Gardening experts ready to share their tips and tricks at stunning spring flower show
AMYRIAD national names and local luminaries are set to share their knowledge and expertise at the Cornwall Garden Society’s (CGS) 2024 Spring Flower Show next month.
Sponsored by Cornish Lithium and the Goonvean Group, the twoday celebration of Cornwall’s early spring is a highlight of the horticultural year and takes place at the Royal Cornwall Showground, near Wadebridge, over the weekend of April 6 and 7.
Award-winning garden designer and TV presenter Manoj Malde will be opening the and treating showgoers to a talk about his new book, Your Outdoor Room: How To Design A Garden You Can Live In.
A presenter of the BBC’s Your Garden Made Perfect and Channel 4’s Garden Of The Year, Manoj attributes his love of colour to his Indian ancestry as well as to his 18-year career in the fashion industry.
As a former creative director, with a master’s degree in fashion design from the Royal College of Art, he combines textures and colours within planting schemes. In his words: “I’ve gone from haute couture to ‘hort’ couture.”
Manoj, who is also a Royal Horticultural
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We are thrilled to be welcoming Manoj Malde and an eclectic selection of writers, designers, photographers and horticulturists
Show director Mark Holman
Society (RHS) show judge, RHS ambassador and RHS Chelsea Flower Show medallist, will open the show at 10am on Saturday, April 6, and his book talk about how to create your very own outdoor haven – without the need for green fingers or hard work – will take place at 3pm on the same day.
He will be joined by a host of wellknown names as part of Tipi Talks, which are supported by the Cornwall Community Foundation and have been initiated by the new show director Mark Holman and programmed by Alasdair Moore, head of gardens and estate at the Lost Gardens of Heligan.
Award-winning former BBC presenter, journalist and author Tim Hubbard will reveal the 20 stunning but lesser-known locations featured in his latest book, Secret Gardens of Cornwall.
Kim Parish, from Landscapes of Distinction, who in 2021, 2022 and 2023 received silver gilt, gold and the People’s Choice awards at BBC Gardeners’ World Live for her creations, will share her expertise in a talk call “Garden design in a nutshell”.
Henrietta Courtauld, from the Land Gardeners, whose declared aim is “to create gardens that brim with biodiversity, founded on healthy soil”, will discuss their new book, The Land Gardeners: Soil to Table, exploring the link between soil health and the food we eat.
Garden and botanical photographer Howard Sooley, whose Idle River account on Instagram beguiles his followers with the beauty found in everyday nature, was a close friend of the late filmmaker Derek Jarman. They collaborated on the creation of Derek’s garden-paradise at Prospect Cottage in Dungeness, in a desolate expanse of shingle facing a nuclear power station, and Howard’s evocative photography illustrates Derek Jarman’s Garden, the book which records his creation.
Meanwhile Mike Nelhams, curator at large of Tresco Abbey Garden, will take visitors on a virtual tour of this lush sub-tropical gem on the Isles of Scilly.
Mr Holman said: “We are thrilled to be welcoming Manoj Malde and an eclectic selection of writers, designers, photographers and horticulturists to share their wisdom and experience in our tipi, provided by the Cornish Tent Company, which will be warmed by fire pits and offer elegant luxury with its comfortable seating, sheepskin rugs, the twinkle of fairy lights, Tregothnan teas and delicious cakes.
“The Falmouth Bookseller’s popup book shop will also offer a specially curated selection of gardenrelated publications and author signings throughout the event, which is another added attraction for this year.”
Expert tips and tricks of the trade will be shared through practical demonstrations and Gardeners’ Questions with Amelia Lake (Real Food Garden), Nicola Bradley (the Lost Gardens of Heligan), Duana Pearson (Tresillian House) and Kim Parish (Landscapes of Distinction) at 2pm on Saturday.
Henrietta Courtauld, Mike Nelhams, lecturer, presenter and landscaper George Kestell, camellia specialist Jim Stephens and Simon Miles of the Forest Garden will be appearing from 1.45pm on Sunday.
“In our new Grow Your Own space, Heligan gardeners will also be ready and waiting to answer your questions on anything horticultural,” Mr Holman said, “and we can’t wait to invite thousands of showgoers to walk through our immersive Cornish garden, which will showcase the incredible skills of CREST, the Cornwall Rural Education and Skills Trust, who have created a Cornish hedge especially for us, and indigenous plant perfection provided by Bodmin, Burncoose, Hardy Exotics and Trevena Cross nurseries.
“With 130-plus growers and garden traders, breathtakingly beautiful blooms and floral art in the competitive classes and an artisan area highlighting contemporary Cornish crafts, there truly is something for everyone.”
Tickets are £10 in advance or £12 on the gate (card payments preferred) and free for under-16s. To book, visit www.cornwallgardensociety.org.uk/spring-flower-show/ show-tickets.
Well-behaved dogs on short leads are welcome.