TWENTY-five years ago Malvern Spring Gardening Show first emerged blinking into the daylight as the green shoots of a small regional flower show.

Now, a quarter of a century later and under the gaze of national television coverage, event organisers the Malvern Showground and the Royal Horticultural Society are preparing to mark more than two decades of gardening innovation and excellence with a whole host of birthday celebrations.

The Princess Royal has accepted an invitation to visit the show, which will be held on the Three Counties Showground from Thursday, May 6, to Sunday, May 9, on its second day, Friday, and will be introduced to some of the exhibitors who have been with the event since the very beginning.

Her itinerary is likely to take in some of the birthday celebrations and features planned for Malvern’s special year, including a celebration-themed centrepiece display by some of Britain’s top nurseries in the 1.7-acre Malvern Floral Marquee, a ‘Best of the Best’ signature plant collection and a birthday ‘cake’ worked in sweet peas.

Friday, May 7, is also the day when the new president of the National Gardens Scheme (NGS), Joe Swift – BBC Gardeners’ World presenter and Malvern’s Design For Living Theatre co-host – will speak at a special champagne gala reception.

Malvern Show visitors are being encouraged to make a weekend of it this year, and enjoy some of the area’s beautiful gardens which are open under the NGS scheme to raise funds for charities.

Malvern Spring Gardening Show, which is again the subject of an hourlong BBC2 Gardeners’ World programme on Friday (8.30pm), is synonymous with fresh ideas, horticultural excellence, education and real achievable gardening for all.

It is also known for its beautiful location in a designated area of outstanding natural beauty. Designers James Steed, Claire Potter and Alex Bell, supported by Clark’s Trees, have been commissioned by the showground to capture Malvern’s unique appeal in a garden which will remain insitu for the summer Three Counties Show (June 18-20).

At 676 sq m, the 25th anniversary garden exceeds, in size, all the largest gardens built for the top gardening events over the years, and involves a staggering 65 tonnes of landscaping materials, 100 tonnes of top soil and more than 1,000 man hours.

“Its rings of grassy mounds and planting ripples evoke Malvern’s natural spring water and the contours of the Herefordshire Beacon at the end of the Malvern Hills range,” said Sharon Gilbert, the showground’s press and PR manager.

“Structural planting is provided by native cherry trees and shrubs, ornamental borders feature plants with movement, and swathes of herbaceous plants complement the contemporary look of the hard landscaping.

A large swathe of wheat runs alongside the wall, which acts as a dividing line between the present and future (represented by the floral side) and the past (represented by the pastoral side), and also as a reminder of Malvern’s agricultural links. An avenue of beehives and a water feature complete the design.”

The 25th anniversary garden is just one of 31 gardens at the show, which also include seven circus-themed gardens built by candidates for the Chris Beardshaw Mentoring Scholarship competition, and nine innovative school gardens.

“Students from primary and secondary schools and colleges in and around the region will fast forward to the future to examine how our gardens might look 25, 500, 1,000 and even 1,500 years from now. Will we be growing our food in an urban setting, and how might the climate and rainfall have changed by the year 2035 and beyond?”

Ms Gilbert said.

The Spring Gardening Show will host the first heat of the WorldSkills UK Landscape Gardening Competition, run by The British Association of Landscape Industries.

Up to six individual competitors, all studying towards their relevant qualifications in landscape gardening, will build small landscaped gardens live on each day of the event. They have eight hours to demonstrate their skills and impress industry expert judges.

“Malvern’s success over the years can be attributed in part to its constantly evolving content, and a commitment to embrace the future in every respect,” said Ms Gilbert. “But a 25th milestone is the perfect excuse for a trip down memory lane to see just how far the show has come and visitors can enjoy a special birthday exhibition, which chronicles the show’s history in stories, characters, photographs and publicity materials.”

The horticultural extravaganza is a garden lover’s paradise with 30 acres of plants, hundreds of tradestands, gardening gadgets, floral art and design ideas, quality food and drink and exquisite crafts.

New for 2010 is a botanical art exhibition and an arts and food market with delicious home produce, quality ceramics, pictures and accessories from local artisans.

Television gardeners will be talking to growers and designers from the superb Design For Living Theatre and Garden Stage, and gardenersclick (Digital Media Award Winner 2008) will be hosting ‘Ask The Experts’ Q & A sessions throughout the show.

● On the day admission prices: Thursday, May 6 (advance tickets only); Friday, May 7 (adults £18.50); Saturday/Sunday, May 8/9 (adults £16).