116th Falmouth Spring Flower Show welcomes over 2000 visitors

More than 2,000 visitors attended this year’s Falmouth Spring Flower Show, as the Princess Pavilion came alive with colour, the scent of spring blooms and a strong sense of community over a warm and sunny weekend.

Now in its 116th year, the much-loved event once again marked the arrival of spring, with displays of daffodils, camellias, shrubs and floral art filling the theatre and surrounding spaces.

There was a lively atmosphere throughout, with visitors browsing exhibits, chatting with exhibitors and enjoying the wide range of trade stands offering plants, bulbs and garden accessories. The Garden Room Café was also a popular stop, with many taking the opportunity to relax with coffee and cake.

A new addition for 2026 was a marquee in the courtyard, introduced to house children’s exhibits. The change helped free up space in the main theatre and improved the overall layout of the show.

Strong competition and standout winners

Competition across the show was strong, with a high standard of entries across all categories.

Trewinthen Gardens secured multiple top honours, including Best in Shrubs, The Shrub Trophy and Best in Camellias, as well as the Camellia Trophy for most points. Tremough Gardens also performed strongly, winning Best in Cut Classes.

Clarence Thomas enjoyed a standout show, taking Best in Show, Best in Daffodils and the Daffodil Society Medal. Danny Glew was awarded both the Best in Pot Plants Trophy and the Pot Plant Trophy, and also scored highly in the daffodil classes.

Elsewhere, Val Bidgood won both The Cut Classes Trophy and The Most Unusual Plant Medal. Elizabeth Doidge received both floral art trophies and the Reg Sleeman Public Choice Award for her exhibit Landscape Spring Arrival.

Anne Bartlett won The Orchid Trophy, Bobby Richardson took Best in Cacti and Succulents, and Mrs W Goldsworthy secured the Cacti and Succulent Trophy for most points. Pearl Sleeman was awarded the Duckham Trophy for best miniature daffodil.

Community and young exhibitors recognised

Community entries were well represented, with Mabe Garden Club winning the George Sowden Award and Friends of Gyllyngdune Garden taking the Wheelbarrow Challenge. Boot Up Thursday Group picked up two awards, including both the Charles Rowe Cup and the Princess Pavilion and Gyllyngdune Gardens Youth Group Cup.

Younger exhibitors were also recognised across a range of categories. St Francis School’s Garden Club won the Junior Wheelbarrow Challenge, while Smiling Faces Pre-school, Ronnie Wicks, Betty Bennetts and Edyn from Boot Up Outdoor Learning all received medals in their respective age groups.

In the trade categories, Scamp’s Bulbs took the Horticultural Trade Stand Medal, while Mr Bubbles won the Non-Horticultural Trade Stand award.

Please see below for a full list of winners.

Thanks to organisers and volunteers

The show was judged by a panel of experienced horticulturalists and specialists, including Nigel Pascoe, Ron Scamp, Ian Tyler, Jeff Rowe, Mike Nelhams, Richard Budge, John Lanyon, Robert Stacewicz, Glennis Beard, Simon Penna and Val Bidgood.

Show organiser Nicola Burgess said:

“We’re very grateful to everyone who entered this year’s show. The quality and variety of exhibits were excellent, and it was clear a great deal of time and care had gone into them. It certainly gave the judges plenty to consider.”

She also thanked the judges, volunteers, organisers and Council staff for their work behind the scenes.

Prizes were presented on Sunday afternoon by the Mayor of Falmouth, Councillor Alan Jewell. He said:

“It has been fantastic to see such a high standard of exhibits on display this weekend. The creativity and dedication of everyone who has taken part is clear to see. I would also like to thank all those who work behind the scenes – the volunteers, organisers and Falmouth Town Council staff – whose efforts make an event like this possible.”

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Falmouth Spring Flower Show – Winners

1. The Best in Shrubs Trophy – Trewithen Gardens
2. The Shrub Trophy – Tremough Gardens (58 points)
3. The Best in Camellias Trophy – Trewithen Gardens
4. The Camellia Trophy – Trewithen Gardens (72 points)
5. The Best in Daffodil Trophy – Clarence Thomas
6. Daffodil Trophy – Danny Glew (240 points)
7. Daffodil Society Medal – Clarence Thomas
8. Duckham Trophy – Pearl Sleeman
9. The Best in Cacti and Succulent Trophy – Bobby Richardson
10. The Cacti and Succulent Trophy – Mrs W. Goldsworthy (47 points)
11. The Best in Pot Plants Trophy – Danny Glew
12. The Pot Plant Trophy – Danny Glew (14 points)
13. The Orchid Trophy – Anne Bartlett
14. The Best in Cut Classes Trophy – Tremough Gardens
15. The Cut Classes Trophy – Val Bidgood (21 points)
16. The Most Unusual Plant Medal – Val Bidgood
17. The Best in Floral Art Trophy – Elizabeth Doidge
18. The Floral Art Trophy – Elizabeth Doidge
19. The George Sowden Award – Mabe Garden Club
20. The Wheelbarrow Challenge – Friends of Gyllyngdune Garden
21. The Junior Wheelbarrow Challenge – St Francis School’s Garden Club
22. The Horticultural Trade Stand Medal – Scamp’s Bulbs (Daffodil Stand)
23. The Non-Horticultural Trade Stand Medal – Bumbles
24. The Preschool Medal – Smiling Faces Pre-school
25. The Infant Medal (KS1) – Ronnie Wicks
26. The Junior Medal (KS2) – Betty Bennetts
27. The Secondary Medal (KS3 and 4) – Edyn (Boot Up Outdoor Learning)
28. The Charles Rowe Cup – Boot Up Thursday Group
29. The Princess Pavilion and Gyllyngdune Gardens Youth Group Cup – Boot Up Thursday Group
30. The Reg Sleeman Public Choice Award – Elizabeth Doidge (Class 96: Landscape Spring Arrival)
31. The Best in Show Trophy – Clarence Thoma