Could Your Flowers Be Award-Winning? Enter Cornwall Garden Society’s Spring Flower Show

Gardeners and plant lovers across Cornwall are being encouraged to show off their finest flowers, foliage, and pot plants at the Cornwall Garden Society’s 2025 Spring Flower Show. The event, described by The Telegraph as the ‘Chelsea of the West’, takes place at The Royal Cornwall Showground near Wadebridge on Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th April, and entries are now open.

This prestigious two-day event celebrates Cornwall’s horticultural talent, offering exhibitors the chance to compete for 44 trophies and numerous awards across 160 Competitive Classes. There is no fee to enter, and exhibitors gain free entry to the show.

Show Off Your Best Blooms

At the heart of the show are the Competitive Classes, where green-fingered gardeners, expert horticulturists, and keen enthusiasts exhibit their best flowers, foliage, and pot plants in a bid to impress a panel of respected judges.

“Your beautiful blooms, gorgeous greenery and perfect pot plants could take centre stage at our annual showcase, which celebrates the county’s horticultural heritage and all the joys of spring,” said Cornwall Garden Society and Show Committee Chairman, Martin Petherick.

With a wide range of categories, including novice classes and Floral Art sections, there’s an opportunity for everyone to get involved.

Judging by Top Horticultural Experts

This year’s Horticultural Classes will be judged by some of the biggest names in horticulture, including:

• Tony Kirkham MBE VMH (Former Head of Arboretum, Gardens & Horticulture Services at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew)
• Jim Gardiner VMH (Vice President of the Royal Horticultural Society)
• John Lanyon (Former Head Gardener of National Trust Trelissick, Glendurgan, Trerice, Bosloe, and Cotehele)
• Johnny Walkers (RHS Chelsea Gold Medal-winning bulb specialist)

The Floral Art Classes will be judged by Pip Bensley and Donna Savage, both highly regarded experts in flower arranging.

“All you have to do is take a look at the Schedule of Competitive Classes, decide which flowers, foliage, and pot plants you would like to enter, check which classes they are eligible for, and submit a simple online entry form,” explained Entries Secretary, Martina Douie.

New Features at This Year’s Show

In addition to the Competitive Classes, this year’s event includes:

• Spectacular Show Gardens designed around the theme ‘A Place to Heal’
• A Grow Your Own allotment featuring edible plants
• A Sustainability Hub, created in collaboration with the Eden Project

How to Enter

The deadline for entries is Wednesday 26th March. All submissions must arrive at the Showground on Thursday 3rd and Friday 4th April for judging.

For Floral Art Classes, the deadline is Friday 21st March.

To download the Schedule of Competitive Classes, visit this link or request a copy via showentries@cornwallgardensociety.org.uk.

Tickets Available Now

This year, the show introduces a new weekend pass, allowing visitors to enjoy two full days of floral displays, expert talks, and gardening inspiration at a discounted rate.

• Daily Tickets: £10 in advance, £12 on the gate
• Weekend Tickets: £15 in advance, £18 on the gate
• Under-16s go free
• Well-behaved dogs on short leads welcome

Buy tickets here: www.cornwallgardensociety.org.uk/spring-flower-show/show-tickets/

A Celebration of Cornwall’s Horticultural Heritage

“Our Spring Flower Show Committee, led by Show Director, Mark Holman, is working extremely hard behind the scenes to create a festival of Cornish springtime like no other,” added Martin Petherick. “We hope that more people than ever before will enter our Competitive Classes, from Cornwall’s westerly edge to beyond the Tamar.”

The Cornwall Garden Society 2025 Spring Flower Show is sponsored by Cornish Lithium, St Austell Brewery, and St Eval, with support from the Cornwall Community Foundation and private donors.

Got beautiful blooms or gorgeous greenery? Enter now and see if your plants can steal the show!