Building of the iconic show gardens of RHS Malvern Spring Festival began on Monday at the Three Counties Showground.

In celebration of National Gardening Week, 12 show gardeners took up tools and turf to begin the extensive process of bringing their designs to life.

Each gardener hopes to take home the prestigious and highly coveted RHS accolades as the show unfolds from May 5-8.

Ken Nottage, CEO of Three Counties, said: “Yesterday was a fantastic day marking the very beginning of RHS Malvern Spring Festival.

“It is the day when designs begin to transform plans to real gardens and the whole showground is buzzing with excitement.

He continued: “There is a real community among our show gardeners and the support they offer one another throughout the process is invaluable, something we are deeply proud to have here at RHS Malvern.

“This year’s show gardens will be a real spectacle with some incredible, diverse and creative talent showcasing their skills. We cannot wait to see this area of the show come to life over the coming weeks.”

Occupying a larger space at the showground than ever before, the Show Gardens are located at the heart of the Festival in the Festival Green.

Promising an inspirational feast of horticultural talent, this year’s Show Gardens includes Wyevale Garden Centres in partnership with Historic Royal Palaces, who present ‘Gardening Amidst Ruins.’

An homage to Capability Brown by Todd Longstaffe-Gowan Landscape Design Gardening Amidst Ruins explores a lesser-known but compelling imaginative facet of Brown’s garden legacy.

The show will also feature the Garden of Romance by Villaggio Verde which is a representation of parts of an old rustic Italian Cloister garden, an important outdoor space for those confined to their quarters in days gone by.

There will also be a Japanese Reflection by Peter Dowle & Richard Jasper of Howle Hill Nursery. The gardening duo explore the Japanese technique of ‘Shakkei’, meaning ‘borrowed landscape’ with rolling hills as its backdrop symbolizing the constant and individual connection with a wider world.

  • RHS Malvern Spring Festival takes place from Thursday, May 5 until Sunday 8 May 2016. Tickets are now on sale. For more information on ticket prices, please call 01684 584900 or visit www.rhsmalvern.co.uk