GardenSite Exhibit at the Belvoir Castle Garden & Flower Show

Can you give us a quick overview of the event?

The event’s title, the Belvoir Castle Garden & Flower Show, is fairly self-explanatory, however, the two-day affair offers a lot more than what it says on the tin. Taking place on the Ladies Field Show Site within the estate of Belvoir Castle, you’ll find a wide variety of inspiring people to meet and displays to explore and marvel at.

The great thing about this exciting event is that everyone that’s there is passionate about what they do and this comes across clearly through their work. From professional landscapers to garden designers to your average horticulture enthusiast, you’re bound to meet like-minded people who you can spend time conversing with and learning from.

What role did GardenSite play in this year’s event?

Similar to last year when we donated our freestanding flower circle, this year we sponsored the event by gifting a Whitby garden arch for the organisers to use in their famous ‘Selfie Garden’, created by award-winning designer and horticulturalist Andy Tudbury. The Arch is used to frame a small pathway that leads to a bench which is positioned carefully so that the majestic Belvoir Castle can be seen in the background. Guests are invited to take a seat and have their photo taken, snapping a visual memory and keepsake of their time at the event.

What stood out to you most from this year’s show?

Without a doubt, the most breathtaking and memorable part of the 2023 event was the colourful and heartfelt garden designed by award-winning landscaper, David Greaves. The inspiration behind the garden was his daughter, Alice, who is currently undergoing treatment for breast cancer, with an end goal of raising as much awareness as possible about the disease. The family also held a raffle to which GardenSite donated some gardening goodies in an effort to raise money for the Nottingham Breast Cancer Research Centre. We spoke to both David and Alice who told us about their time fundraising so far during which they have raised an impressive £40,000 for the charity. As you can see from the pictures, the garden was designed in the shape of a pink ribbon, the international symbol of breast cancer awareness, and was filled with a myriad of colourful and vibrant plants and flowers to evoke a sense of joy and positivity for everyone to enjoy. 

We also enjoyed attending a few of the appearances and demonstrations carried out by horticultural experts in the ‘Let’s Talk’ marquee, including TV’s celebrity gardener David Domoney and floral expert Jonathan Moseley.

Did you vote in this year’s London College of Garden Design Show Border competition?

We certainly did! We loved the idea behind the competition and spent a good half an hour or so trying to decide which border we liked best! In the end, we had to make a decision, and we chose the ‘The Time is Now’ border, created by designer Julia Langsman. Her border was inspired by our new ‘green’ King Charles, his years campaigning for environmental sustainability and his commitment to encouraging sustainable gardening methods. Not only did we love the concept which was thought-provoking and very current, but we thought the mixture of regal purples and blues in the chosen flowers were very fitting and came together beautifully to create an eye-catching display that stood out from the rest.

Will you be returning for the 2024 Show?

We will definitely be back next year and we will certainly be looking to sponsor the event for a third time. This event is fairly new and we look forward to seeing how it evolves over the years, and anything we can do to contribute towards its growth is fantastic and something we are proud to be a part of.