A quirky perfumer’s garden has topped the awards at the RHS Malvern Spring Festival, winning gold and the coveted Best in Show.
‘The Perfumer’s Garden’ designers Ruth Gwynn and Alan Williams drew inspiration from this year’s theme of the Great Exhibition when entrepreneurs displayed their manufacturing from raw material to finished goods.
Borders are filled with scented plants and copper ‘extraction’ tubes set alongside the perfumer’s shop.
Howle Hill Nursery’s sculpture garden, featuring the work of sculpture Simon Gudgeon, picked up gold and the Best Construction Award. ‘Spirit of the Woods’ explores the spiritual connection with nature and is designed as a tranquil retreat.
Martyn Wilson’s commemoration of the centenary of the RAF was another gold medal-winning design. It is going to be a permanent feature at the Three Counties Showground.
Villaggio Verde’s evocation of a slice of Portugal, complete with goats, also got the top medal.
And a garden in an egg by Jonas Egger, which opens on a timer with music, water or smoke, also impressed the judges.
The Silver-Gilt Winners
Graduate Gardeners’ ‘Urban Oasis’ features a zig-zag deck and vibrant colours.
‘The Collector’s Garden’ by Olivia Kirk shows plants collected by Victorian plant hunters and those that have inspired the artists who painted Royal Worcester pieces.
Dan Ryan’s garden for Bovis is designed for a new housing development in the Cotswolds with spaces for both adults and children.
And there’s also
Christian Dowle won silver for his sustainable garden ‘The Dew Pond’, and Jonathan Bishop picked up a bronze medal for ‘From Over the Fence’, which included driftwood animal sulptures.
The Green Living Spaces Contest
There’s a new category this year at this year’s RHS Malvern Spring Festival, demonstrating what can be done with only a small space for gardening.
Elaine Portch won gold for ‘Outside Number 39’, which shows a balcony filled with plants and a dining area.
‘The Salad Deck’ by Andy Bending shows how even a small patio can be productive. It won a silver-gilt medal.
The other two entries both won bronze medals. Anne Keenan’s balcony ‘Grow, Dine and Relax’ uses lots of recycling ideas.
Sebastian Conrad has created a contemporary space for an artist with bold colour.
• The RHS Malvern Spring Festival opens on Thursday May 10 and runs until Sunday May 13, 2018. For more details, visit the website.
• Read my pick of what to see at this year’s festival here