Record entries for 2008 show

4:25pm Thursday 8th May 2008

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THE standard of entries at the 2008 Malvern Spring Gardening Show is the highest in the event's 23-year history.

Royal Horticultural Society judges awarded a record 44 gold medals - the most ever, and RHS head of shows development Bob Sweet said the Three Counties showground was "simply dripping with excellence".

Announcing the awards list, Mr Sweet added: "There has been a staggering improvement in the quality of the exhibits in recent years.

"In 2000 the judges awarded 14 gold medals and 34 silver-gilts.

"This year there is an all-time record of 44 golds backed by 33 silver-gilts."

He attributed the improvement to the growing reputation of the Spring Gardening Show.

"We have a greater number of exhibitors wanting to come to Malvern than any other of our shows," said Mr Sweet.

"We also have the greatest number of rejections, allowing us to pick from the best."

Among the gold medal winners were a trio from Worcestershire - Cotswold Garden Flowers from Badsey, near Eveshan, Grange Farm Nursery of Guarlford, near Malvern and Owens Bros (of Worcester) Ltd from Bevere Green, near Worcester.

The best in show was a display of woodland plants from Edrom Nursery of Berwickshire in Scotland.

Nearer home, a special award for the most creative exhibit in the RHS marquee went to The Cottage Herbery of Tenbury Wells, which produced a 12ft x 10ft garden trug filled with aromatic herbs.

Mr Sweet said a visit to the show - which features in a '60 minute Gardens' World Live BBC2 programme on Friday night - is "a hugely uplifting experience" in view of the cold, wet weather gardeners had to endure during April.

"It has been a remarkable effort from all concerned," he added.

Nick Vincent, chief executive of the Three Counties Agricultural Society, which co-organises the event with the RHS, said that even as recently as last week, the showground "looked more like The Somme".

"Rain was running anywhere and everywhere as exhibitors tried to prepare," he added.

"You could hardly believe the transformation into the record breaking event we have today."

• Read the rest of our show coverage here, and click here for our picture gallery.