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What’s on in 2025?

Two days of delight, celebration and inspiration for gardeners and lovers of the great outdoors. That’s what! Not to mention the fact that 2025 is our Fest’s 11th anniversary, in the beautiful setting of Powderham Castle.

  • 200+ exhibitors.
  • Award-winning British-grown trees, roses, border and wild flowers, aquatics, shrubs and houseplants. 
  • Sculpture, garden gear, arts, crafts and Westcountry food and fayre.
  • A FREE (!) full programme of garden and foodie talks, in three theatres, plus demos, tastings and workshops across the site.
  • Live music and street theatre.  
  • Demonstrations of heritage crafts with the Devon Rural Skills Trust, including dry stone walling, basket making and scything.
  • Celebrity book signing with Frances Tophill (Friday) and Joe Swift (Saturday).
  • Chance to WIN! Seed giveaway with GWR in the new Sowing, Growing Gone Tent!

 

  • Show DISCOUNTS across the site.
  • Artisan Barn packed with local art, craft, ceramics, textiles, glassware & jewellery.
  • Feast Street – Tasty curated street food and pop-up bars from around the West Country.
  • Golf buggies to help ferry larger purchases back to the car park
  • Vintage cars with The Crashbox Club
  • Tree climbing displays and arboricultural advice.
  • Floristry talks and a chance to make your own FREE floral crown.
  • VIP Experience and Tea in the Castle.
  • FREE Wickhams Wine tasting in the Castle Dining Hall.
  • Food Drink Devon members showcasing the best local food and drink.

Food Drink Devon showcase 

We’re delighted to welcome back our new festival-within-a-festival for 2025: The Food & Drink Market, created in collaboration with the bakers, cooks, growers and makers of the County. Located in Powderham Castle’s fabulous historic courtyard, right next to the Wickham’s Wine tasting in the Great Hall and VIP area.

To add to the fun, the market is supported with a free two-day programme of talks and tastings, hosted by Daily Telegraph wine guru and Devon local, Susy Atkins and food writer, Mark Diacono of Otter Farm.

Wine tasting with Wickhams

Join us for our 2025 Wine Tasting with festival sponsor, Wickhams, where festival visitors will have the chance to meet the makers, chat to growers, buy wine and enjoy free tastings from Devon, the West Country and beyond!

Owned by Dan Farrell-Wright, Wickhams is a Devon-based award-winning online wine merchant who curates a wide range of excellent wine from around the globe, as well as hosting online and in-person wine tasting events.

It’s not just us that Love what they do, their mantelpiece groans under the weight of awards including ‘Specialist Merchant of the Year England’ at the International Wine Challenge (IWC), winner of Decanter’s Specialist English Wine Merchant, as well as making finalist in Online Retailer of the Year. They’re also a Gold Award winner of the Feefo Trusted Service Award.

Be crowned at the fest!

Want to make your own flower crown to wear at the festival? Head to the Artisan Barn where the talented florists of Devon’s British Academy of Floral Art will be on hand with fresh flowers and crown-making kit  to help you top-off your look with flowers!

Free each day on a first-come-first served basis.

Kim Stoddart Editor of Amateur Gardening Magazine

Meet the Amateur Gardening Magazine team

The Amateur Gardening magazine team are on hand to answer your garden queries both days of the festival. Head to The Sowing, Growing Gone Tent to meet Editor Kim Stoddart and Deputy Editor Ruth Hayes, by the Castle Lakeside.

Try Blossom origami with Lexus Exeter 

At this years Fest, sponsors Snow’s Motor Group/Lexus Exeter are offering origami taster sessions with the renowned paper artist Caroline Preston. Simply  come to the Lexus stand in the Castle Courtyard, and Caroline will take you through the principles of Takumi and the practice of making your own beautiful origami inspired flower, that you can take away.

terracotta pots

Plant a pot for the RNLI

Thanks to a lovely gift of 200 old terracotta pots from local Cornish resident Susie Williams, visitors can head the RNLI stand (Lakeside) on Fri 2 and Sat 3 May, to plant up your own terracotta pot with flowers for a  contribution to the RNLI to take home.

Home & garden treasures valued

Adam Partridge Auctioneers are joining us for visitors to value their home and garden treasures. Not only that, if you’re keen to sell, Fest sponsor Adam Partridge Auctioneers are running a special 50% reduction in commission for those attending the festival, valid for 12 months after the show. You never know what you might have in your attic or garden shed!

Vintage car display 

A gorgeous collection of vintage cars are being polished and parked up at the Fest. The cars are the pride and joy of Crashbox Club members and amongst the highlights are a 1963 sunbeam alpine mk3, and a 1950 Riley rmc roadster, along with twenty-plusmore on display all along the Castle Driveway. The owners will be on hand to share the stories of these living, driving and loved metal masterpieces.

garden volunteers for GWR

GWR Seed giveaway

Jump on a train to Starcross and visit this year’s Festival on Fri 2 and Sat 3 May at Powderham Castle to grab a free packet of wild meadow seeds at the Meadow in My Garden stand.  The seed giveaway is sponsored by Official Travel Sponsors GWR.  (Lakeside)

WBW Solicitors sponsors Toby's Garden Festival in 2025

Garden legal eagles

In a first for Toby’s Garden Festival, visitors will have access to legal advice on a whole range of garden and land issues in 2025. We’ve teamed up with local legal eagles, WBW Solicitors, our festival sponsors and well-established legal and financial services firm who will be on hand with knowledgable experts who can help.

Book signings

Meet the speakers and get their latest book signed with help from the wonderful Tiverton bookshop, Liznojan. Books are signed after talks in the Main Speakers Marquee and you can also buy books from their stall in the Castle Courtyard.

Live music 

We love to support local music talent, and have a great line-up for you including Mama Pik’s musicians and the wonderful ukulele band, Sunny Side Up. Plus, if you fancy getting hands on on a ukulele there’s even a chance to make some noise yourself. See the festival programme on the day for timings.