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Viola & Pansy Festival

8th March - 16th March 2025

Viola and pansies are very important plants in our gardens. During the frosty months of winter and early spring, they are among the hardiest, longest flowering and most colourful plants we have. Violas are also uniquely able to fill that colour gap between our spring flowering plants and the summer bedding plants.

Meadow Croft has held Viola and Pansy Festivals every March since 2004. It is the largest independent variety trial of these plants held in the world, with seed of new varieties supplied by plant breeders from around the world.

Each year new and experimental varieties are displayed for the first time. All the plants for the festival are grown by W.D Smith & Son, owners of Meadow Croft Garden Centre in their own glasshouses nearby, and then moved to the Garden Centre for the festival.

The past twenty years have seen surprising changes in the cultivars on display, not just new colours, or larger flowers, but very significant developments in the shape and habit of some new varieties. We now have plants that really do trail and spread, making them much more suitable for containers and hanging baskets.

Each year visitors to the festival play an important part, by voting for their favourite varieties from amongst those displayed. Each voter receives a free hot drink in our restaurant, Meadow Croft Kitchen. The votes are later counted and the ‘Top Ten’ Festival Favourites published in the gardening and trade press.

As a horticultural garden centre, we are keen to get the younger generations interested in gardening and inspire them to grow their own. Over the two weekends, we will be giving out a free Meadow Croft Goody Bag for all the children that come to the festival and vote for their festival favourites, as well as having entertainment such as face painting, live music, craft stalls and much more!

Come along to the Viola and Pansy Festival next March to vote for your favourites.

 

         

 

Previous Pansy & Viola Winners 

2024

 

Number Type Series Variety
1st Viola Sorbet XP  Morpho
2nd Viola Floral Power Purple Pearls
3rd Viola Bel Viso Orange Jump Up
4th Viola Floral Power Orange Red Wing
5th Viola Floral Power Yellow Beacon
6th Viola Deltini  Rose Pink
7th Viola Sorbet XP Lemon Jump Up
8th Viola Penny Pro Blue Marina
9th Viola Deltini  Honeybee
10th Viola Bel Viso Pineapple Crush

 

2023

Number Type Series Variety
1st Viola Tiger Eye Yellow
2nd Pansy Mystique Moonlight
3rd Viola Sorbet XP Pink Halo
4th Viola Corina White Purple Wing
5th Pansy Panola XP Beaconsfield
6th Viola Sorbet XP Morpho
7th Pansy Cats Purple and White 
8th Viola Bel Viso Blue Beacon
9th Pansy Carrera Azure
10th= Viola Bel Viso Pineapple
10th= Viola Bel Viso Victoriana

 

2022

Number Type Series Variety
1st Viola Bel Viso Orange Jump Up
2nd Viola Rocky Violet Blue
3rd Viola Rocky Orange with Purple Wing
4th Viola Corina White Purple Wing
5th Viola Bel Viso  Blueberry Swirl
6th Viola Bel Viso Pineapple Crush
7th Viola Deltini Honeybee
8th Pansy Cello Deep Orange w/ Blotch
9th Pansy Delta Blue with Blotch
10th= Viola Rocky Orange with Purple Wing Improved
10th=  Pansy Power Patricia

 

2021

Number Type Series Variety
1st Viola Bel Viso Pineapple Crush
2nd Viola Bel Viso Yellow Jump Up
3rd Viola Sorbet Tiger Eye
4th Viola Deltini Copperfield
5th Viola Quicktime Mickey
6th Viola Rocky Orange with Purple Wing
7th Viola Tiger Eye Red
8th Viola Bel Viso Lemon Rose Wing
9th Viola Grandissimo Berry Pie
10th Viola Corina White Rose Wing

 

Image of Tiger Eye Yellow

 

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Our German Market is in full swing with all the favourites; Schokokuss, bratwurst, Bavarian Curling, beer, Stollen and lots of carefully selected authentic products. No need for the Eurostar, and parking is free.
Our staff are soooo excited that our cut Christmas trees have arrived-well Louise is particularly excited.
They look and smell wonderful and are really getting us in the festive spirit. Our top quality Nordmann Fir no drop trees range from 4 foot to 7 foot and are priced from £29.99 to £79.99. Can’t fit it in your car? No problem, we offer a home delivery service which one of our team will be happy to advise on. We also sell a range of artificial and potted Christmas trees, so something for everyone.
We look forward to seeing you at Meadow Croft
Opening hours:
Monday -Saturday 9am-5pm
Sunday 10am-4pm

Also look out for our festive late night shopping evenings when the whole store and restaurant will be open until 9pm
A quick reminder that Meadow Croft's Late Nights start tonight (Wednesday 20th November)...we can't wait. Featuring live performances from Rayleigh Brass, you can do some late-night shopping at both the German Market and the Garden Centre, then stop by the Market Tavern for a drink and a bite to eat
That industrious group at SWF Man Shed have made this fantastic Library for the Community Garden. It just keeps getting better down there.
Schokokuss or chocolate kisses are a festive staple in Germany and at our market.

What’s your favourite flavour? We know ours, let us know yours.
Today we will be taking part in the 2 minute silence at 11am to remember those who lost their lives in conflict.
Our late night German Market Experiences start this week, and it's free to park and enter!
Tag us with #meadowcroftgermanmarket to be in with a chance of winning £100 Meadow Croft gift card.
Our beautiful German smokers are selling fast. These authentic, hand crafted figures fill your home with scents of Christmas. Lots of our customers collect them to create a stunning Christmassy scene. Meadow Croft German Market, open every day until 23rd December.
We are so proud of the South Woodham Community Garden who were presented with a certificate of OUTSTANDING achievement by Margaret of Anglia in Bloom last week. The garden is by the entrance of Meadow Croft, if you would like to get involved, please ask in store.
The first of our beautiful homemade wreaths have just arrived in store. Our team on the nursery are very busy right now making these under direct supervision from Honey and Elvis (the cats).
We're very proud of our wreaths the team make the best quality about.
Keep an eye open for some wreath decorating workshops, details are to be announced immanently.
Our late night Christmas shopping events kick off on Wednesday 20th November. We will be open until 9pm every Wednesday and Thursday until 12th December. The evenings are lovely and festive, with lots of exclusive offers in store and the chance to sample lots of Christmas goodies. We will have Rayleigh Brass Band there to serenade you all with Christmas tunes and our restaurant will be serving a delicious selection of festive specials. The whole store will be open so you can browse at your leisure and of course our German Market and the food huts will be in full swing. So, wrap up warm and invite your family and friends to join you for a game of curling, a bratwurst, gluhwein or simply to soak up the atmosphere at Meadow Croft Garden Centre. Entry is free and there is no need to book. Also tag us with #meadowcroftgermanmarket in your photo of your late night shopping experience to be in with a chance of winning a £100 Meadow Croft gift card.
#meadowcroftgermanmarket
Make a gingerbread house like us. Only £10.99 from Meadow Croft Garden Centre, so easy even we could do it! Winter Secco optional but HIGHLY recommended. Enjoy!

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