A wonderful, fun-filled day out for families and gardening enthusiasts alike, The RHS Malvern Spring Show Festival 2026 brings with it a plethora of garden ideas with plenty to see and do for all ages.
The RHS Malvern Spring Festival 2026 (7–10 May) will showcase “Roots of the Future,” focusing on sustainable design, including a new “Blooming Borders” category and a “clay soil” feature garden by Martyn Wilson. Key designs include a “Dibleys Houseplant Sanctuary” and “School Gardens” based on myths and legends
The festival will feature over 30 new, inspired gardens across the Three Counties Showground. One of which, The Grace Kelly Childhood Cancer Trust, has had a hand in, as they are taking part in the RHS Malvern Spring Festival School Garden Challenge. This challenge encourages young people to engage in horticulture by designing and creating their very own garden at the show. This year’s theme is Myths & Legends, where primary and secondary aged children will incorporate mythology, folklore and mythical creatures into their imaginative gardens.
The Grace Kelly Childhood Cancer Trust entry, The Ladybird’s Path, has been created by the children the charity supports, along with their siblings and classmates. The Ladybird’s Path is an enchanting woodland-themed garden created to commemorate ten years of the Grace
Kelly Childhood Cancer Trust and its impact on local families over the past decade. Featuring a winding path of ten engraved stepping stones, fairy houses, a wildlife pond and vibrant sensory planting in the charity’s colours, the garden blends magic with meaning. Ladybirds, symbols of hope in folklore, appear throughout, while wind chimes, textured planting and an illustrated woodland backdrop enrich the sensory experience for all visitors, including visually impaired children due to the cancer treatment they received. A “Leaves of Kindness” display, central to the theme and created by the children themselves, completes this heartfelt and imaginative space.
Set up ten years ago, The Grace Kelly Childhood Cancer Trust provides support to children and their families facing childhood cancer. As a growing research funder, the charity concentrates on funding research into rare, aggressive childhood cancers, which typically have poorer survival rates than other childhood cancer types, which receive relatively more research funding.
Kerry Grindon, Marketing and Operations Manager, who has brought this garden to life with her team of children, parents, volunteers and staff says “The families we support are at the heart of everything we do, and it is incredibly special to see their creativity, experiences and voices reflected in this garden. Every element has been inspired by the children and families we work with, making it not just a space to enjoy, but one that tells a meaningful story of hope, resilience and togetherness. We’re proud to showcase something that truly represents our community.”
The Ladybird’s Path has been kindly sponsored by two Worcester-based businesses, Spring Forward Landscaping and Inner Knowings.
Lorna Wilkes, from Inner Knowings comments “I am honoured to be supporting this project. It’s important to me to support causes that make such a difference, and what a wonderful way to celebrate GKCCT’s 10th Anniversary – the support they offer to families is priceless.”
The charity is planning to relocate the garden to its new offices in Upton Snodsbury following the show. This will give families attending therapeutic groups or Family Support events a lasting space to relax, reflect and connect with others, ensuring the garden continues to provide comfort, inspiration and a sense of peace for years to come.
For further information about the school gardens, visit https://rhsmalvern.co.uk/whats-on/gardens/school-gardens/
Tickets for the RHS Malvern Spring Festival 2026 start from just £16 for a taster ticket (under 16s free of charge) and can be bought now from https://www.rhsmalvern.co.uk/