RHS Malvern Spring Festival 2026 Feature Garden

The garden brought this idea to life within a contemporary design that quietly referenced traditional artisan craft. A timber-framed structure, created using locally sourced timber from Herefordshire, was clad in clay tiles manufactured in the West Midlands by a 200-year-old family-run business, using soils sourced in Staffordshire.

Those same clay materials reappeared in feature walls that sat amongst the planting, helping to shelter the space alongside native hedging suited to heavier soils.

Whilst the material palette reflected the heritage of the region, the layout demonstrated practical, forward-thinking approaches to working with clay. Accessible pathways formed from self-binding gravel guided visitors towards brick paver terraces sourced from the West Midlands, before winding past a series of raised timber beds. Within these beds, visible soil ‘horizons’ offered insight into different methods of improvement, from traditional mulching to No Dig and Cut and Drop techniques, showing how dense clay can be transformed into a productive growing medium.

Trees, shrubs and perennials were carefully selected for their suitability to clay-rich conditions, creating a layered planting scheme that balanced structure and seasonal interest. An orchard area underplanted with wildflower turf provided a place to pause and enjoy the garden, whilst reinforcing the long-standing fruit-growing heritage of the Three Counties.

Clay pots, created by artisans in England and sourced through a Herefordshire supplier, provided further opportunities for planting displays. These offered flexibility for those who preferred to work above ground, whilst still celebrating the material at the heart of the design.

Anchoring the space was a striking sculpture by renowned artist Simon Gudgeon. Inspired by the fruit-growing history of the region, it introduced a focal point that connected soil, craft and landscape in one cohesive narrative.

Following the festival, the garden was carefully relocated to Worcestershire Royal Hospital, where it has been reimagined as a permanent green space supporting the wellbeing of staff, patients and visitors.