RHS Malvern Spring Show and more Bluebells

 Yesterday, we decided to visit the RHS Malvern Spring Show today (Saturday 7th May) at the Three Counties Showground near Malvern. Buying the tickets in advance saves time queuing at the gates although by the time we belatedly arrived (2.30 pm) there were no queues! The event shuts at 6 pm so we had 3½ hours to see as much as we could. With tickets costing £25 per person, we would normally arrive much earlier to get better value for our money.

Obviously, it is a gardening event and the attendees are reasonably well-off. Some interesting facts about the Spring Show:

• 100,000 attend over 4 days
• Average age is 52 years
• 73% female and 27% male
• 40% AB and 75% ABC1 (i.e. mainly the 'middle classes')
• Average visit time is 6 hours
• Average spend is £150 per person
• The Daily Telegraph, The Daily Mail and The Times are the most read by attendees

We go to look around the show gardens, buy a few interesting plants, listen to a few talks, watch a few demonstrations, and admire the flower exhibits and craft stalls. This year was a bit of a rush though.

With so many people around, photography is a little dificult especially if you are trying to avoid including people in the pictures. Here are a few photos I managed to snap to give a flavour of the occasion.

Bulb Stall

Show Garden

Local schools also have their show gardens and this year's theme was the Queen's Platinum Jubilee...

Although this 'model' of the Queen wasn't too flattering...

The Floral Marquee has fine displays from top nurseries...

Bonsai

Pitcher Plants

There were plenty of other things to see and do but time had caught up with us and it was time to leave as they shut the gates after us (not literally).

Feeling peckish and in need of a drink, we stopped at The Chase Inn, Upper Colwall for a tasty meal (risotto) and a pint of liquid refreshment (non-alcoholic for the driver!) in the garden. Staff were friendly and welcoming and there were excellent views from the beer garden looking towards Herefordshire...

View from The Chase Inn beer garden

On the way to the pub, we were treated to vistas of bluebells covering the slopes of the Malverns in the late afternoon sun...

Bluebells on the slopes of the Malvern Hills