Part of the feature being created at BBC Gardeners' World Live at the NEC on June 16-19 to celebrate the incredible horticultural work of the late Peter Seabrook MBE is going to be dedicated to a display of ‘new’ plants.

We all know one of things Peter was always driving forward, was new plant varieties. One of the few gardening journalists who really ‘got’ the publics desire for ‘new’, Peter championed good new plants in the displays he created at shows for over 50 years. This feature has already captured considerable interest from the gardening press. 

How could we honour him better than by incorporating your ‘new’ into this 2022 display? The team of people who have worked for years with Peter creating show displays is now building on his original concept of the display to celebrate the Centenary of the BBC and 60 years of TV gardening, by creating a Mighty Terrace to feature new plants within the 80m² display in the shows Floral Marquee. This display will also highlight two of Peter’s other great interests  — The David Colegrave Foundation and Floral Fantasia. 

How do you get involved?

Whether you have a new variety of summer bedding plant, hardy shrub, fruit or vegetable, then we want to incorporate it into the display - and you will want it to be there for the public to see.

All we need is a good potfull. Ideally in a plastic or lightweight ornamental pot preferably no more than 450mm (18”) diameter (we do need to be able to move them around!). Your plant(s) need not be grown in that pot, but could be plunged and surrounded by support plants to set off your main subject to create an inspirational look. We do not mind if it is still in just its grower pot straight off your nursery! 

What do we define as ‘NEW’?

New for us means launched to the trade for sale to the public to buy for the first time in 2022. Equally it may be something, until now secret, that you have coming on line for the 2023 season.

What do we need?

As we said above a good potfull of plant! Then with your stick in label that has your company name, logo and the plant variety name clearly on it. This needs to be readable by the public who will be held back by the rope and post fence up to 3m away. We also need your ‘magic story’ of the plant and a crib sheet with answers to those questions you know Peter would have asked you! Things like weather tolerance, hardiness, flowering time and period, feeding, pruning and where it can be bought, so those manning the stand can answer questions and promote your plants to the journalists and visitors to the show. Make sure we have any promotion give-a-ways you have too.

When do we need it?

Ideally bring it direct to the NEC on Monday 13th June, but with all that is going on at that time of year we can arrange an earlier date and drop off location if this makes it easier for you to get involved. 

What else?

Peter was passionate about new plants. That was one of his driving forces behind Floral Fantasia the display at RHS Hyde Hall, near his home in Essex. If you agree, your plants may be moved to the display there after GWL finishes. The display we are creating in Birmingham is in part to draw attention to the fantastic work being done on Floral Fantasia, so your participation is supporting that industry initiative. 

Where we get information in time, we will compile a list of the plants on display and promote them to the Press attending the show. We are considering running an ‘audience participation’ aspect of getting visitors to vote for their favourite plant. We might be able to turn this into a prize winning opportunity for a lucky visitor to win some NGGV? If we can find somebody to do this, we might turn this digital!

What next?

Get in touch today and let us know what plants you would like to bring. You can enter as many as you like, (we may have to restrict numbers) so first come first served. We realise ‘on the day’ you might want to change your ‘what’ if you find something is looking better than you thought it might.

For more information email info@davidcolegravefoundation.org.uk

Pictured: Peter Seabrook was always passionate about bringing worthwhile varieties of new plants to market that had commerciality and longevity.

Rachael de Thame with Peter beside his Pyramid of new plants at Chelsea Flower Show 2021 filming a piece to camera for the BBCTv coverage of new plants at the show – here with Verbena Margaret’s Memory.