RHS Malvern Spring Festival is proud to present its biggest ever Floral Marquee, boasting a spectacular display from the finest specialist nurseries across the country.
Measuring the equivalent length of almost four Olympic swimming pools at 190 metres, the Floral Marquee welcomes 69 leading growers setting the horticultural standard at the start of the season. Visitors can expect a Plant Hunter Parlour designed by BBC Gardeners’ World presenter Joe Swift, the RHS Master Grower exhibit featuring Fibrex Nurseries, 5 brand new nurseries and a host of new plant varieties as well as the chance to stock up on old favourites.
Head of RHS Malvern Spring Festival, Jane Furze said: “Visitors to the show often make a bee-line straight to the Floral Marquee. It’s a fantastic opportunity to marvel at the breathtaking displays that these specialist nurseries produce and it’s the very first opportunity for most to get their hands on the brand new varieties launched at the show. It’s a must-see for both veteran gardeners and floral enthusiasts alike and this year we’ve a little added extra. BBC Gardeners’ World presenter, Joe Swift is unveiling a unique centerpiece – the Plant Hunter Parlour. Complete with top journalist and broadcaster, Matthew Biggs staging an original one man show bringing to life the intrepid explorers of yesteryear. It will be something to behold.”
JOE SWIFT’S PLANT HUNTER PARLOUR
BBC Gardeners’ World presenter and acclaimed garden designer, Joe Swift has designed a unique centerpiece for the RHS Malvern Floral Marquee. Conceived as an immersive experience this central feature invites visitors to explore and discover the amazing world of plants with daily talks from award winning nurseries and gardening experts, including an original one man show by celebrated author, journalist and broadcaster, Matthew Biggs. Matthew will take on the personas of two of our most famous plant hunters, Ernest Wilson and George Forrest in an animated performance.
Horticulturalist, Joe Swift said: “RHS Malvern Spring Festival has been pioneering in its approach from the very beginning, always embracing new ideas and concepts. Having been a part of the leading event for many years, I have always felt an affinity with Malvern and this sparked my decision to design the Plant Hunter Parlour. The exhibit at the heart of the Floral Marquee will provide visitors with a truly immersive experience and I’m really looking forward to seeing visitors engage with the design. I’m proud to be a part of RHS Malvern Spring Festival as it continues to go from strength to strength.”
In keeping with the new vision for RHS Malvern Spring Festival, Joe’s Plant Hunter Parlour takes inspiration from the Victorian era when Malvern enjoyed fame as a fashionable spa resort. At that time, Victorian plant hunters were busy scouring the globe, risking life and limb, to bring new exotic discoveries back to the UK. Many of the ancestors of their original finds will be featured in Joe’s Plant Hunter Parlour.
MASTER GROWER
This new RHS initiative champions the longstanding nurseries of Floral Marquees and is introduced to RHS Malvern Spring Festival for the very first time in 2017. The Master Grower award recognises the growing methods and provenance of nurseries and acknowledges nurseries that grow plants using sound and skillful production methods.
The Master Grower award at RHS Malvern goes to Fibrex Nurseries, specialists in Pelargoniums, Hederas, hardy Ferns and Hellebores. Fibrex have exhibited at RHS Malvern Spring Festival from the very beginning – for over 30 years!
As the chosen Master Grower, Fibrex Nurseries’ display is a focal point of the RHS Malvern Spring Festival Floral Marquee. Fibrex are working in collaboration with the RHS to narrate the story of Fibrex and their journey to the show, taking visitors behind the scenes at the nursery and introducing the dedicated professionals that make the business possible.
NEW VARIETIES
Exciting new varieties will preview in the 2017 RHS Malvern Spring Festival Floral Marquee. These include:
- A new Aquilegia ‘Swan’ series in a range of colours grown especially for RHS Malvern Spring Festival by The Botanic Nursery.
- New varieties of Hostas from Brookfield Plants
- A new hydrangea by Cooks Garden Centre
- New varieties of Streptocarpus from Dibleys Nurseries
- Clematis ‘Reiko’ by Floyds Climbers and Clematis
- New varieties of Heuchera, Heucherella and Tiarella by Plantagogo
- Epimedium ‘Rhubarb & Custard’ by Straight Mile Nursery Gardens
Alongside veteran exhibitors, RHS Malvern Spring Festival will also welcome five newcomers to RHS Malvern to exhibit in the prestigious Floral Marquee for the very first time. These include:
- Summerdale Garden Nurseries of South Lakeland
- Acorn Trees and Shrubs
- The Tree Peony Company
- Palms Exotics
- Harkness Roses
RHS Malvern Spring Festival 2017 will take place from Thursday 11 May until Sunday 14 May. Tickets are now on sale. For more information and to book tickets, please call 01684 584924 or visit www.rhsmalvern.co.uk.