The Love the Plot You've Got Roadshows have got off to a flying start at the opening day of the Edible Garden Show/Good Life Live at Alexandra Palace.

The industry wide campaign highlights inspirational options for transforming small outdoor spaces. Alongside the 'before' plot are spaces themed around entertaining, growing your own,  using containers and decorating a balcony.

Suppliers from across the industry including Mr Fothergills, Woodlodge, Aylett Nurseries,  Copely and Outdoor Gourmet have provided products for the feature, which will continue on its journey around the UK after the show this weekend.

David Arnold, Love the Plot campaign manager comments: 'It has been a fantastic first day at Good Life Live with the feature receiving alot of interest from visitors to the show. Many beginner gardeners have come through the door looking for ideas and inspiration."

He adds: "People can really relate to the spaces and importantly are signing up for further inspiration on the website/social media."

Retailer stakeholders from Aylett Nurseries (who also provided the plants) and Perrywood Garden Centre spent the day at the show engaging with visitors.

Lyn Eden, Retail Specialist from Aylett Nurseries, comments: "Everyone is really connecting with the themes of the outdoor spaces - they are creating a real talking point. The edible beds, packed with herbs, are really popular - especially to the school groups visiting."

GCA Rising Star winner Kirsty Clark, from Perrywood, adds: "The entertainment themed space has really caught peoples' attention. With bright pots, colourful furniture, innovative yet simple use of sleepers and vertical planting there are plenty of ideas to inspire.

"It has been really insightful to speak to visitors about how they view their gardens. Plenty of learning to take back and feed into our own displays."

The Roadshows are part of the innovative 3 year Love the Plot You’ve Got Campaign which has been created following detailed research into consumer perceptions about their desires for their outdoor living spaces, especially among the key 30-45 year old age group.

The emphasis is on easy, affordable ways to improve tired, neglected outdoor living spaces to make them places for Rest, Relaxation, Socialising and Play.

The Inspiring Roadshow gardens are made up of a ‘before’ garden, which will represent the hundreds of thousands of neglected, tired back gardens across the country, together with three ‘transformations’ and a balcony garden feature:

• The Entertaining Garden shows with just a little imagination, consumers can have their own special oasis of calm to socialise with friends or simply “Chill” after a busy day.
• The Container or Portable Garden shows just how even those who live in small gardens can create a lovely outdoor living space that’s easy to achieve and manage. Even those who live in rented accommodation can have a wonderful outdoor space that when they move, they can take their garden with them!
• The Edible Garden combines vegetables and edible flowers into a great looking plot that provides tasty, nutritious things to eat, that’s lovely to look at, even when space is limited
• The Balcony Garden shows how even tiny spaces can be converted into colourful little havens to relax and even entertain in.

The Roadshows are supported by horticulturalist, broadcaster and TV gardener Chris Collins, who will provide tips and demonstrations including planting a hanging basket, seed sowing, day to day gardening advice and free interactive kids gardening activities to inspire the next generation.

Visitors to the Love the Plot You’ve Got Roadshow will meet friendly advisors who will provide them with easy to understand, jargon-free information and achievable and realistic advice on how to transform their outdoor living spaces, small or large.

From Alexandra Palace, the roadshow will then tour the UK stopping at cities and events. Visit www.loveyourplot.com for full details of each Roadshow venue.

Love the Plot You’ve Got Roadshow dates

• 20-22 March:    Good Life Live, London
• 11-12 April:      Van Hage Garden Centre, Great Amwell
• 18-19 April:      Scotsdale Garden Centre, Cambridge
• 25 – 26 April:   Webbs of Wychbold, Worcestershire
• 2-3 May:          Cardiff (tbc)
• 8-10 May:        Garden Show Ireland, Belfast
• 23-24 May:      George Square, Glasgow
• 29-31 May:     Gardening Scotland, Edinburgh
• June:             Garden centres (to be announced)
• 17-20 July:     Home and Garden Show, Stratford upon Avon

Manufacturers and suppliers from across the industry have gathered together to support the campaign, for a list of our partners visit www.loveyourplot.com/partners.

For a list of retailers participating in the campaign, visit www.loveyourplot.com/find-a-retailer