A star-studded line-up of gardening and food heroes have today been unveiled as guest experts at this year’s RHS Malvern Spring Festival, in association with Great Little Breaks.
They include green-fingered DJ Jo Whiley, confirmed as a first time guest at the festival in the week she launched her new BBC Radio 2 show.
She will be talking openly about her love of gardening and music during the festival at the Three Counties Showground.
Gardeners’ World favourite Monty Don will be returning to the event together with some of his famous co-presenters from the hit BBC show including Joe Swift and plantswoman par-excellence Carol Klein.
Monty, always a hit with the crowds at Malvern, has described the event as his “local show” branding the setting as the most beautiful part of the country.
Cooking up a storm will be Masterchef host John Torode and Raymond Blanc will be returning to talk about his passion for cooking and gardening.
Other well-known faces include TV presenter Chris Beardshaw, The Big Allotment Challenge’s Jonathan Moseley and leading plantswoman and author Sarah Raven.
The fresh young face of gardening Frances Tophill is an exciting new addition to the show this year as she creates a stir in the world of horticulture.
Diana Walton, Head of Shows, said they were delighted to be able to announce such a stellar collection of experts who will be giving talks, meeting visitors and also enjoying the event themselves.
“The RHS Malvern Spring Festival is a hugely popular event on the gardening calendar having a particularly engaging character all of its own,” she added.
“We are thrilled that it attracts the big names and that this list reflects those popular regulars that love being at Malvern and the new faces that everyone is eager to get to see and meet.”
The RHS Malvern Spring Festival, sponsored by UK short breaks experts Great Little Breaks, runs from May 9-12 with top show garden designers, award-winning exhibitors and world-class nurseries already lined up to take part.
It celebrates the finest in both gardening and food with shopping also offered in abundance across leading lifestyle brands.
The team at Three Counties has worked tirelessly over recent years to vastly improve the historic showground creating one of the most enviable and permanent show settings in the UK.
Seen by many as the official start of spring, the festival attracts more than 100,000 people annually. Visitors flock to see its inspirational show gardens and beautiful Floral Marquee, get top tips from the experts and enjoy the best food and drink that Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire has to offer.
Advance tickets now on sale, with prices starting at just £19 for RHS and Three Counties members, or £21 for the general public. Children under 16 go free. Group tickets are also available.