Toby's Garden Festival Unveils Exciting Speaker Lineup
The 10th Toby’s Garden Festival (Friday 3rd - Saturday 4th May 2024) is set to be the most inspiring yet. Hosted by BBC Two Gardeners' World presenter Toby Buckland, the gardening extravaganza has announced a stellar lineup of gardening and food and drink experts who will be hosting free talks during the festival’s two days. The carbon neutral festival, which is the first carbon neutral garden show in the world, is taking place in the stunning grounds of Powderham Castle, near Exeter, with tickets on sale now for £13.50 per person (under 16s free) from www.tobygardenfest.co.uk.
The festival boasts a varied array of speakers, each bringing unique insights and expertise. Headlining this year alongside Toby, are fellow BBC Two Gardeners’ World presenters, Rachel de Thame and Sue Kent. ‘An Audience with Sue Kent’ kicks off this year’s talks, followed by a book signing with the award winning presenter. Ecologist and botanist, Becky Searle, is sharing her tips on ‘Growing more with less effort’, while in the Country Gardener Marquee radio favourite, Rob Vincent of Hutch Houseplants, will be sharing his wisdom during a terrarium building demo. Followed by Ollie Hutson, Group Head Kitchen Gardener for THE PIG Hotel, discussing the ‘Kitchen Garden Flavour Factory’, compared by writer, cook and gardener, Mark Diacono.
Barny Butterfield of Sandford Orchards, is just one of the county’s inspirational producers conducting talks over the two days. Barny will be treating visitors to a cider tasting, talking them through the fabulous flavours of Devon cider. Continuing the drinks theme on Friday, the Country Gardener Marquee is guaranteed to be bursting with wine and drinks writer, Susy Atkins and Dan Farrell-Wright's ‘Fabulous Fizz’ talk and sampling.
‘An Audience with Rachel de Thame’ starts Saturday’s lineup, followed by a book signing with the TV presenter, garden writer and columnist. Garden designer and grower Jacquie Felix-Mitchell, will be sharing design tips, tricks and her huge sense of fun during her ‘Principles of Garden Design’. Allotmenteer, Olga Wojciechowska will be discussing her tricks for creating productive and pretty allotments and in the Country Gardener Marquee, Philip Nieuwoudt of New Wood Trees will be talking through ‘The Magic of multi-stemmed trees’ including pruning and aftercare.
Family friendly, Toby’s Garden Festival boasts an impressive programme full of free gardening and food and drink demonstrations, tastings and workshops, plus live music. 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.
Food Drink Devon’s food and drink market in the castle’s beautiful courtyard returns with 20 local producers, giving the chance to meet the makers and sample some of the county’s finest food and drink. ‘Feast Street’ also offers 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.
To find out more information about Toby’s Garden Festival including 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).
