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 19 April 2010

The Chris Beardshaw Mentorship


One of the major highlights of the show garden side of things since 2007 has been the Chris Beardshaw Mentorshing Scholarship. At the moment 7 finalists are beavering away building their show garden entries ready for the judging for this years scholarship which will take place on Thursday 6th May. The prize at stake? A year's mentorship with Chris and other garden industry/design professionals with the funding to build other show gardens along the way. A fantastic opportunity. Last year's winner, Paul Hervey-Brookes is currently busy finalising the arrangements for his garden at this year's RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

Chris always chooses a theme for entrants as part of the design brief. Last year it was Dance: this year it's The Circus. You can preview the designs here. The organisers of Malvern Spring Show always align some of the events with the theme. This year there'll be trapeze artists performing above the Mentorship gardens and Mr Alexander's Travelling Show will be nearby. Our VIP area will be very close to the action.

Last year our guest blogger Claire was one of the finalists, but was pipped to the post by Paul. I'll be featuring her blog entries about her experiences over the next couple of days so you'll get more of an idea of what's involved. She might not be at Chelsea this year, but being part of the Malvern team building the biggest show garden ever seen in the UK, shows she's still a winner :)

Photograph of Chris Beardshaw courtesy and copyright of James Alexander-Sinclair.

3 comments:

Helen/patientgardener said...

Still not convinced about the trapeze - will be very distracting (and worrying!)

Arabella Sock said...

Humph! James AS has been keeping that photo from me for a long time! Chris Beardshaw has had that shirt for years!

VP said...

PG - we'll have to see what happens!

Arabella - tee hhe. I don't know when the photo was taken so it could have been years ago!