Toby’s Garden Festival’s 10th Anniversary: A Two Day Gardening Extravaganza
Celebrating its 10th anniversary, Toby’s Garden Festival yet again promises two days of delight, celebration and inspiration for gardeners and lovers of the great outdoors, on the stunning grounds of Powderham Castle, near Exeter. Hosted by BBC Two Gardeners' World presenter Toby Buckland, on Friday 3rd and Saturday 4th May, the family friendly two day extravaganza boasts an impressive programme full of free gardening and food and drink talks, demonstrations, tastings and workshops plus live music.
Headlining Toby’s Garden Festival this year alongside Toby, are fellow BBC Two Gardeners’ World presenters, Rachel de Thame and Sue Kent. Broadcaster, writer and passionate gardener, Rachel hosts talks on Saturday 4th, giving attendees insights into her gardening ethos and introducing her new book, ‘A Flower Garden For Pollinators’. Sue, an RHS Ambassador for disability, writer and award-winning garden designer will be speaking with Toby on Friday 3rd May. Both are also conducting book signings. Other speakers over the two days include RHS judge Jim Buttress, blogger, beekeeper and veg grower Olga Grieves, garden writer Becky Searle as well as many others.
Much more than purely a garden festival it’s an unmissable two days, with over 200 exhibitors including award-winning RHS Chelsea Flower Show plant nurseries and British-grown trees, roses, border and wild flowers, aquatics, shrubs and houseplants plus sculptures and garden furniture and an ‘Artisan Barn’ showcasing local artists, crafts, ceramics, textiles, glassware and jewellery. Heritage craft demonstrations including stave baskets and brush making and free flower crown making workshops with the help of the British Academy of Flower Arts, also run over the two days.
Returning for a second year, Food Drink Devon’s food and drink market is in the castle’s beautiful courtyard. Featuring 20 local producers there’ll be the chance to meet the makers and sample some of the county’s finest food and drink. ‘Feast Street’ returns, offering visitors the perfect place for a bite to eat with a fantastic selection of delicious curated street food and pop-up bars from around the region. Festival goers can then sit by the Castle lake while listening to live music from talented Devon musicians.
Festival sponsor, Wickhams, will be treating visitors to free inspirational drinks talks and wine tastings in collaboration with wine writer for The Telegraph, Susy Atkins and food writer, Mark Diacono of Otter Farm, all in the spectacular setting of the Castle’s dining hall.
Launched in celebration of the festival’s 10th anniversary by Toby and Paul Jupp of Meadow in my Garden, is The Pocket Meadow Project. Throughout the festival, free wildlife-friendly seed packets with enough kernels to create a miniature square yard meadow in pots or garden soil will be given away to visitors. Although the individual meadows might be small, together they will create a network of much needed feed stations for threatened bees and pollinators.
Other attractions throughout the festival include taking a ride on the land train around Powderham Castle’s grounds, plus miniature steam engine rides, vintage tractors and Land Rovers.
For those who want to make a special day of it, Toby’s Garden Festival’s VIP Experience, sponsored by Hawksmoor Investment Management, not only grants visitors entry into the festival but also, all-day access to 14th century Powderham Castle’s breathtaking library and music room with morning tea, coffee and biscuits, canapés and a light buffet lunch, afternoon tea, a glass of fizz and a VIP gift bag.
Early bird tickets are on sale until 31st January, £12 per person (under 16 free except VIP tickets). VIP tickets cost £90 per person, all tickets are available from www.tobygardenfest.co.uk.
Toby’s Garden Festivals is kindly sponsored by Hawksmoor Investment Management, Bulldog Tools, Grazers, Wickhams, New Wood Trees, Hitchens of Exeter, Sandford Orchards and Food Drink Devon with media partner, Country Gardener.
To find the full programme of events and further what’s on details, visit the official Toby’s Garden Festival website at tobygardenfest.co.uk. To stay up-to-date follow @tobygardenfest on X (formerly Twitter).
