Spring gardening show sees record numbers

3:50pm Sunday 11th May 2008

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THE 2008 Malvern Spring Gardening Show is likely to be the most successful in the event's 23-year history.

Not only did Royal Horticultural Society judges award a record 44 gold medals, but four days of fine weather brought massive crowds.

Although attendance figures have yet to be released, the overall total is expected to be well above the organisers' 90,000 benchmark.

"It has been a tremendous time for us," said show press and PR manager Sharon Gilbert. "We couldn't have wished for better conditions."

In complete contrast to last year, which was one of the wettest shows on record, shorts, summer dresses and sun hats thronged the thoroughfares as temperatures at the Three Counties Showground on Saturday and Sunday touched the high 20s Centigrade.

On one stand an accordian player struck up "I do like to be beside the seaside" and somehow it seemed most appropriate. From the bandstand came the lilting melodies of a West Indian steel band. It was sun all the way.

"Only a fortnight ago we were sloshing around in mud and wondering just how some of the show gardens were going to be built on time," Ms Gilbert added. "Now look at it. Undoubtedly the marvellous weather has helped, but the whole show seems to have lifted on to another level this year.

"The standard of exhibits was the highest ever and now the attendance looks like being a record too.

"At a time when some were saying garden shows were in a rut, we have lifted the bar."

• For more of our gardening show coverage, click here. For our picture gallery from the show, click here.