Gardens

Show Gardens

The RHS judged Show Gardens, located at the heart of RHS Malvern Spring Festival are one of the most popular features with visitors. They showcase everything from award-winning planting ideas to the latest design trends.

RHS Malvern Spring Festival welcomes designers of all abilities and encourages creative freedom in garden design by giving an open brief. This means the gardens come in many shapes or forms and are based on different themes – classical, contemporary or conceptual. This results in a varied and eye-catching range of stunning gardens each year at the prestigious RHS event in Malvern.

Designers for the 2024 Festival can apply to design either a Show Garden or an Outdoor Living Space.

Awards

Along with RHS Gold, Silver-Gilt and Bronze Medals, there are three other prestigious awards that are presented to Show Garden designers at RHS Malvern Spring Festival. These are the Best Show Garden, the Best Construction Award and the People’s Choice Award.

Please see individual gardens at the bottom of the page for RHS Medal Awards.

Best Show Garden 2023

The Wildlife Trusts: Wilder Spaces

Best Construction Award 2023

The Wildlife Trusts: Wilder Spaces

Built by Oxford Garden Design

People’s Choice Award 2023

The Wildlife Trusts: Wilder Spaces

Built by Oxford Garden Design

Feature Gardens

There will also be a series of unmissable Feature Gardens at the Festival and although they’re not included in the formal judging process, they provide an immersive and interactive experience where visitors can pick up ideas to take home and are often both innovative and educational.

Permanent Gardens

There are a number of permanent gardens throughout the Three Counties Showground that visitors to the RHS Malvern Spring Festival can enjoy. Click here to find out more.

School Gardens

Creating a garden at the Show provides students with the amazing opportunity to design, grow, build and showcase a garden at an RHS Show. By participating, children and young people can gain invaluable hands-on experience with plants and horticulture, while developing an understanding of different growing practices and environmentally friendly gardening whilst being fully supported every step of the way, including from horticultural expert and former BBC Blue Peter gardener, Chris Collins.

What is the aim of the School Garden Challenge?

To promote gardening and horticulture to a range of children and young adults, by supporting the embedding of the School Gardens Challenge into their curriculum.

The School Garden Challenge is an opportunity for schools and home educators within the three counties of Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Gloucestershire.

What is the theme for 2024?

The theme for 2024 is ‘The Magic of Music: Choose a song or musical to bring to life in a garden to make your heart sing!’

You can be as creative as you like when designing your garden. You may decide to incorporate a tree, plant a living hedge, build a bug hotel…the possibilities are endless!

For the School Garden Challenge 2024 information pack click here and for the application form click here.

To be added to the mailing list for future years, please contact Jayne Unwin, Shows Education Executive.

Click here to find out more about last year’s entrants and click here for the 2023 results list.