Garden show in top 10 poll (From Malvern Gazette)

Garden show in top 10 poll

9:01am Friday 18th January 2013 in News

MALVERN Spring Gardening Show has beaten the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show in a poll among readers of Which? Gardening magazine.

Asked to compile a list of Britain’s top 10 horticultural events, 2,300 Which? members responded and gave the Malvern show an 80 per cent rating, which put it in fourth place, ahead of Tatton Park, BBC Gardeners’ World Live, Cardiff Show, and the Shrewsbury and Wisley flower shows.

The event’s “lovely location” on the Three Counties showground at the foot of the Malvern Hills was a major draw, but other merits included its variety of products for scale, access and good parking.

Refreshments scored higher than most other events too, and the wide choice of high quality plants at reasonable prices, the plant crèche and the porter service were also ranked highly.

Show manager Doreen Smillie said: “Together with our partners, the Royal Horticultural Society, we have worked extremely hard to improve this event over the years, to ensure that it retains its loyal supporters and attracts new enthusiasts too.”

The poll was topped by Harrogate Spring Flower Show with an 86 per cent rating.