A GARDEN designer will be exhibiting a commemorative show garden at the RHS Malvern Spring Festival to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day.

Martyn Wilson is a fourth generation RAF veteran and was inspired by tales from his grandfather, who served in the battle for Normandy during D-Day.

Martin said:“Excitingly, visitors to the show will be able to walk through the garden to celebrate peace and reconciliation and reflect upon the bravery and sacrifice of so many in World War Two.”

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Martyn is collaborating with the Netherlands Embassy in London, Royal Delft, Dutch growers and NATO forces stationed in nearby Gloucester to create this special garden.

The show garden will be part of wider VE Day celebrations where there will be plenty of Union Jacks flying, vintage music and singing, military vehicles and dancing.

Diana Walton, head of shows at Three Counties Showground, said: “There is no one better to create a special commemorative VE Day show garden than Martyn.

“With his connection to the military and his tremendous gardening ability, I have no doubt this show garden will do the occasion justice and be an extremely popular attraction through the weekend.”

The garden will heavily feature tulips which are based on the harsh winter of 1944-1945 when the German-occupied Netherlands suffered from severe food and fuel shortages. During the famine, known in the Netherlands as the ‘Honger Winter’, tulip bulbs were commonly eaten, including by actress Audrey Hepburn.

During his career, Martyn was stationed at RAF Bruggen in Germany and frequently visited the Netherlands and towns such as Arnhem and Nijmegen the location of the infamous Operation Market Garden and the allied airborne invasion and the VE Day garden has been inspired by these visits.

The four-day festival, which runs from May 7 to 10, will,for the first year ever, host the Music at Malvern outdoor concert series featuring performances by Lesley Garrett, the 54-piece English Symphony Orchestra and a Garden Party with BBC Radio 2’s Jo Whiley.

Last year, around 102,000 attended the show.

For tickets, visit: rhsmalvern.co.uk or call 0844 811 0050.

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