Breathtaking displays of the county’s finest flowers and foliage, exhibited by green-fingered gardeners, expert horticulturists and ardent enthusiasts in the Competitive Classes, are at the heart of the Cornwall Garden Society’s 2025 Spring Flower Show.

This highlight of the horticultural year, which has been described by The Telegraph as the ‘Chelsea of the West’, takes place at The Royal Cornwall Showground near Wadebridge on Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th April, and advance tickets are now on sale.

As well as the usual daily options, a festival-style weekend pass has been introduced, enabling showgoers to experience two whole days of glorious gardening inspiration at a reduced rate.

Spectacular Show Gardens by some of Cornwall’s leading designers and up-and-coming talent with the theme of A Place to Heal; a Grow Your Own allotment with incredible edibles, and a Sustainability Hub in collaboration with the Eden Project are just some of the vibrant new features that will complement the exceptional exhibits in the Competitive Classes, which are hotly contested.

“Your beautiful blooms, gorgeous greenery and perfect pot plants could take centre stage at our annual showcase, which celebrates the county’s horticultural heritage and all the joys of spring,” explains Cornwall Garden Society and Show Committee Chairman, Martin Petherick. “With 44 trophies and many other awards on offer, we encourage the people of Cornwall to enter the extraordinary variety of spring flowers and shrubs to be found in their Cornish gardens, and contribute to the ‘wow factor’ for which our Spring Flower Show is renowned.”

Judges of the Horticultural Classes will include Tony Kirkham MBE VMH (Former Head of Arboretum, Gardens & Horticulture Services at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew); Colonel Sir Edward Bolitho KCVO OBE CStJ (Lord-Lieutenant of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly); Jim Gardiner VMH (Vice President of the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), former Director of Horticulture and former President of the Magnolia Society International); Thomas Methuen-Campbell (Owner of Penrice Castle in South Wales); Roderick White (rhododendron expert); Jon Wheatley VMH (RHS judge for Britain in Bloom/Chair of South West in Bloom); John Lanyon (former Head Gardener of National Trust Trelissick, Glendurgan, Trerice, Bosloe and Cotehele); Johnny Walkers (Walkers Bulbs and multiple RHS Chelsea Gold medal winner); Kim Parish (Landscapes of Distinction and RHS Show/Britain in Bloom judge); Libby Russell (Mazzullo & Russell Landscape Design and RHS judge) and Jonathan Hutchinson (RHS horticulturist and plantsman).

Pip Bensley (National Association of Flower Arrangement Societies (NAFAS) National judge and RHS Show judge) and Donna Savage (NAFAS Area judge) will judge the Floral Art Classes.

“All you have to do is take a look at the Schedule of Competitive Classes, decide which flowers, foliage and pot plants you would like to enter, check which classes they are eligible for, and submit a simple online entry form,“ says Entries Secretary, Martina Douie. “We cannot wait to see the sheer variety of spring flowers, abundant foliage and outstanding pot plants arriving at the Showground on Thursday 3rd and Friday 4th April for the judging, and hope that yours will be among the many worthy winners.”

“With 160 classes, including 14 in the Novice section and nine for Floral Art, why not take your chance and experience the thrill of winning one of our coveted awards?” adds Martin Petherick.

“Our Spring Flower Show Committee, led by Show Director, Mark Holman, is working extremely hard behind-the-scenes to create a festival of Cornish springtime like no other, and we hope that more people than ever before will enter our Competitive Classes, from Cornwall’s westerly edge to beyond the Tamar.”

The deadline for entries is Wednesday 26th March. The Schedule of Competitive Classes is available to download from the Spring Flower Show page of the CGS website or can be requested by emailing showentries@cornwallgardensociety.org.uk

There is no fee to enter the Competitive Classes, you do not have to be a member of the Cornwall Garden Society and exhibitors gain free entry to the Show.

For further information about the Floral Art Classes, for which the deadline is Friday 21st March, please contact Pat Knight via knightpat@hotmail.co.uk

This two-day event is sponsored by Cornish Lithium, St Austell Brewery and St Eval, and supported by the Cornwall Community Foundation as well as the generosity of private donors.

Cornwall Garden Society 2025 Spring Flower Show Tickets

Daily Tickets: £10 in advance. £12 on the gate (card payment preferred)
Weekend Tickets: £15 in advance. £18 on the gate (card payment preferred)
Free admission for under 16s. Well-behaved dogs on short leads welcome

Buy Tickets
Enter the Competitive Classes
Further Information