Spring sees the launch of the first major garden events of 2024, reports Ian Hodgson
Exciting times are ahead as this year’s show season gets under way from early May.
From May 3–5, the fourth BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair takes place in the grounds of Beaulieu, Hampshire, complete with new layout, new presenters, workshops and over 100 exhibitors offering plants and sundries.
Headline partner Hillier will stage a walk-through garden feature full of spring garden ideas and planting combinations, while a ‘Get Growing’ stage, hosted by broadcaster, author and award-winning podcaster, Ellen Mary, will offer an informal drop-in space celebrating home growing. Visitors can also get involved with the ‘Plant Expert Workshop’ offering a range of practical activities led by noted plant experts. Showcase gardens, a College Garden competition, and compact ‘Beautiful Borders’ will also offer inspiration via creative designs and imaginative planting. There will also be special guests over the weekend including Frances Tophill, Adam Frost, Sue Kent and Rachel de Thame.
The same weekend, on May 3–4, Toby’s Garden Festival will be held at Powderham Castle, near Exeter. Fronted by TV gardener Toby Buckland, the show, which is now registered carbon-neutral, has more than 20 nurseries among 150-plus exhibitors, with displays of local art and crafts. Toby, along with Rachel de Thame and Sue Kent are among the speakers.
There is also the RHS Spring Festival from May 9–12, at the Three Counties Showground in Malvern, Worcestershire. With the theme of ‘Gardening For Change’,it will be showcasing the life-changing, planet-saving and community-building impacts of gardening. Eight RHS-judged show gardens will reflect an eclectic mix of designs spanning traditional ideas to avant-garde concepts.
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