RHS Malvern Garden Festival 2026

This month, I had the joy of helping my friend and fellow designer, Lora from Urban Greenery, plant her RHS Malvern show garden for three days. It was one of those rare weeks where the weather, the plants and the people all seemed to align… long days on site, hands in the soil, and that shared sense of purpose that only comes from building something beautiful together.

The garden, Pressed in Time: Nature’s Memory, was Lora’s vision: a space rooted in texture, memory and the quiet power of plants to hold stories. My role was to help bring that vision to life through the planting, placing, adjusting, stepping back, and finding the rhythm that makes a show garden feel complete.

Show garden planting is its own kind of intensity. Every plant matters. Every angle matters. You’re working with a palette that has to look full, established and effortless from day one. We spent hours settling grasses, tucking perennials into just the right pockets of soil, and making sure each plant had the space to breathe while still contributing to the overall tapestry.

There’s a wonderful camaraderie on a show garden build. Designers, contractors, volunteers, friends; everyone is there because they love gardens and want to see something special come together. Even in the long, muddy, slightly frantic moments, there’s a buzz that carries you through.

Seeing the garden finished (although the final finish I saw on Gardeners World), glowing in the spring light, was a moment I won’t forget. And watching Lora receive a Silver‑Gilt medal for her beautiful, thoughtful design was the perfect ending to an unforgettable experience. I couldn’t have been prouder of her.

It was also a turning point for me. Being part of the build reminded me how much I love planting design — the craft of it, the intuition, the way a space shifts as each plant finds its place. It was a key experience that will help me shape my own practice more clearly.

I’m so grateful for that week in April: the early mornings, the laughter, the soil under my nails, and the privilege of helping a friend bring her vision to life.