If you're planning a trip to the West Country this early May Bank Holiday, make sure you pay a visit to Toby's Garden Festival (Friday 3rd - Saturday 4th May 2024).  Set in the stunning grounds of Powderham Castle, near Exeter and hosted by BBC Two Gardeners' World presenter Toby Buckland, it is two days of delight, celebration and inspiration for gardeners and lovers of the great outdoors.  It's also just been awarded carbon neutral status, making it the first carbon neutral garden show in the world. 

Family friendly, Toby's Garden Festival boasts an impressive programme full of free gardening and food and drink talks, demonstrations, tastings and workshops plus live music.  Much more than purely a garden festival it's an unmissable two days, with over 200 exhibitors including award-winning RHS Chelsea Flower Show plant nurseries and British-grown trees, roses, border and wild flowers, aquatics, shrubs and houseplants plus sculptures and garden furniture and an 'Artisan Barn' showcasing local artists, crafts, ceramics, textiles, glassware and jewellery.  Heritage craft demonstrations including stave baskets and brush making and free flower crown making workshops with the help of the British Academy of Flower Arts, also run over the two days. 

Headlining Toby's Garden Festival this year alongside Toby, are fellow BBC Two Gardeners' World presenters, Rachel de Thame and Sue Kent.  Broadcaster, writer and passionate gardener, Rachel hosts talks on Saturday 4th, giving attendees insights into her gardening ethos and introducing her new book, 'A Flower Garden For Pollinators'.  Sue, an RHS Ambassador for disability, writer and award-winning garden designer will be speaking with Toby on Friday 3rd May.  Both are also conducting book signings on the day of their talks.  Other speakers over the two days include RHS judge Jim Buttress, blogger, beekeeper and veg grower Olga Grieves, garden writer Becky Searle as well as many others.

Returning for a second year, Food Drink Devon's food and drink market is in the castle's beautiful courtyard.  Featuring 20 local producers there'll be the chance to meet the makers and sample some of the county's finest food and drink.  'Feast Street' returns, offering visitors the perfect place for a bite to eat with a fantastic selection of delicious curated street food and pop-up bars from around the region.  Festival goers can then sit by the Castle Lake while listening to live music from talented Devon musicians.

Festival sponsor, Wickhams, will be treating visitors to free inspirational drinks talks and wine tastings in collaboration with wine writer for The Telegraph, Susy Atkins and food writer, Mark Diacono of Otter Farm, all in the spectacular setting of the Castle's dining hall. 

Other family-friendly attractions throughout the festival include taking a ride on the land train around Powderham Castle's grounds, plus miniature steam engine rides, vintage tractors and Land Rovers.  

Launched in celebration of the festival's 10th anniversary by Toby and Paul Jupp of Meadow in My Garden, is The Pocket Meadow Project.  Throughout the festival, free wildlife-friendly seed packets with enough kernels to create a miniature square yard meadow in pots or garden soil will be given away to visitors.  Although the individual meadows might be small, together they will create a network of much needed feed stations for threatened bees and pollinators.

For those who want to make a special day of it, Toby's Garden Festival's VIP Experience, sponsored by Hawksmoor Investment Management, not only grants visitors entry into the festival but also, all-day access to 14th century Powderham Castle's breathtaking library and music room with morning tea, coffee and biscuits, canapés and a light buffet lunch, afternoon tea, a glass of fizz and a VIP gift bag. 

Tickets are on sale now and cost £13.50 per person, under 16s free (except VIP tickets), VIP tickets cost £90 per person.  All tickets are available from www.tobygardenfest.co.uk. 

Toby's Garden Festivals is kindly sponsored by Hawksmoor Investment Management, Bulldog Tools, Grazers, Wickhams, New Wood Trees, Hitchens of Exeter, Sandford Orchards and Food Drink Devon with media partner, Country Gardener.

To find the full programme of events and further what's on details, visit the official Toby's Garden Festival website at tobygardenfest.co.uk.  To stay up-to-date follow @tobygardenfest on X (formerly Twitter). 

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CONTACT

For further information, high resolution images or additional comment, please contact RAW Food & Drink PR: Danielle Merchant, danielle@rawfoodanddrinkpr.co.uk  / 07964 321 789

NOTES TO EDITOR

Carbon Neutral status
Toby and his dedicated team have always worked hard to reduce their impact on the environment, seeking out and sourcing from local sustainable suppliers but they knew that there was more to do… so, with the help of eco-auditors Blue Marble they monitored the carbon the festival produces and have offset it by planting trees as part of a wildlife protection scheme.

Since their first festival in 2014, they've strived to make a difference, curating with exhibitors to ensure plants, crafts and food are provided by companies that work with nature and support their local economy. They've also actively reduced travel when organising the festival by working from a virtual office, partnered with waste companies to recycle what they can and ensure no waste goes to landfill. The festival also provides visitors with recycling points for the plastic pots they might have in their greenhouse at home, gifted wildflower seeds and showcases chemical-free garden products/techniques.