In 2010 over 30 garden bloggers from all over the world met for the first ever UK get together at RHS Malvern Spring Show. This blog documents the lead up to that event plus the subsequent informal get togethers we've had in Malvern. There are also insights into the events of 2009, insider views from various exhibitors and personal views of Malvern and surrounding places of interest.

Thus this blog also forms a valuable resource for anyone wanting to visit either the spring or autumn versions of the show, or contemplating a visit to the area.

Monday 25 January 2010

Let's Meet!

Malvern Spring Show is rather special: it's one of the first outdoor gardening events of the year, its setting is superb and the Three Counties Show Ground is very roomy. So when I met up with Helen (Patient Gardener) last year, it struck both of us that here's the perfect excuse and venue to organise a garden bloggers get together for the UK.

When we got home, our good idea was confirmed: many other bloggers had gone to Malvern that weekend and not only blogged about how much they'd enjoyed it, their reaction to the possibility of meeting up this year was most positive. We'd already met up with Anna (Green Tapestry) whilst we were there, who knows how many others we'd passed on by without knowing it? So here we are: organising a get together for this year's Malvern Spring Show. The dates are 6-9th May.

This blog will be used over the coming weeks to find out who's interested, make arrangements, post links to any useful information and news. We'll also be using Twitter to publicise the event.

We'd love you to come and join us! James will be strutting his stuff on stage as usual plus Claire and Deb (that's Lola, her wonderful creation at last year's show in the photo above) will have show gardens for us to admire. Maybe Nigel will be judging there again this year?

Our initial thoughts are to keep it simple: we'll probably be quite a large group, so going around the show together won't be that practical. Besides we'll all want to spend our time focusing on the stands and talks which meet our differing garden tastes. So we're thinking of having a place and times to meet during the day (for coffee and lunch) and do our own thing in-between. There's also the possibility of having a meal together afterwards if you'd like to stay on into the evening.

As Helen lives in Malvern we'll be getting all kinds of insider information about the event. Her advice on the best day to go is as follows:

I think Friday is the best day since Thursday is more expensive and Saturday is when all the locals go so v. crowded and lots of children!!! Friday, to me, is for the more serious gardener.

Then there's Sunday of course, for the plant sell off if you're into getting some bargains from the show stands or gardens.

Now to your bit: would you like to come and if so what date(s) can you join us? Are you up for a meal afterwards? Any other ideas or thoughts? Let us know in the Comments in the usual way. And do feel free to use the above photo to advertise Meet @ Malvern on your own blogs. I can send you a copy of the photo if you'd prefer to use the original.

This post will be kept as a 'sticky post' at the top of the blog to welcome any newcomers. Keep an eye out for more news as it comes in the posts below. Or you can subscribe to the Feed or Follow the blog in the usual way to keep in touch. Twitter will be up as soon as I've got to grips with the technology ;)

Looking forward to seeing you there,

Michelle (aka VP of Veg Plotting)
xxx

29 comments:

Vicky Erickson said...

Yes, Would love to meet new garden bloggers! What a great idea, definitely up for a meal afterwards.

Could you add me to your mailing list please

Will retweet this and copy the link onto my blog

Karen - An Artist's Garden said...

umm - can I be persuaded out of wales?
Tempted, very tempted.
K

HappyMouffetard said...

Exciting! I'll be there, but rather nervous at meeting lots of 'strange' people off the internet, even though I know you're all lovely :-)

Anna said...

Count me in :)

Elizabeth Musgrave said...

Yes, would be really interested to do this. I have been intending to go to Malvern for about 3 years and just not getting there so this would give me the kick I need.
Saturday not a good day for me. Could probably just about go there and back in a day from here but might prefer to stay over for a night in a B&B and have a meal and a drink and chat afterwards if that seemed ok for others?

Karen - An Artist's Garden said...

Elizabeth - if i go I would be staying over somewhere, perhaps we could arrange to stay in the same place

HappyM - Ummm the thought of having to interact with real people, and more than one or two at a time - scary, perhaps I will stay home ;)

Emma Bond said...

Hello all, I would love to come, was thinking of Saturday, but seeing Helen has 'insider' knowledge, might make it Friday instead! Would be great to meet you all.

Geoff said...

Hi you guys. Great idea. It's a great show, too.

I used to go to Malvern every year when I was Gardening Editor of Garden News, but haven't been for a few years.

I want to go, and Friday would definitely be the best day to go, but sadly I'm 'performing' at Grand Designs Live in London that day. So. I'm considering going another day, but not sure yet.

Geoff

Anna said...

Friday the best day for me. Thanks to both of you Michelle and Helen for your stirling efforts :)

VP said...

Hi everyone - thanks everyone. The response so far has been tremendous :)

Zoë said...

I'd like to go too, so add me to the mailing list please?

Probably go up on the Thursday and return on the Saturday or Sunday, making Friday the day I do the show. Karen and Elizabeth, fancy another one at your B and B?

Zoë

Elizabeth Musgrave said...

Yes Zoe. I will email you.

Gail said...

I SO want to join you all...Maybe I can talk Frances into a trip!

gail

Helen said...

What a great* idea. If only! (*By chance, my word verification is: Guate!)

M@M aka VP ;) said...

Zoe - I'm so pleased (as are all the others) that you'll be joining us in May :)

Elizabeth - thanks

Gail - That would be simply fantastic. We could make it a transatlantic exchange trip - you come over to Malvern, we come to you for spring fling! Consider it a cultural exchange :)

Helen - can't we tempt you back to the land of your birth just for a eensy teensy weensy visit then?

Gail said...

VP, I like the idea of the cultural exchange! gail

M@M aka VP ;) said...

Gail - since I said that it's made double sense - the usual kind of cultural exchange, plus the plant side of things ;)

Mr. McGregor's Daughter said...

I'll have to watch the proceedings virtually. I dream of one day going to one of your great garden shows, and Malvern sounds more my speed than Chelsea.

M@M aka VP ;) said...

MMD - we're trying to think how you guys with your noses pressed up against the window (i.e. your computer screens) can be involved in some way, even if it's only virtually :)

Sue Beesley said...

I'd love to meet up. Thing is though, Thursday's my day because some of the plants sell out in the first few hours (Chris Cooke's spring specials especially). Is anyone going Thursday anyway? Would be happy to meet for a coffee once the initial rush of blood to the head in the floral marquee has passed....

Helen/patientgardener said...

Sue - I will be there on the Thursday and I think VP and a couple of others will

Plant Mad Nige said...

I should have posted here ages ago. Sorry.

But, yes!! Include me in. I'd love to catch up with anyone around, at Malvern - one of my fave spring shows.

We ought to find a way of hijacking the theatre so that Le Chapeau suddenly realises that his entire audience is compost of his blogosphere fans.

Will there be a more obvious rendezvous? And a number of time options?

Hope this comment isn't too late.
Nigel

Carrie said...

Oh oh I'm getting my tickets in April from a very special friend!! ME - going to Malvern all the way over there. I'll be the one speaking with the Belfast accent and dandering about with her mouth open.

Nick Mann said...

I'm coming to the show anyway, and it would be great to meet up. I could arrange to come up any day - Friday best, it sounds like...

VP said...

Nige - fantastic! I'm sure we can manage a great deal of heckling can be arranged whenever the hatted one appears!

Carrie - good to see you've found us! I was just about to email you with this blog's details so you're clued in to what's going on. Do you know when you and Andy are coming over and what days you'll be at the show?

Nick - hurrah! Looking forward to meeting you again :)

Anonymous said...

hello there evrybody. What a wonderful idea...I will definitely be there. Will it be on the Saturday, or Sunday? I am really looking forward to meeting my felloow GC'c. Anyone else from my village...Belper, in Derbyshire?

M@M aka VP ;) said...

Anonymous - Gardeners' Click will be there for the whole show. This is a separate initiative for garden bloggers, some of whom also are Gardeners' Click members. At the moment we don't have anyone from your area attending, but who knows who will be popping into the GC area?

Anonymous said...

Hi all,
I'll be working at the show on all four day's on my Poultry Park stand
in the Eco Homes and Gardens section of the show. Come along and introduce yourself. I will be on stage with Joe, James and Cleve on Friday at 4pm. and after doing battle with those three I will be in need of a little relaxation at the clickers meeting point. Last year I gave James a chicken to hold
and it promptly laid an egg--you can see what effect he has on the birds--. This year the challenge is to see if Cleve West can do the same. I look forward to seeing as many GC members as possible at Malvern, I promise you it is well worth a visit, there is no finer place to be at this time of the year
Regards to all
Staminaanted

M@M aka VP ;) said...

Hi Staminaanted,

I'm sure plenty of people reading this blog are hoping for a repeat of the 'JAS egg incident' as Happy Mouffetard was on hand to record the incident last year and it's been republished on this blog ;)

Looking forward to seeing you at the show - I believe you're also involved with the Anniversary Show Garden?

I need to clarify that this Meet is separate to the Gardenersclick part of the show and our Meet area is only open to people with a pass. Gardenersclick have their own stand at the show and I'm looking forward to meeting my fellow GC members there.