Multi award-winning garden designer, Pip Probert, from BBC 2’s Your Garden Made Perfect, is designing the headline feature garden at this year’s BBC Gardeners’ World Autumn Fair, taking place at Audley End House and Gardens in Saffron Walden, Essex from 29 – 31 August.
Pip’s Make a Metre Matter Garden is designed to bring to life this year’s BBC Gardeners’ World ‘Make a Metre Matter’ campaign, which encourages gardeners to transform a metre of outdoor space for the good of the planet. More than 13,500 eco-friendly metres have been pledged at gardenersworld.com to date, and Pip’s feature garden is brimming with meaningful metres to inspire Autumn Fair visitors to get involved.
Set in a realistic small plot, the garden features all the interests of a true gardener, with veg beds, wildlife and pollinator patches, a water bowl mini pond with oxygenating plants, planters for structure, and plenty of Pip’s signature recycled style. A removable shade sail creates shelter from the rain and cover for shade-loving plants. Alpines and succulents will find a home amongst gravel and stepping stones, softening the hard landscaping and filling every space with green.
Pip Probert said: “In the Make a Metre Matter Garden, we’re aiming to show multiple ways of enhancing just a small amount of garden space and to demonstrate how re-using things can be done in a way that looks new and fresh. The garden will have a range of creative planting combinations and will demonstrate that even the smallest garden space can attract wildlife. It’s been wonderful to create Make a Metre Matter spaces at all BBC Gardeners’ World events this year, and this garden is full of colour and different plant types, providing a burst of interest as we move into autumn.”
The BBC Gardeners’ World Autumn Fair offers a great day out for budding gardeners, keen growers, foodies and non-gardeners alike. Horticultural highlights include Showcase Gardens, Beautiful Borders and floral displays by specialist plant nurseries. At the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Stage, BBC Gardeners’ World presenters Adam Frost (Fri), Arit Anderson and Rachel de Thame (both Sat) and Frances Tophill (Sun) join the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine editors to share seasonal gardening advice, all hosted by plant expert, David Hurrion.
The Autumn Table is an exciting new space for seasonal food, drink and table décor inspiration, hosted by BBC food presenter Chris Bavin. On the menu are cheese and apple tasting with urban smallholder Sara Ward (Hen Corner), cocktail tasting with Mike Grieshaber from The Surrey Copper Distillery, dried-flower wreath making with Shilpa Reddy (The London School of Floristry) and an introduction to Ikebana floristry with Jordan Weston (The Bearded Botanist). Pre-book an exclusive seat or drop by to watch and learn.
Also new is the In Conversation with Stage where host Ade Sellars (The Good Life Gardener) hosts laid-back chats with a gardening guest like headline garden designer Pip Probert, mushroom growers Caley Brothers, dahlia expert Kim O’Brien and community flower grower Cara Thompson (Make It Flourish).
There are plants, garden décor, tools, furniture and accessories to browse and buy, guided Kitchen Garden tours led by the Autumn Fair’s Plant Experts, hands-on workshops and demonstrations, and a Plant Creche for easy shopping. Fancy an iced latte or a tasty treat? You won’t go hungry, with vibrant street food options, artisan produce in the Good Food Market, the English Heritage afternoon tea tent, alfresco coffee and cocktail bars, and feel-good live music.
Lucy Tremlett, Event Director at Immediate Live, organisers of BBC Gardeners’ World events, said: “Set against the spectacular backdrop of Audley End House and Gardens, the Autumn Fair’s Showcase Gardens and Beautiful Borders never fail to impress, sparking fresh ideas for our visitors to try at home. It’s going to be wonderful to see Pip Probert bring the BBC Gardeners’ World Make a Metre Matter campaign brought to life with her headline garden and to celebrate the 30th anniversary of our good friends, the Association of Professional Landscapers, with their very special wildlife garden.”
BBC Gardeners’ World Autumn Fair advance adult tickets start from £24.50 (concessions £22.50). All tickets include full access to Audley End’s grand mansion with its great hall, state rooms, dressing rooms, servants’ wing, stables and chapel, and the organic walled Kitchen Garden, grounds, gardens, parklands and children’s play area. Well-behaved dogs on leads welcome in the grounds.
The limited-edition VIP Extra package offers dedicated parking close to the Fair’s entrance, a VIP Lounge with comfy seating, a glass or two of fizz, refreshments, goody bag and extra talks by the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine editors and special guests. BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine subscribers can enjoy access to the Subscriber Club Lounge, featuring extra seating, refreshment options and talks. English Heritage members receive exclusive ticket rates, with anytime entry, free parking and a free BBC Magazine.
Find out more and book tickets at www.bbcgardenersworldfair.com.
Source Julie Parmenter, Brampton PR
