Powderham Castle to host Toby Buckland's Garden Festival
Toby Buckland’s Garden Festival will be set in the glorious grounds of Powderham Castle, making the most of this historic Devon location on the banks of the Exe estuary. The variety of plant nurseries, talks and demonstrations will reflect the unique landscape from ancient parklands to walled kitchen gardens, making this the perfect festival for every type of gardener.
The festival will bring together celebrity gardener, horticulturist and author, Toby Buckland, Powderham Castle and the leading South West specialist gardening magazine Country Gardener in a gardening event unique to Devon, comprising award-winning horticultural exhibitors, live music, food stalls and family entertainment. The two-day celebration will be held on the first Bank Holiday weekend of the year, 2-3 May 2014.
Whether you’re a specialist plant enthusiast, weekend gardener, allotment holder, or a novice looking for ideas - all will find something to entice and inspire as the grounds of this ancient castle blossom with the South West’s gardening stars.
“Devon has never seen a garden festival like this before,” explained Toby. “A fantastic line-up of experts, an amazing plant range and all the know-how from award-winning nurserymen and women, and all in one of the West Country’s most beautiful castle settings. What better way to get inspiration for your garden!”
This festival will offer passionate gardeners a family-friendly environment, allowing them to enjoy the time and space to meet and talk directly to exhibiting growers and makers, and to select from a huge variety and array of beautifully grown plants and products.
Toby Buckland and Anne Swithinbank, celebrity broadcasters, head up a fantastic team of gardening experts bringing you the very best of advice and inspiration:
• Toby Buckland - owns the Plant Centre and Nursery at Powderham Castle which he runs with his wife Lisa Buckland. Toby is a qualified horticulturist, TV broadcaster, author and a lifelong gardener who is well-known for his practical, hands-on style. His career has taken him from Devon nurseryman, to professional gardener and on to presenting numerous TV shows. He is an award winning garden designer, taking RHS Gold and Best in Show at BBC Gardeners’ World Live. Toby is also a lead presenter on BBC2’s Great British Garden Revival and the 2014 RHS Chelsea Flower show.
• Anne Swithinbank - highly respected and popular horticulturist, broadcaster, author and regular panelist on Radio 4’s Garden Question Time. Anne has a large garden in East Devon where she says, “A clay soil with flints, wind blowing up from the sea, deer, rabbits, squirrels, badgers and a husband with ideas of his own present plenty of problems”.
• Neil Lucas - well known around the world for his knowledge of and passion for ornamental grasses of which he has a great collection at Knoll Gardens and Nursery in Dorset. He has won 10 Gold Medals in 10 consecutive years at RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
• Charles Dowding - a no-dig and organic vegetable gardening specialist, author and lecturer. For over three decades he has been growing organic vegetables, winning him a national following.
• Kevin Croucher - owner of Thornhayes Nursery in Devon, produces one of the broadest ranges of trees available in the UK and is internationally renowned for his encyclopaedic knowledge of trees around the world.
• Jim Buttress - presenter of new show, The Big Patch: The Big Allotment Challenge BBC2, brings his vast experience and expertise to Powderham. Holder of RHS Victoria Medal of Honour given in recognition of his work as a garden show judge.
• Dr Todd Gray - historian, author of forty books on the history of Devon including five on Devon plants and gardens. Dr Gray is known for his lively and informative talks.
Toby Buckland’s Garden Festival will be a celebration of all-things gardening. There will be plenty of family fun and entertainment including a children’s tent in addition to delicious West Country food and drink, live music and entertainers.
Opening times:
Friday 2 May, 10am–5pm and Saturday 3 May, 10am–6pm.
http://www.tobygardenfest.co.uk/
Tickets: adults £5, children under 16 free. Entry includes admission to Powderham Castle. Free parking. Discounts available. Group discounts are available for groups of 12 and over. Contact info@tobybuckland.com with your requirements.
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