Final preparations are underway at Audley End House and Gardens for this year’s BBC Gardeners’ World Autumn Fair, taking place from Friday 30 August – Sunday 1 September, in association with English Heritage. Thousands of green-fingered folk will flock to the stunning Saffron Walden setting for inspiring autumnal gardens and displays, expert advice and ideas to take home, talks, tours, workshops and the odd plant or two.
This year’s headline Showcase Garden is The Raised Bed Revealed, designed by garden writer and presenter, David Hurrion. The garden celebrates the role of raised beds in contemporary gardening, trouncing the notion that raised beds are only for growing veg! Pip Probert from BBC Two’s Your Garden Made Perfect has designedabold Showcase Garden called Summer’s Last Hurrah!, remindingvisitors thatdespite the changing season, our outdoor spaces can still offer vibrant colour. Hertfordshire designer Val Christman has found inspiration in a derelict water mill for her Showcase Garden, Just Milling Around.
Amongst exciting new horticultural highlights at this year’s Autumn Fair is a drought-tolerant display garden by Beth Chatto's Plants & Gardens. Experts from the acclaimed Colchester plant nursery will be on hand with advice, seed sowing demonstrations and plants to buy. Also new for 2024 is the Get Growing Stage featuring host, TV chef Marcus Bean, with a daily programme of sessions by expert produce growers. Session themes include mushroom growing, garden upcycling, fermenting pickles, eco bird food recipes and dahlia growing.
BBC Gardeners’ World presenter Rachel de Thame joins the Autumn Fair for the first time this year, taking to the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Stage on Sunday 1st September. Rachel will be chatting with Magazine editor Claire Vennis about breaking gardening habits to try growing something new, how to get the most from autumn veg, and how to encourage more wildlife into the garden. Adam Frost will be Friday’s Stage guest and Joe Swift on Saturday.
BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine subscribers can enjoy the comfort of the Subscriber Club Lounge, featuring refreshments and daily talks by the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine editors, special guests and Lounge sponsor, The Woodland Trust.
For visitors keen to learn new skills, there’s an extended workshop programme this year featuring Bug Hotel Building, Autumn Bouquet Making, Sweet Pea Seed Sowing, and Oyster Mushroom Growing. Specialist growers, nurseries and retailers will have a wide range of seasonal plants, gardening kit, furniture, tools and accessories to buy, with a Plant Creche for bag-free shopping.
Always popular at BBC Gardeners’ World Events are the Beautiful Borders. These design-packed delights are crammed with creative features and eye-catching planting, providing take-home inspiration for small gardens and challenging spaces. This year’s theme is ‘Share My Space, and designs range from an artist’s studio garden to gardens inspired by flamingos, tea drinking and outdoor eating.
The Association of Professional Landscapers’ Skills Competition also returns this year. Teams from two local APL member companies, Tisserand English Garden Landscapes from Bishops Stortford and Landscapes By Design from Basildon, will showcase their teams’ professional landscaping skills to complete an impressive competition standard show garden in just 16.5 hours. Visitors can watch the teams put final touches to their designs as the clock ticks down before judging starts. The Association of Professional Landscapers will be hosting a new Design Clinic at the Autumn Fair, offering visitors expert, one-to-one advice on garden design and landscaping.
Not a gardener but love a great day out? There’s plenty to do. Visitors can sample tempting treats, enjoy delicious street food, and grab some goodies to take home at the Good Food Market. There’s live, toe-tapping music at the bandstand, an alfresco bar, shopping and plenty of time for a stroll too. Autumn Fair tickets include 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. History fans can enjoy performances by historic characters, Capability Brown and Mr. Vert, the Victorian Kitchen Gardener. Well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome in the grounds.
Rachel Poletti-Gadd, Portfolio Director - Gardening Division at Immediate Live, organisers of BBC Gardeners’ World Autumn Fair, said: “Audley End House and Gardens is a glorious location to enjoy the changing season so what better place to host the BBC Gardeners’ World Autumn Fair with our friends, English Heritage. It’s a great end-of-summer day out for keen gardeners, non-gardeners and families alike, with furry friends welcome too! There’s inspiration, friendly gardening chat and expert advice at every turn and you’re sure to take new ideas home.”
Advance adult prices for the BBC Gardeners’ World Autumn Fair start from £16.50 (concessions £15.50), or £13.50 for English Heritage adult members (£12 concessions). Find out more and book tickets at www.bbcgardenersworldfair.com.
*Details correct at time of writing
