BBC Gardeners World Live HQ has been busy over the past few months confirming a host of exciting new features to inspire your gardening at this year’s show, at the NEC from 11 – 14 June.
Show Gardens show you how
See the colours, smell the scents, and absorb the ideas – there’s no better way to get inspiration than by seeing stunning garden designs and styles right in front of you. The new Lifestyle Garden category illustrates how gardens can be designed to suit different life stages, from first home to new family and ultimately a retirement haven. This year’s show garden designers are a hot-bed of both emerging and established talent. One to watch is Paul Harris, finalist in BBC2s recent ‘Great Chelsea Garden Challenge’, with his ‘First Home’ Lifestyle Garden.
BBC Gardeners’ World Live Theatre sponsored by Wyevale Garden Centres
This stage boasts a prestigious line-up of Monty Don, Carol Klein, Joe Swift and Toby Buckland, hosted by James Alexander-Sinclair. Budding designers, or those with a gardening project, should book seats to see Joe Swift as he talks about his design principles. Or avid Gardeners’ World viewers should see Monty Don as he discusses inspirational developments at Longmeadow. Additionally, Nicky Roeber, of theatre sponsor Wyevale Garden Centres, talks visitors thorough key looks and colour in the garden.
Right Plant Right Place
This is the place to go for planting ideas and inspiration to turn a difficult area from an eyesore into a flourishing oasis! Award-winning designer Adam Frost (RHS Chelsea Gold Medal freshly under his belt for the Homebase Garden) and landscaper Jody Lidgard collaborate to create a garden of pockets filled with beautiful plant combinations suited to different situations - from full sun to moisture loving and dry shade to aquatic.
RHS Floral Marquee and RHS Plant Village, the places to buy plants
With over 100 independent nurseries you’ll be sure to find what you’re looking for and some surprises too! Every year the show sees new plant introductions that have not been available to the public before – so you can take home a piece of horticultural history!
The Gardeners’ World Magazine Pots Zone
This new feature, dedicated to successful results from container gardening, features a stage, demo area and stunning displays. A host of experts share their ‘Container Style’ including Mary Berry (Friday) and you can pick up a ‘recipe card’ on the day to re-create the showstoppers at home! Don’t miss the Have A Go area hosted by Gardeners’ Question Time’s Matt Biggs, BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine team talks, and zone inspiring you to grow pots for scent, colour, wildlife and veggies.
Love the Plot You Got "Live", with the Association of Professional Landscapers (APL)
New this year the show has an un-missable opportunity for anyone wishing to give their garden an overhaul. Visitors can access the most experienced and knowledgeable people in the gardening industry at this show feature. The APL demonstrate techniques that can be achieved in a relatively small space on a budget, and show how the garden can be used as extended living space.
Skinny Jean Gardeners with Veg Trug
The Skinny Jean Gardeners, who are on a mission to inject fun and creativity into gardening, will be appearing on the Kitchen Garden Talks Tent in conjunction with Veg Trug, and inspiring kids to get growing with regular Sow n’ Grow demos on Family Weekend. They’ll be joined by 13-year old RHS Young Gardener of the Year 2012, Lucas Hatch, for kids Grow Your Own sessions.
The Potting Bench
Access to expert advice is what this show is all about. At the Potting Bench, in the heart of the RHS Floral Marquee, the owners of the nurseries host hands-on demos of their specialist subjects from Alpine Troughs with D’Arcy & Everest to veg plant propagation with Barnsdale Gardens. The RHS Gardening Advice team will also be on hand to answer all your gardening questions.
Window Boxes
New this year the Window Box Competition, in association with Elho Products and Veolia Pro-Grow,showcase the talents of 24 West-Midlands based gardeners. With many of the designs taking an edible theme, visitors will be able to take away great ideas for making even the smallest of spaces productive.
