RHS Malvern Spring Festival
9 May 2024 – 12 May 2024 –
Permanent Gardens
Alchemy Garden
Alchemy Garden includes a blend of hard landscaping and architectural elements; including an Italian inspired colonnade, Gothic ruin, and Celtic stonework. Atmospheric planting adds to the sense of wilderness as ferns, nettles and Campions thrive under the canopy of mature trees. The alfresco dining area complete with pizza oven, BBQ and all the necessities of an outdoor kitchen, with a roof, summer feasts can be enjoyed rain or shine!
Caves Folly Nurseries
This garden was constructed for the 1993 Show, and has sustainability and organic practice at the heart of it’s design reflects Caves Folly Nurseries.
Caves Folly Nurseries have attended every Malvern Show since the inaugural Show of 1986.
Caves Folly Nurseries celebrate 45 years in business at this years’ Show, and were one of the first Organic Nurseries in Europe to be licenced by the Soil Association, and have been producing plants in peat free compost for over 35 years.
The materials for the hard landscaping areas, such as the paths Permanent Gardens and stone edging, are reclaimed. Although the garden is modest in size it incorporates a surprising number of features including a summer house, small pond and alpine bed. The planting provides colour and interest throughout the seasons.
In addition to the permanent garden, Caves Folly Nurseries have constructed Show gardens and organised some innovative and pioneering stands at the Malvern Spring Show, including an Eco Art & Garden Section and an Organic Gardening area.
Proprietors Bridget Evans and Wil Leaper say it has been a pleasure to work with the TCAS & RHS over the years at Malvern and they look forward to celebrating with visitors at this year’s RHS Malvern Spring Festival.
The Stone Bottle Fountain
Sculpted by Darren Bennett, the stone bottle fountain is a central feature of this garden. It was originally located outside the Malvern Water bottling factory at Colwall. When the factory closed in 2010, the fountain was removed by the Friends of Malvern Springs and Wells in conjunction with Coca-Cola, and has now found a permanent home at the Three Counties Showground. The garden around the fountain has been designed by Paul Taylor of Alchemy Gardens.
Platinum Jubilee Garden
Designed by Jess Russell-Perry and Three Counties’ Apprentices, the Platinum Jubilee Garden is a new permanent feature garden at the Showground and was created to celebrate the historic reign of Her Majesty The Queen.
The garden sits on the site of the old Wellbeing Garden and is filled with Queen Elizabeth II’s favourite plants and shrubs, as well as plants named after her.
RHS Malvern worked closely with the Three Counties’ Estates Team to create this garden and in doing so supported the further development of two apprentices, Kierran Phelps and Theo Clifford, who are students at Pershore College.
The Three Counties Showground team ran a competition to design and make the metal gates which mark the entrance to the garden.
Treehouse Garden
Facing Malvern’s much loved backdrop of the Hills, this Victorian-style stumpery garden takes its inspiration from the Hills themselves and the town’s Victorian Spa history. The treehouse with its octagonal shape is reminiscent of St Ann’s Well, a popular spot for ‘taking the waters’ in the wooded valley which ascend the hills. The garden was designed and created by Worcestershire born Mark Everleigh who lives and works around the Malvern Hills. For more information contact Mark Everleigh.
Memories of Service Garden (Supporting the RAF100 Appeal)
Celebrating the centenary of the formation of the Royal Air Force in 1918 and commemorating the ending of World War I, this garden was designed from RHS Malvern Spring Festival 2018 by Wilson Associates Garden Design. This geometric garden, enclosed by tall hedging, has elliptical pathways extending into the centre of the garden from the gates at each corner. These pathways cross at the central seating area and in doing so form a shape reminiscent of aircraft propellers. Sculptural steel panels and herbaceous planting in red, white and blue represent the heritage of the RAF.