats and hot drinks, visitors to the Three Counties Food and Drink Festival will have the opportunity to savour the finest offerings from across the region and beyond. To compliment the culinary delights, local makers will showcase their crafts, homewares and garden products, providing a great shopping experience.

Summer is officially the season of cooking al fresco, and nothing can beat the sights and smells of live fire cooking. BBQ enthusiasts will want to head straight to the Savage BBQ feature area, which will host Fire Cage cooking demonstrations and will offer attendees the chance to witness the art of open-fire cooking with delicious demonstration dishes including Korean-style pulled pork, and vegetable fritters. Prepare to be amazed!

The festival also has activities which cater specifically to young visitors such as the Children’s Cookery School. These fun-filled sessions take place six times each day allowing budding chefs aged 6 – 15 to participate in exciting workshops led by talented tutors, and make foods such as butter, cheese, ice cream and pasta. These sessions cost just £4 per child and allow them to take home their delicious creations. Parents will need to be quick, as these sessions are booked on a first come first served basis on the day.

Additional free sessions for children include an arts and crafts station hosted by Artventurers, along with a Circus School for those wanting to brush up on their juggling and balancing skills. The festival grounds will be buzzing with excitement and adventure with archery, face painting and fairground rides, ensuring there is something for the whole family.

“We are committed to providing something for everybody at Three Counties Food and Drink Festival, from the large range of activities and workshops for all ages to making sure that we cater for all dietary requirements. We have introduced a key system to our list of food and drink traders to ensure that visitors who require gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian, and vegan food can identify their favourite options clearly, and enjoy their visit.” said Bev Channell, Festival Organiser.

For visitors seeking a hands-on festival experience, the Three Counties Food and Drink Festival is offering them the chance to enhance their visit with immersive tasting sessions. Explore the world of coffee with Black Mountain Roast’s Coffee Tasting sessions, indulge in spirit tasting with Herefordshire-based Black Mountain Botanicals, or join the Disco Diva Cocktail Classes with Midsummer Nightcap for a lively mixology lesson. Wine enthusiasts can delight in Wine Tasting sessions presented by Woodthorpe Wines. Visitors can add these sessions to their Entry Ticket when booking in advance via the event website.

Tickets to the Three Counties Food and Drink Festival and its exclusive tasting sessions can be pre-booked via the website: https://www.threecountiesfoodfestival.com

Advance tickets start at just £12.00 per adult and £8.00 per child (aged 6-16), with a family ticket costing £35.00 (2 adults and 2 children). Children under 6 can attend the festival for free. Advance tickets also include FREE Parking.

Find out more here www.threecountiesfoodfestival.com

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.

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