Kick-start your gardening year at Toby’s Garden Festival

Toby’s Garden Festival takes place at Powderham Castle on Friday 29th and Saturday 30th April this year.

This colourful festival is a joint collaboration by gardening broadcaster Toby Buckland and the popular magazine Country Gardener. The festival has popped up annually since 2014 in the stunning location of Powderham Castle, near Exeter, the 14th century family home of the Earl and Countess of Devon.

The main focus of the event 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 - it makes 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.

Artisan Barn

This under-cover area is in the lofty barn environs of the Castle’s riding stables, filled with canopied market stalls, offering quality West Country craft, art, house plants and hand-made edibles. And there’s lots of indoor seating to rest awhile.

Feast Street

Tummy rumbling? Head here for a curated range of street food sellers, hand-picked by the knowledgeable festival team. On the menu, you’ll find 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 the Country Gardener Talks Tent, an informal setting for nursery speakers who talk and give demos on everything from peonies to air plants.

Castle and Courtyard

Inside the castle you will find the VIP Experience located in the luxurious music room and library overlooking the deer park. Head to the wood-panelled Dining Room for the speaker programme which runs for free all day, both days of the festival.

In the ancient castle courtyard, under a rainbow of colourful pop-up gazebos, you’ll find a range of food craft and nursery exhibitors.

Get savings on advance tickets

A Festival ticket entitles you to one-day’s entry to the Festival. Children under 16 are admitted free. Please note much of the festival is outdoors, so it’s advisable to check the weather forecast and come prepared!

There are a variety of ticket types available, with savings on tickets bought in advance. VIP tickets are also available. There are also limited tickets available for special Tea and Cake in the Castle tickets.

Purchase all tickets here.

Getting there

Powderham Castle is located just outside Exeter and can be reached by car, bus, bike and even ferry! Well-behaved dogs on short leads are welcome. View all transport options here.

So what are you waiting for? Book your tickets for a fun-packed day of brilliant plant shopping, garden talks, horticultural crafts and a chance to sample delicious locally produced food.