RHS Malvern Spring Festival, apioneering four-day horticultural extravaganza, will kick-start the RHS Floral Show season for 2025 when it returns to Three Counties Showground, Malvern from 8 – 11 May 2025. With a packed programme that includes a host of exciting new features, celebrity and special guests, the crowning of the very first RHS-judged gardens of the year, plus plenty of live entertainment, food, drink, shopping and family entertainment, here are seven of the top reasons to book your tickets before they sell out:
- A sensational seasonal showcase of 27 new and inspiring gardens
As the days get longer and the breeze gets warmer, what better way to celebrate the joyful season of spring than a day exploring the magnificent gardens on display at the very first RHS show of 2025? This year there are no less than 27 sensational gardens for visitors to explore.
This year’s RHS Malvern Spring Festival will feature eight spectacular RHS-judged Show Gardens from emerging and established garden designers. Highlights include RHS multi award-winning designer, Emily Crowley-Wroe’s garden, ‘The Maindee Unlimited: Greening Maindee Gateway Garden’, which will demonstrate how even the most unlikely of spaces can be revitalised to become greener and more welcoming to people and wildlife. ‘St Godwald’s Retreat’ by Marc Harbourne-Bessant and built by F.B & Sons, Lawns & Landscapes, is a space for reflection and mindful retreat, and will be moving to Primrose Hospice & Family Support Centre in Bromsgrove after the festival. Ancient crafting techniques and recycled materials will be used to reduce the carbon footprint of the garden, which seeks to transport us to a space removed from modern life.
An innovative and exciting new feature at this year’s RHS Malvern Spring Festival is the introduction of the very first RHS-judged Indoor Plant Gardens, recognising ways in which plants can bring beauty, joy and health benefits, even when outdoor green spaces are not available, and will provide perfect inspiration for those without outside space for growing. There will be eight creative Indoor Plant Gardens to explore within the dedicated Festival of Houseplants area, supported by Green Rooms Market, including ‘Neo Flora’ by Megan Warren-Davis of Forest Interior and John Tallis of Outdoor Living Gardens. This thought-provoking design seeks to highlight the rising levels of anxiety and depression amongst teenagers by creating an urban space that reflects this mental state, whilst the contrasting greenery of houseplants represents the teen’s newfound interest in the calming, positive and wellbeing influences of houseplants and the ways they can improve mental health. Dibleys Nurseries of Llanelidan in North Wales will show visitors that, whatever type of indoor space you have, you can bring nature in and enjoy the beauty and benefits of houseplants. This creative indoor plant garden aims to demonstrate that, with the right mix of colour and texture, a plain room can be transformed into a vibrant, energised environment.
Outside, two Feature Gardens will provide plenty of inspiration for outdoor spaces. ‘Hedgerow to Home’, designed by RHS gold medal winner Jamie Langlands, will show how plants that grow naturally in wild spaces can be incorporated into gardens, bringing beauty, benefiting wildlife and biodiversity and blending harmoniously with the local landscape. ‘Grain to Garden’, designed by Pershore-based TASK training Academy and its founder, landscaper Rupert Keys, and designer Cherry Carmen, will bring together plants and human experience, with a naturalistic garden surrounding three repurposed grain silos. These agricultural structures will be transformed to create immersive spaces: a lively bar, a disco and a tranquil retreat with a fire pit.
Don’t miss the School Gardens, a collection of creatively designed spaces by students from schools across Worcestershire, Gloucestershire and Herefordshire to the theme of their favourite city, country or place. Look out for gardens celebrating nearby Worcester, far-flung Peru, exotic Hawaii and tranquil Japan to name but a few.
- Inspiration, advice and shopping opportunities for indoor gardeners
After debuting in 2024, the Festival of Houseplants with Green Rooms Market will make a triumphant return to RHS Malvern Spring Festival, offering a treasure trove of inspiration, expert advice and abundant shopping opportunities for those with a fondness for houseplants or a desire to enjoy the benefits of horticulture without an outdoor green space.
Not only will visitors be able to explore the brand-new RHS-judged Indoor Plant Gardens, they can also enjoy workshops hosted by industry experts, vibrant botanical displays, engaging learning experiences and plenty of shopping opportunities.
Don’t miss the new indoor feature garden by Sarah Gerrard-Jones (aka The Plant Rescuer). This impressive 12 foot long, turquoise-framed, Victorian-style greenhouse will showcase extraordinary cacti and succulents in an immersive way.
- Shopping opportunities for gardens, windowsills, allotments and more
If browsing the 27 spectacular gardens on display at this year’s RHS Malvern Spring Festival has inspired you, there are an abundance of shopping opportunities where you can pick up unusual plants, spring bulbs and gardening equipment as well as homewares, gifts and delicious food and drink.
If plants are what you’re looking for, head to the impressive Floral Marquee, which hosts over 60 exemplary exhibitors all hoping to be awarded a coveted RHS medal. Visitors can buy plants directly from the expert nurseries, with helpful advice and planting tips from the expert exhibitors. From camellias to fuchsias, peonies to hostas, you’ll find it all at the Floral Marquee. Next on your list should be the Plant Village and Pavilions with even more horticultural hoard to browse and take home. If you’re visiting the show on Sunday, be sure to stop by for the infamous ‘Sell-Off Sunday’ for some end of show bargains! Surrounding the Plant Village, you’ll find stands selling everything from pots to planters, gardening tools to greenhouses.
Shopping at the show couldn’t be easier, with a free Plant Creche, conveniently located outside the Floral Marquee, which will take purchases off your hands while you enjoy the rest of the show. The free Porter Service will even help you carry your purchases when it’s time to go.
The Festival of Houseplantswith Green Rooms Market is where to go if you don’t have access to outdoor green space, but want to enjoy the many benefits of plants. There will be over 50 top-quality independent house plant shops, growers, and innovative botanical designer-makers, offering visitors access to premium and diverse products (including rare and exotic specimens). From sought-after specimen plants to beautiful pots, self-watering planters to grow lights, you’ll find it all here.
The Food & Drink Pavilion is the place to pick up delicious homemade, artisan and local specialty food and drink to enjoy at the Festival or to take home, while the Shopping Halls (home to the Boffy Arts Market) are the perfect place to pick up original prints, handmade jewellery, antiques and stunning homeware.
- Talks and demonstrations from expert horticulturalists and celebrity special guests
This year’s Festival Theatre will once again host a packed programme of lively talks, interactive demonstrations and expert advice from some of the most respected names in horticulture. Hosted by TV presenter and broadcaster, Nicki Chapman, expect to hear from gardening royalty, Alan Titchmarsh CBE, plus BBC’s Gardeners’ World presenters, broadcasters and writers, Rachel de Thame, Adam Frost and Frances Tophill.
The Kitchen Garden Theatre will make a sizzling return to RHS Malvern Spring Festival this year, offering visitors the chance to relax within an immersive kitchen garden while enjoying live cooking demos from talented chefs and excellent local food producers. Hosted by award-winning food and gardening writer, Mark Diacono, culinary icon, Raymond Blanc OBE, will take to the stage on Thursday, while the hugely talented, self-taught chef and regular face on ITV’s This Morning, Marcus Bean will share tasty tips on celebrating the season through food from Friday to Sunday.
The Potting Shed Theatre will host a range of green fingered specialists ready to share their gardening knowledge with visitors. Martin and Jill Fish will host this year, welcoming guests including Jon Wheatley (esteemed garden designer who has won numerous RHS gold medals), Chris Collins (Head of Horticulture at Garden Organic and former head gardener of Westminster Abbey), and Jonathan Moseley (one of the UK’s leading floral designers).
A brand-new Give it a Grow Theatre will host engaging talks to enhance gardening knowledge for both seasoned gardeners and those dipping their toe into the soil for the first time. Hosted by Leigh Johnstone (aka ‘The Beardy Gardener’ – award-winning garden designer, mental health campaigner, podcaster, writer and broadcaster), the Give it a Grow Theatre will welcome special guests including Adam Alexander (aka Seed Detective – award-winning film and TV producer who lectures on his work discovering, conserving and sharing rare and endangered gardening crops), Huw Richards (YouTube content creator and author of four plot to plate books), Anya Lutenbach (aka Anya The Garden Fairy – bestselling author and digital content creator), Sarah Gerrard-Jones (aka The Plant Rescuer – author and presenter on ITV’s Alan Titchmarsh’s Gardening Club) and Helen Cross (author, broadcaster and horticultural educator).
- New ‘Dog Day’ on Sunday 11th May at RHS Malvern Spring Festival
Another new feature at this year’s RHS Malvern Spring Festival is the introduction of a special ‘Dog Day’ on Sunday 11 May 2025. Well-behaved dogs on short, fixed leads are welcome to enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of the festival with their owners. A limited number of dog tickets are available to book online in advance via https://rhsmalvern.co.uk/
- Exclusive new VIP experiences
A host of new VIP experiences have been unveiled for this year’s RHS Malvern Spring Festival, including an exclusive preview of the Floral Marquee with horticultural expert Jon Wheatley, followed by breakfast (£112 per person), an early-access Exclusive Show Garden Tour ahead of public viewing, followed by breakfast (£112 per person) and a special VIP cream tea with BBC Gardeners’ World presenters Rachel de Thame (Friday 9th May) or Adam Frost (Saturday 10th May, both £134 per person) offering the chance to chat with these passionate and knowledgeable gardeners in a relaxed, more intimate, setting. Further details and advance booking can be found here: https://rhsmalvern.co.uk/whats-on/2025-vip-packages/
- Half-day tickets available for Saturday 10th May
After a successful introduction at last year’s Festival, the ‘Taster Ticket’ will return for 2025, offering visitors the chance to experience RHS Malvern Spring Festival from 2pm onwards on Saturday 10th May for just £16, and is ideal for those who would like to visit the show for the first time, families that want to enjoy a fun afternoon out, or anyone looking to do some dedicated plant shopping to liven up their own indoor or outdoor spaces. Taster Tickets are limited and can be booked here: https://threecounties.co.uk/buy-tickets/
For full programme details, information about this year’s RHS Malvern Spring Festival or to book tickets (which start from just £16, and under 16s are free), go to https://rhsmalvern.co.uk/
Photo credit Mikal Ludlow
Source Rachel Thompson, Encore PR
