IT’S going to be a journey of discovery for visitors to next year’s Malvern Spring Festival.

Following on from this year’s hugely successful celebration of the area’s heritage as a Victorian spa resort, inspiration for next year’s show is being drawn from The Great Exhibition of 1851.

Hosted at the Three Counties Showground in Malvern, from May 10-13 the theme for 2018 will bring the influences of The Great Exhibition into 21st century living.

Head of show, Diana Walton, said: “We're channelling the spirit of the Great Exhibition with plenty of innovation, education and a spectacular day out. There’ll be so much for visitors to explore. We’re also linking into the ambition of the Great Exhibition and hoping that just as its influence lived on long after the event, our visitors will have such a memorable day it will leave a lasting impression for many years to come.”

The town of Malvern was put into the global spotlight in 1851 when its prized waters formed the Great Exhibition centrepiece. At the opening ceremony, led by Queen Victoria, its waters cascaded through a magnificent 26ft crystal Schweppes fountain.

Diana added: “We’ll certainly have our own striking features to admire. We’ve introduced lots of fresh aspects to surprise and delight such as Giant Terrariums and The Great Pavilion of Art & Flowers, as well as our brand new garden feature, Green Living Spaces.

“We believe that we showcase the very best in gardening, food and lifestyle, from our inspiring show gardens and award-winning nurseries to fabulous food from inspirational chefs and lots of family fun, and we know our 2018 festival is going to be magnificent.”