About
Toby’s Garden Festival is a joint collaboration by gardening broadcaster Toby Buckland and the popular magazine Country Gardener. We pop up annually in the stunning location of Powderham Castle, near Exeter, the 14th century family home of the Earl and Countess of Devon.
Our main focus is to bring together the best nurseries from the West Country and beyond – including many well-known Chelsea medal winners – and host two days of quality gardening talks on a wide range of horticultural topics – all free to visitors.
Add to that top-notch arts and crafts, locally-made street food to suit all tastes and free family music and entertainment and we hope to create a fabulous day out.
GARDEN VILLAGE
Set amongst trees and fluttering bunting, the Garden Village is home to some of the best plant nurseries in the West, selling everything from agapanthus to zantedeschia, all grown by experts. Head here for rare and unusual plants at great prices, and for advice you can trust from the people who know the plants best.
RIDING BARN
Head here for this year’s foodie pop-up from Sharpham Cheese, Sharpham in the Garden, where you can try tasters of their award-winning, locally produced cheese, along with Sharpham Wine and eco-friendly coffee from Blue Goose Coffee.
Plus, you can find outdoor and under-cover seating in the lofty barn environs of the Castle’s riding stables, to the rear.
FEAST STREET
Tummy rumbling? Head here for our curated range of street food sellers, hand-picked by our knowledgable festival team. On the menu, we have locally-reared meat, vegan, veggie and options for intolerances, plus light snacks and tea, coffee and of course lots of cake!
Here is also the location of our Country Gardener Talks Tent, an informal setting for our nursery speakers who talk and give demos on everything from peonies to air plants.
CASTLE COURTYARD
Follow the castle driveway to the ancient castle courtyard, where you can find a rainbow of colourful pop-up gazebos, and a range of food, craft and nursery exhibitors.
In 2021, the florists of the British Academy of Floral Art are here offering the chance for the first 80 festival visitors each day to make their own floral crown to wear at the show.
