BBC Gardeners’ World Live returns to the NEC Birmingham this summer (15-18 June) with inspiration, achievable take-home ideas and wonderful plants at every turn. Visitors can look forward to spectacular Show Gardens, bountiful Beautiful Borders, and delightful displays by specialist plant growers and nurseries in the Floral Marquee.
This year’s headline Show Garden is A Garden Fit for a King by multi award-winning garden designer, Paul Stone (Eden Project gardens, three Platinum Awards and Best in Show at BBC Gardeners’ World Live). The garden marks the Coronation of HM King Charles III and is inspired by the gardens, wildflower meadow and Arboretum at Highgrove, celebrating His Majesty’s passion for gardening and concern for the environment. An atmospheric Bothy cottage made from natural building materials will be a particular highlight. Paul Stone will be hosting a series of talks from the garden, sharing advice with visitors on how to recreate elements of the Coronation garden at home.
Two Show Gardens will shine a spotlight on women’s health and wellbeing. The Newson Health Menopause Show Garden will be a tranquil space for visitors to find information and advice on menopause and perimenopause, designed by award-winning garden designer, Ruth Gwynn (co-designer of Frances Tophill’s Platinum Award-winning Show Garden at BBC Gardeners’ World Live 2022). The Liz Earle Beauty Co.’s Botanical Show Garden, with feature plants to showcase the botanical ingredients of many Liz Earle Beauty Co.products, has been designed by Platinum Award winning garden and landscape designer, Lucy Bravington.James Wong, Liz Earle Beauty Co.’s ethnobotanist, will be sharing daily insights into the power of plants from the garden.
Gardening influencer, homesteader and passionate advocate of growing your own food, Lucy Hutchings (She Grows Veg), will be bringing the issue of food security to the forefront with her edible Show Garden, The Secret Homestead. With a dramatic black and white palette, accented by pops of vivid coral and pink, this less-than-conventional kitchen garden will be the setting for daily talks by Lucy and a line-up of leading GYO experts including Stephanie Hafferty and Cloud Gardener UK.
The Association of Professional Landscapers returns with its annual APL Avenue Show Garden Competition, where four contractor members create inspirational, achievable designs for a typical back garden. With the theme of ‘Take Me Home’, visitors will be sure to find a host of ideas to try, including ‘The Chic Garden Getaway’ that is designed to make you feel as if you’re away on holiday, and ‘The Beauty in Small Spaces’ which offers three separate garden styles in a single space.
Other Show Gardens include TheGarden Organic Backyard Biodiversity Garden designed by Emma O’Neill to inspire visitors to encourage more wildlife into their gardens, The Fontana Garden by Kim Parish Landscapes of Distinction, a homage to 92-year-old Derek Bishop’s 14-acre Cornish garden, and The Restoration Garden by Derby College, celebrating the transformation of Derbyshire’s Wingfield station, one of the world’s oldest railway stations.
Four Showcase Gardens include three winning gardens from the Wildlife Trust Garden Design Competition, a collaboration between Warwickshire Wildlife Trust and Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust, where the winning gardens will be rebuilt after the Show in a permanent home at a flagship Warwickshire Wildlife Trust location. Where There’s a Willow by Cathy Perry will focus on naturalistic planting, rewilding and upcycling.
Over in the Beautiful Borders, twenty designers will be providing inspiration for small gardens and challenging spaces by packing compact 9m2 with imaginative features and plants. This year’s theme is My Garden Escape, and Sue Kent, the award-winning garden designer, TV presenter and RHS disability ambassador, makes her debut with a Border that combines her love of colour, scent and painting.
Whether you’re a first-time grower or a seasoned sower, you’ll find the crème de la crème of gardening experts on-hand to offer advice. At the BBC Gardeners’ World Live Theatre, Monty Don, Adam Frost, Carol Klein, Frances Tophill and Alan Titchmarsh will be ‘in conversation’ with Nicki Chapman and sharing practical tips with the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine editors. Theatre sponsor British Garden Centres will host sessions with Chris Collins (Thursday and Friday) and Mr Plant Geek (Saturday and Sunday).
A day at BBC Gardeners’ World Live is only complete with a visit to the spectacular Floral Marquee, one of the biggest of its kind in the country, and outdoor Plant Village. A haven for plant lovers, visitors can browse and buy from carefully selected specialist growers and nurseries.
New for 2023 in the Floral Marquee is Hot Off the Potting Bench, a feature display of new plants and varieties, all contenders for the new Peter Seabrook Award for Best New Plant at BBC Gardeners’ World Live, launched earlier this year by the Colegrave Seabrook Foundation.
At the Floral Marquee’s Let’s Talk Plants Stage, expert David Hurrion will be hosting free drop-in sessions with plant specialists and experts. Stage sponsor, Hillier Nurseries, will take to the Stage to discuss their latest plant launches. At the heart of the Floral Marquee, visitors will find The Plant Experts where Head Gardeners Saul Walker (Stonelands House, Devon), Lucy Chamberlain (East Donyland Hall, Essex) and Matt Biggs (BBC Radio 4 Gardeners’ Question Time) will be on hand to share one-to-one gardening advice, so bring your plant queries to get all the lowdown. Plant Expert sponsor, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, will inspire visitors with a daily talk on Plants and Gardens of the World.
Other highlights include a walk-through garden by award-winning Ashwood Nurseries, a celebration display marking the 40th anniversary of Barnsdale Gardens which was founded by Geoff Hamilton, and Floral Marquee sponsor, Legal & General, who will be hosting a Lounge for their Retirement Customers to relax in.
The House Plant Hub features a new Stage, hosted by Ellen Mary and featuring experts including Joe Bagley, who will be sharing tips on how to create a happy home for healthy house plants. House plant fans should head for the House Plant Market for shopping.
For young gardeners, the ever-popular Health for Life School Wheelbarrow Competition for local schools returns. The competition is a celebration of hands-on gardening, teamwork and fun, and gives young people the opportunity to show off their creative flair to tens of thousands of show visitors. Yeo Valley Organics will have a presence at the Show with a larger-than-life floral feature of a planted-up milk bottle.
Tickets forBBC Gardeners’ World Live include entry to the BBC Good Food Show Summer, featuring demonstrations, entertaining interviews and book signings with top celebrity chefs, tastings and workshops, street food, and delicious food and drink to taste and buy. The star-studded line-up includes James Martin, Nadiya Hussain, Michel Roux, Ainsley Harriott and many more. Visitors can dine in style by booking a sit-down meal at the BBC Good Food Restaurant, inspired by the country’s leading food website, bbcgoodfood.com.
Rachel Poletti-Gadd, Portfolio Director – Gardening Division at Immediate Live, organisers of BBC Gardeners’ World Events, said: “BBC Gardeners’ World Live offers a truly exceptional day out for gardening fans and beginners alike. Plants are the hero of our flagship show and there is no better place to get ideas and expert advice to apply at home straight away. Gardening and growing is for everyone, and our focus is on offering visitors achievable inspiration, practical advice from well-known experts, and plentiful opportunities to get up close and personal with some wonderful plants. With BBC Good Food Show Summer on site too, there’s some pretty tasty food to be had too!”
Tickets for BBC Gardeners’ World Live at the NEC Birmingham (15-18 June), including entry to BBC Good Food Show Summer, are on sale now at www.bbcgardenersworldfair.com.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
For further information, interviews or pictures, please contact:
Julie Parmenter at Brampton PR, e: jparmenter@hotmail.co.uk, tel: 07775 715936 / 01981 251820
Press accreditation is open. To apply for a pass and for more information on the show, please click here
BBC Gardeners’ World Live, 15 – 18 June NEC Birmingham | bbcgardenersworldlive.com. Event contact: ssr@immediate.co.uk.
Details correct at time of print. BBC Gardeners’ World Live is organised and presented by Immediate Live (the trading name of River Street Events Ltd). The Gardeners’ World logo is a trademark of BBC. © BBC.
Thursday 16 June 9am – 6pm
Friday 17 June 9am – 6pm
Saturday 18 June 9am – 6pm
Sunday 19 June 9am – 5pm
Co-located with the BBC Good Food Show Summer.
Book tickets: bbcgardenersworldlive.com