Thousands flock to Flower Show for a festival of springtime like no other

Thousands of gardening enthusiasts flocked to the Cornwall Garden Society’s 2025 Spring Flower Show over the weekend for a festival of springtime like no other, complemented by spectacular sunshine and brilliant blue skies.

Staged at The Royal Cornwall Showground near Wadebridge, visitors, exhibitors, traders and organisers praised the event’s happy atmosphere, wealth of growers’ know-how and glorious gardening inspiration, with a record number of visitors attending.

Sponsored by Cornish Lithium, St Austell Brewery and St Eval, and supported by the Cornwall Community Foundation, this uniquely Cornish celebration of spring welcomed horticultural experts and enthusiasts, friends and families from across Cornwall, Devon and beyond.

The Exhibition Halls were kaleidoscopic with spring colour and showcased beautiful blooms, gorgeous greenery and perfect pot plants in the Competitive Classes, with 160 categories for ornamental trees and shrubs; magnolias, camellias, rhododendrons, and daffodils; herbaceous, rhizomatous and bulbous species, pot plants, alpines and floral art, and 44 hotly-contested trophies to be won.

Four Show Gardens with the theme of A Place to Heal – The Barefoot Garden by Alford and Sowter Landscapes, The Apothecary Garden by Horticultural Apprentices from The Eden Project, Get Into Bed With Nature by The Treefern Collective with The Lost Gardens of Heligan and Echoes of Tranquillity by Cornwall College Students – not only shared their distinctive stories about how a place can heal us but also provoked thought, stimulated conversation and challenged accepted wisdom about what a garden needs to be.

Sir Tim Smit KBE, who restored The Lost Gardens of Heligan and co-founded The Eden Project, officially opened the Show, following an exclusive event for invited guests to celebrate 30 years of The Great Gardens of Cornwall, the publication of a new edition of The Great Gardens of Cornwall book by bestselling garden writer, Tim Hubbard, and the preview of a film to mark the occasion.

Tipi Talks by national names and local luminaries, co-curated by the Cornwall Garden Society (CGS) and Alasdair Moore from The Lost Gardens of Heligan, with the generous support of The Tanner Phoenix Trust through the Cornwall Community Foundation, addressed themes of climate change, embracing nature and encouraging biodiversity, whilst Gardeners’ Questions solved a selection of horticultural conundrums.

The Grow Your Own Allotment with Amelia Lake from The Real Food Garden showcased sustainable gardening practices and helped showgoers to learn all about growing delicious fruit and veg, whilst The Sustainability Hub – a collaboration between the CGS, Andrew Whittle from Beach Guardian and The Eden Project Nursery – with its greenhouse constructed from repurposed plastic bottles, lit by pedal power through Blystra Arts’ Powered Up initiative – demonstrated how we can garden more sustainably in the future as well as how plants can be grown in a low cost, low carbon manner.

The Plant Pavilion, Horticultural Heaven and Artisan Area included 130+ master growers and nurseries, garden traders, crafters and charities.

Big Pan Parties offered gourmet street food to go and other edible delights across the Showground.

“A heartfelt thankyou to everyone who supported our special weekend of spring flowers, shared their knowledge and participated in discussions about the big horticultural questions of the day,” said Show Director, Mark Holman. “It was such a pleasure to see the smiles on showgoers’ faces as they experienced everything the Show had to offer and the warmth of the spring sunshine.”

“This year’s show has been a triumph,” added Cornwall Garden Society President, Charles Williams VMH, who awarded the trophies to the winners of the Competitive Classes. “We have welcomed a record number of visitors to see and admire our show, including the four Show Gardens that added a new dimension this year, and our national judges were impressed by the unsurpassed beauty of our camellia display. These shows don’t just happen. They require a very hardworking team behind the scenes. Our Show Director, Mark Holman, has done a superb job as has the CGS and its volunteers.

“In Cornwall, we are spoilt for choice with our great gardens, plant nurseries and the enormous range of different plants that are available for sale – and long may they continue to be part of our Cornish heritage. Cornwall is the last county in England to mount a show of this stature and scale, and to have a thriving garden society with a growing membership. This reflects the unique climate, breadth of horticultural knowledge and passion for gardening that is firmly embedded within the Cornish DNA.”

Cornwall Garden Society Chairman, Martin Petherick concluded: “From growing your own and gardening sustainably, to an incredible array of plant species and nationally-recognised speakers and judges, all horticultural bases were covered at this year’s Spring Flower Show. Thank you to our sponsors for their generous support as well as to our members, traders,

exhibitors, volunteers and visitors for contributing to the success of our event, which remains an iconic occasion in Cornwall’s horticultural calendar after more than one hundred years.”

To become a member of the Cornwall Garden Society, visit www.cornwallgardensociety.org.uk/join

CORNWALL GARDEN SOCIETY 2025 SPRING FLOWER SHOW

WINNERS OF THE COMPETITIVE CLASSES

Section A – TREES AND SHRUBS

1 The Rosemary Cobbald-Sawle Cup Best Exhibit in Ornamental Trees and Shrubs, Class 1, Section A Trewithen Gardens and Parks (Truro)

2 The Louis Reid Cup Most Points in Ornamental Trees and Shrubs, Classes 2-8, Section A Viscount Falmouth (Truro)

3 The Moira Reid Memorial Trophy Best Exhibit of Variegated Foliage in Ornamental Trees and Shrubs, Class 8, Section A Viscount Falmouth (Truro)

4 The R K Harrison Trophy Best Exhibit in Ornamental Trees and Shrubs, Novice Classes 9 and 10, Section A Juliet Moore (Gwennap)

Section B – MAGNOLIAS

5 The George Johnstone Perpetual Trophy Most Points in Magnolias, Classes 11-14, Section B Caerhays Castle Gardens (St Austell)

6 The Treve Holman Memorial Cup Best Exhibit in Magnolias, Classes 11-14, Section B Caerhays Castle Gardens (St Austell)

7 The Patience Barnes Challenge Cup Best Exhibit in Magnolias, Novice Classes 15 and 16, Section B The Lodge (Bodmin)

Section C – CAMELLIAS

8 The Norman Colville Bowl Best Exhibit in Camellias, Class 17, Section C (12 different specimen Camellia blooms) Porthpean House (St Austell)

9 The Viscountess Boyd of Merton Cup Best Exhibit in Camellias, Class 39, Section C Trewithen Gardens and Parks (Truro)

10 The Camellia Cup Most Points in Camellias, Classes 17-37 and 39-41, Section C Trewithen Gardens and Parks (Truro)

11 The Coode Camellia Cup Best Exhibit in Camellias, Class 18, Section C (6 specimen Camellia blooms) Porthpean House (St Austell) and Botallick (Looe)

12 The Mount Edgcumbe Cup Best Exhibit in Camellias, Novice Classes 38 and 42, Section C Nicola Pearce (Truro)

Section D – RHODODENDRONS

13 The Mrs Charles Williams Rhododendron Cup Most Points in Rhododendrons, Classes 43-54 and 56-62, Section D Trewithen Gardens and Parks (Truro)

14 The E J P Magor Memorial Cup Best Vase or Exhibit in Rhododendrons, Classes 43-54 and 56-62, Section D Robert Toy (Gwennap)

15 The Elmgate Cup Best Exhibit in Rhododendrons, Novice Classes 55 and 63, Section D Harriet Hills (Bodmin)

16 The Abiss Memorial Trophy Best Vase in Section A, B, C and D Caerhays Castle Gardens (St Austell)

Section E – DAFFODILS

17 The T.B.W.A Cup Best Exhibit in Daffodils, Novice Classes 100, 101 and 102, Section E John Chambers (Fowey)

18 The Andrew Leslie Trophy Winner of Daffodils, Class 64, Section E Danny Glew (St Austell)

19 The Charles Le Grice Cup Most Points in Daffodils, Classes 66-94 (even numbers, three stem), Section E David White (Swindon)

20 The John Levitt Memorial Cup Most Points in Daffodils, Classes 69-95 (odd numbers, single bloom), Section E David White (Swindon)

21 The Edward Pedlar Cup Best Exhibit in Daffodils (except Class 65, which is the third leg of The Daffodil Society’s South West Competition), Section E Samantha Meyer (Ponsanooth)

22 The Alec Gray Perpetual Memorial Cup Most Points in Daffodils, Classes 67, 96, 97 and 98, Section E Danny Glew (St Austell)

23 The Rosemary White Cup Best Heritage Daffodil in Class 99, Section E Samantha Meyer (Ponsanooth)

24 The Secrett Cup Most Points in Daffodils, Classes 64-99, Section E David White (Swindon)

25 The Daffodil Society Medal Best Bloom in Daffodils, Class 65, Section E Danny Glew (St Austell)

26 The Banksian Medal Granted by the RHS for Most Points in Horticultural Classes (winners from past two years not eligible) Trewithen Gardens and Parks (Truro)

Section F – HERBACEOUS, RHIZOMATOUS AND BULBOUS PLANTS

27 The Mulock Cup Most Points in Herbaceous, Rhizomatous & Other Bulbous Plants, Classes 103-121, Section F Michele Richards (Fowey)

28 The Norman Knibbs Memorial Trophy Best Exhibit in Herbaceous, Novice Classes 122-123, Section F National Trust Trerice (Newquay)

Section G – POT PLANTS

29 Pat’s Indoor Plant Trophy Best Exhibit in Pot Plants, Classes 124-137, Section G Mrs G Lim (Par)

30 The Hodgson Challenge Cup Most Points in Pot Plants, Classes 124-137, Section G Nicola Pearce (Truro)

Section H – ALPINES

31 The Cornwall Alpine Garden Society Trophy Best Exhibit in Alpines, Classes 139-149, Section H Michele Richards (Fowey)

32 The Bristol & West Trophy Most Outstanding Vase or Growing Plant in Daffodils, Herbaceous, Rhizomatous & Other Bulbous Plants, Pot Plants and Alpines, Sections E, F, G and H Danny Glew (St Austell)

Section I – FLORAL ART

33 The Margaret Shepherd Cup Best Exhibit by a WI Member in Floral Art, Section I Mandy Nicholson (Saltash)

34 The Kitson Cup Most Points in Floral Art Classes 151-158, Section I Pat Knight (Pelynt)

35 The Baseden Trophy Cornish Dahlia Society (Looe)

Best Exhibit (two pieces) in Floral Art Class 150, Section I

36 The H & M Libby Memorial Cup Best Exhibit in Floral Art Novice Classes 151-158, Section I Mandy Nicholson (Saltash)

37 Constance Spry Memorial Cup Best Exhibit in Floral Art Class 156, Section I Christine Harrington (Callington)

38 The Cornwall Theatre of Flowers Trophy Best Exhibit in Floral Art Classes 151-158, Section I Chantal King (Camelford)

SECTION J – PHOTOGRAPHY

39 The Fortescue Cup Best Photograph (Colour) J & M Ashworth (Newquay)

40 The Edwin Smith Memorial Trophy Best Black & White Photography Martina Douie (Saltash)

TRADE CLASSES

41 The Plantsman’s Award For Plants or Plant Material of Recent Introduction or of Special Merit The Eden Project for Anigozanthus (St Austell)

42 The Banham Cup Best Plant Display in Trade Stands Kits Nursery (Bodmin)

43 The Kilmarth Trophy Best Newcomer in Trade Stands Trevenson Moor Nursery (Camborne)

44 The Bickford-Smith Trophy Best Trade Exhibit Cornishmaid Plants (Penzance)

The Cornwall Garden Society is affiliated to The Royal Horticultural Society and

The Gardens Trust.

For further information about the CGS, please visit www.cornwallgardensociety.org.uk, follow @CornwallGardenSociety on Instagram and Threads, or like/follow www.facebook.com/cornwallgardensociety