Malvern Autumn Show celebrates the best of the harvest with fruit & veg competitions, awards for vintage dress, cake bakes and floral art as well as the coveted RHS medals
13 world records awarded
In the National Giant Vegetable Competition there was the usual friendly rivalry between the growers. Despite a reportedly poor year for Grow Your Own, Malvern Autumn saw an amazing 13 world records claimed, as well as two UK and European records.
World record winners:
- Heaviest sunflower head – Peter Glazebrook – 7.046kg
- Longest broad bean – James Brown – 455mm
- Heaviest celeriac – Graham Barrett – 6.330kg
- Longest turnip – Joe Atherton – 4929mm
- Heaviest runner bean – M.Enstone – 0.254kg
- Heaviest red cabbage – Chris Evans – 33kg
- Longest leek – Peter Glazebrook – 1582mm
- Heaviest tromboncino – Kevin Fortey – 5.306kg
- Longest aubergine – Kevin Fortey – 0410mm
- Tallest cucumber plant – Kevin Fortey – 6497mm
- Heaviest pepper – Ian Neale – 0.966kg
- Longest radish – Joe Atherton – 7410mm
- Heaviest Khol rabi – Chris Marriott – 47kg
Floral Marquee
W Robinson & Son (Seeds and Plants) Ltd won best exhibit for their delicious display of fruit and veg for all tastes and seasons. There were 26 Gold medals, 13 Silver-gilt, six Silver and two Bronze medals awarded.
The Floral Marquee was also home to the main talks stage where gardening stars and horticultural icons shared their knowledge and expertise.
Around the Marquee shoppers got advice directly from the growers to make sure that their plants would thrive in their gardens back at home.
Plant & Vintage Villages
Incredible plant displays spilled out all around the showground in a great year for the Plant Village. Harts Nursery won Best in Show for their display of lilies, with 3 Shires Garden Centre also claiming the highest grade of 5 from the judges for their exhibit. There were more winners to be had in the Vintage Village and Great Malvern Bake Off tent where show visitors vied for prizes.
Floral art
Severn Hall was filled with flowers as the home of floristry and floral art. Dozens of displays on themes ranging from Safari Sunset to Strings and Things were dotted around the space.
Fleur White took the Neville Parker Award for Best in Show with her Cogs and Curiosity creation particularly impressing the judges.
Julie Sparkes won Best Use of Fresh Foliage and Best Young Arranger. Her triple-tiered Glitz and Glamour piece included white roses and arum lilies against lush emerald and burgundy foliage.
Best Use of Colour went to Pauline Foster for her Festive Creation.
More fun around the Show
From the Vintage Village to the World of Animals, there was plenty to see do at Malvern Autumn Show 2024. With three arts, crafts and antique markets, there were lots of opportunities to shop, aside from the many garden plants, goods and equipment stalls in the Gardening Village.
The Orchard and Hopyard Pavilion celebrated apple and pear varieties. There were lots of tasty treats to try in the Great Tastes Market and Tipple Zone.
Everywhere was a riot of autumn colour at the show, from the Pumpkin Patch for the perfect seasonal selfie, to the avalanche of apples at the Cider Zone.
There was also lots for little visitors to do at the Family Green with tractor rides and animal zoos alongside the rural craft displays, inspiring the next generation of growers.
The festival vibe was enhanced by the live music to be found playing around the show, from soulful jazz singers, to acoustic guitars and 40s wartime classics, all providing the perfect soundtrack to relax with a glass of cider and enjoy a perfect autumn day.
Find out more....
