More than 5,000 gardening enthusiasts gathered at the Royal Cornwall Showground in Wadebridge this weekend as the Cornwall Garden Society Spring Flower Show returned with its 2026 theme of “Regeneration”.
The event brought together visitors, exhibitors and industry experts for a celebration of spring, with a strong focus on restoration in gardens, communities and the natural environment.
A Show Built Around Regeneration
This year’s show was officially opened by award-winning landscape architect Robert Myers. At its centre were immersive Show Gardens, each exploring regeneration in different ways, from ecological restoration and sustainable planting to the wellbeing benefits gardens can offer.
The Banham Cup for Best Show Garden went to Alford & Sowter Landscapes, who worked alongside Homeycombe Saunas to create a spa-inspired garden. Their design featured a Nordic-style sauna, natural planting, a fire pit and calming outdoor spaces, all reflecting the show’s core theme.
Show Director Mark Holman said: “This year’s theme of regeneration has resonated strongly with exhibitors and visitors alike. Gardens have an extraordinary ability to restore – whether that’s soil health, wildlife habitats or our own sense of calm. The creativity and craftsmanship on display this weekend have been exceptional, and it has been a pleasure to see so many people inspired to take new ideas home to their own gardens.”
Strong Interest in Competitive Classes
The show welcomed both members and non-members, with free entry to the Competitive Classes. These included horticulture, floral art and photography, along with a dedicated Novice Section aimed at first-time exhibitors.
Entries ranged from camellias, magnolias and rhododendrons to daffodils, alpines, pot plants and creative floral displays. National judges praised the high standard across the board.
Full List of Award Winners
Section A – Ornamental Trees & Shrubs
• The Rosemary Cobbald-Sawle Cup – Trebah Garden
• The Louis Reid Cup – Viscount Falmouth
• The Moira Reid Memorial Cup – Trewithen Gardens and Parks
• The R K Harrison Trophy (Novice) – Mrs Rebecca Heard
Section B – Magnolias
• The George Johnstone Perpetual Trophy – Botallick
• The Treve Holman Memorial Cup – Botallick
• The Patience Barnes Challenge Cup (Novice) – Jules Moore
Section C – Camellias
• The Norman Colville Bowl – Porthpean House
• The Viscountess Boyd of Merton Cup – Trewithen Gardens and Parks
• The Camellia Cup – Porthpean House
• The Coode Camellia Cup – Trewithen Gardens and Parks
• The Mount Edgcumbe Cup (Novice) – The Lodge
Section D – Rhododendrons
• The Mrs Charles Williams Rhododendron Cup – Botallick
• The E. J. P. Magor Memorial Cup – Caerhays Castle Gardens
• Elmgate Cup (Novice) – Mr & Mrs Jonathon Croggan
Sections A–D (Combined)
• The Abiss Memorial Trophy – Botallick
Section F – Herbaceous, Rhizomatous & Other Bulbous Plants
• The Mulock Cup – National Trust Trerice
• The Norman Knibbs Memorial Trophy (Novice) – Mrs Rebecca Heard
Section G – Pot Plants
• Pat’s Indoor Plant Trophy – Heligan Gardens
• The Hodgson Challenge Cup – Nicola Pearce
Section H – Alpines
• The Cornwall Alpine Garden Society Trophy – Mrs Patricia Howard
Sections E–H (Combined)
• The Bristol & West Trophy – Clarence Thomas
Section E – Daffodils
• The T.B.W.A Cup (Novice) – Elizabeth Harris
• The Andrew Leslie Trophy – Mr Clarence Thomas
• The Charles Le Grice Cup – David White
• The John Levitt Memorial Cup – David White
• The Edward Pedlar Cup – Clarence Thomas
• The Alec Gray Perpetual Memorial Cup – Mrs Marie Bersey
• The Rosemary White Cup – Samantha Meyer
• The Secrett Cup – David White
• The Banksian Medal (RHS) – David White (joint with Porthpean House)
• Tamar Valley / Prince of Wales Cup – Clarence Thomas
Section I – Floral Art
• The Margaret Shepherd Cup – Mary Symons
• The Kitson Cup – Christine Harrington
• The Baseden Cup – Chantal King
• The H & M Libby Memorial Cup (Novice) – Diana Goss
• The Constance Spry Memorial Cup – Linda Trudgeon
• The Cornwall Theatre of Flowers Trophy – Christine Harrington
Photography
• The Fortescue Cup (Colour) – Sarah Curtin
• The Edwin Smith Memorial Trophy (Black & White) – Alf Cogger
Special Awards & Trade Classes
• The Plantsmans Award – Strete Gate Camellias
• The Banham Cup (Best Show Garden) – Alford & Sowter
• M.C. Bedford Award (Best Plant Display) – Kits Nursery
• The Kilmarth Trophy (Best Newcomer – Trade Stands) – Mr Fox’s Garden
• The Bickford-Smith Trophy (Best Trade Exhibit) – Felt & Away
Talks, Activities and Special Guests
The Tipi Talks programme also returned, delivered in partnership with The Eden Project. Speakers included Tayshan Hayden-Smith, a community leader and environmental activist from North Kensington and former host of the BBC series Your Garden Made Perfect, alongside Matthew Pottage of The Royal Parks and BBC Gardeners’ Question Time.
Across the weekend, visitors were able to browse specialist nurseries and trade stands selling plants, tools, art, books and garden features. Families were catered for too, with hands-on children’s activities such as sowing sunflower seeds and creating paper gardens.
There was also a chance to meet Charles Williams of Caerhays Castle, who presented his new limited-edition book celebrating the world-famous magnolia collection and sharing his knowledge of the plant’s spring displays.
A Key Date in Cornwall’s Gardening Calendar
Martin Petherick, Chairman of Cornwall Garden Society, said: “The Cornwall Garden Society’s Spring Flower Show continues to be a cornerstone of Cornwall’s horticultural calendar. From innovative show gardens and sustainability initiatives to the outstanding quality of the competitive classes, this year’s event has demonstrated the depth of knowledge, passion and talent within our gardening community. Thank you to our sponsors, exhibitors, volunteers and visitors for making the 2026 show such a success, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back next year on April 3rd and 4th, when we’ll do it all again at the Royal Cornwall Showground!”
Looking Ahead and Society Background
The show will return on Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th April 2027 at the Royal Cornwall Showground.
For more information or to book tickets, visit the Cornwall Garden Society website.
The Cornwall Garden Society traces its roots back nearly 200 years to 1832, when the first horticultural society in Cornwall was established to showcase fruit, flowers and vegetables. After a break in records, spring flower shows resumed from 1897, leading to the formal reconstitution of the organisation in 1958.
Since then, the Society has expanded its work to promote gardening knowledge through talks, workshops and visits, with its annual Spring Flower Show, described as ‘the Chelsea of the South West’, remaining a key event in the county’s horticultural calendar.
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