BBC Gardeners' World Fair Spring 2022: Recent Episodes
Immediate Live / Cre8media Ltd 2022
The BBC Gardeners' World Spring Fair at Beaulieu, in the New Forest - April 29th - 1st May 2022. Plants to buy + The Hillier Experience + Great shopping + Planting inspiration in the Beautiful Borders+ BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine’s Stage + Gardening Inspiration + Plant Expert Tours+ BBC Good Food Market + Street food + Live bandstand entertainment+ Beaulieu Grounds and Gardens
Hosted by Chris Bavin
Roll up your sleeves, get hands-on with beautiful seasonal flowers, and take home something truly lovely.
Expert-led, relaxed, and full of autumn charm, the Autumn Table masterclasses include wreath-making with Shilpa Reddy and ikebana-inspired table decorating with Jordan Weston.
Either book at the same time as tickets, or you can come back at any point to add a workshop independently.
Rachel de Thame will share gardening advice at BBC Gardeners’ World Live.
We’re delighted to announce that BBC2 Gardeners’ World presenter, Rachel de Thame, will join the expert line-up at the BBC Gardeners’ World Live 2025.
Joe Bagley is the creator of ukhouseplants.com which influences and teaches people about houseplant care in a simplistic, standardised way.
From top tips, care requirements and common issues, keeping your houseplant alive is just a scroll away.
Ade Sellars AKA ‘The Good Life Gardener’ is an award-winning garden writer, garden designer, presenter and filmmaker, with a passion for growing food in his kitchen garden.
After working in London as a TV editor and director for many years, he re-trained with the RHS at Capel Manor before upping sticks and moving to the heart of rural Suffolk to build the kitchen garden of his dreams and launch a media and gardening business.
As well as a regular gardening presenter on the QVC channel, Ade hosted the Urban Gardening Stage at Gardeners’ World Live at the Birmingham NEC in June 2024.
The winner of The Beth Chatto Environmental Award 2023, Ade writes for several gardening magazines and gives talks and demonstrations around the country, as well as creating film content for garden shows and brands. Having filmed and created his YouTube gardening mini-series Down The Garden Path, it was picked up by ITV’s Alan Titchmarsh’s Gardening Club earlier this year and shown weekly on the programme.
Sara Ward has transformed her Victorian terraced house in London into an urban smallholding, ‘Hen Corner’, complete with chickens, honeybees, fruit trees and overflowing veg patches. Last year they harvested £3,000 worth of food from their back garden. Her recent book ‘Living the Good Life in the City’ shares some of the ways she and her family have brought city and country together, and shows that you, too, can make a difference to how you live and the food you eat.
See Arit at BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair.
Arit is a regular presenter on BBC2 Gardeners’ World.
Prior to this, she spent 25 years working in retail fashion and creative events, which she balanced with interests in well-being and holistic therapies, leading her to the world of gardening.
See Adam Frost at BBC Gardeners’ World Autumn Fair
Adam Frost, presenter on BBC2s Gardeners’ World, is a regular at BBC Gardeners’ World Live, sharing top tips and advice live on stage.
David Hurrion has spent more than 20 years writing for and editing the nation’s crop of garden magazines, and is now Associate Editor for BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine.
David has also appeared both as a regular contributor and an horticultural commentator on a wide range of national and local radio programmes, as well as on television.
David’s knowledge is based on more than 40 years of growing plants, working in gardens and nurseries, and gardening his own plots in many different parts of the UK. He studied horticulture at Writtle College in Essex and went on to gain his certificate in education which took him to teach at some of the country’s foremost horticultural colleges. He has also travelled to every continent with the exception of antarctica to discover plants and gardens, both independently and, on more than 40 trips accompanying groups of gardeners. Click here for his website.
Saul Walker fell in love with horticulture through his Grandparents passion for visiting historic houses and gardens, and after a brief spell as an Archaeologist, he went to train and work as a Gardener for the National Trust at Antony House in Cornwall.
After many years there he was accepted to study on the prestigious 3-year Kew Diploma of Botanical Horticulture at RBG, Kew and was exposed to the fantastic plant collections in the gardens and glasshouses, as well as travelling to Australia, Southern Spain and the French Riviera to study plants in their native habitats.
Following his time at Kew he spent a couple of years as part of the Show management teams for both the RHS Hampton Court Palace and RHS Chelsea Flower Show respectively, however he was unable to resist the call back to his native Devon, where he is now the Head Gardener of Stonelands House- a privately owned 10-acre garden.
Saul’s speciality interests include Woodland Gardens, Orchids, and Exotic plants. A member of the RHS Tender Plant Committee and Trustee of The Hardy Plant Society and the Chartered Institute of Horticulture, he also co-hosts the Talking Heads Podcast with Lucy Chamberlain.
Pip Probert is an accomplished garden designer with nearly two decades of experience transforming outdoor spaces into stunning, personalised havens. Her passion for innovative design, combined with an extensive horticultural background, has made her a respected name in the gardening world both nationally and internationally.
Over her career, Pip has created 42 award-winning show gardens at prestigious events, including RHS Chelsea Flower Show, RHS Tatton Park Flower Show, RHS Malvern Spring Flower Show, BBC Gardeners’ World Live, Gardening Scotland, and the Ascot Spring Garden Show. These gardens showcase her expertise in design, construction, and planting, consistently earning medals for their high standard.
Pip has also collaborated with other designers to bring their show garden visions to life and mentors aspiring designers through their first garden builds as part of her Garden Design Diploma course. Internationally, her designs have been featured at events like the Besiktas Garden Festival in Istanbul and the Beijing Horticultural Expo, highlighting her global influence.
Frances is involved with the RHS campaign for school gardening and is passionate about enthusing young people to get into horticulture. She is working on a number of community gardening projects in the South West and is also helping the redevelopment of some costal gardens that were damaged by the 2014 storms. This is a particular passion of hers having grown up by the sea and was also part of her degree specialisation.
Frances is a popular choice for gardening talks and has appeared at Blenheim Palace Flower Show, Hampton Court Flower Show and the Eden Project Green Fingers Festival to name a few. Hailing from Deal in Kent, Frances now lives in Exeter having completed her BSc in Horticulture with Plantmanship at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh in 2013. Frances got into gardening from an early age, helping out around the garden at home and after overly ambitiously designing a terraced landscape in a planter, given to her by her mum, age 7, she was hooked. As well as all things gardening Frances is a budding crafter and currently doing a pottery course.
Frances’ first book, First Time Gardener, was published in 2015 and her 2nd book, Container Gardening will be published in April this year. She has also written a column for Coast magazine on highs and lows of coastal gardening.
Join Adam KirtlandThe host of the chart topping podcast, Tales From The Potting Bench – Adam is a gardener, writer and public speaker not to mention an expert when it comes to all things DIY in the garden.
When it comes to gardening, Adam tries to make and mend as much as he can, recycling thrown away items into unique garden projects and eye catching designs. Over the last few years, Adam has become a well-known figure across the horticultural landscape and online with his popular Instagram account, sharing his projects along with his bulb filled garden in spring! At this year’s show, Adam is going to be sharing his DIY secrets and some projects that you can take away and try for yourself at home. You can follow Adam on Instagram @viewfromthepottingbench
Jodie and Lorraine of the Sussex-based Caley Brothers were raised in Surrey, with a childhood was enriched with home grown, nutritious and delicious food. From working on their folks and gramps allotments to holiday cover on a livestock farm in the New Forest that included tractor driving, sheep herding, vineyard planting, hay bailing, egg collecting and lambing to prepping geese for the festive season and so much more.
It is these experiences that gave them a deep-rooted respect for good quality food, how to appreciate it, and what is just as important – how to source and support it. Within a year of growing their own mushrooms the curiosity surrounding our change in careers and the story behind why they were now ‘mushroom farmers’ had them making simple, small-scale kits for our family, our friends and friend of friends so they too could get growing their own mushrooms.
Ade Sellars AKA ‘The Good Life Gardener’ is an award-winning garden writer, garden designer, presenter and filmmaker, with a passion for growing food in his kitchen garden.After working in London as a TV editor and director for many years, he re-trained with the RHS at Capel Manor before upping sticks and moving to the heart of rural Suffolk to build the kitchen garden of his dreams and launch a media and gardening business.
As well as a regular gardening presenter on the QVC channel, Ade hosted the Urban Gardening Stage at Gardeners’ World Live at the Birmingham NEC in June 2024.
The winner of The Beth Chatto Environmental Award 2023, Ade writes for several gardening magazines and gives talks and demonstrations around the country, as well as creating film content for garden shows and brands. Having filmed and created his YouTube gardening mini-series Down The Garden Path, it was picked up by ITV’s Alan Titchmarsh’s Gardening Club earlier this year and shown weekly on the programme.
Check out his website and follow him on Instagram adesellars
For the second year in a row, My Garden Escape at QVC has partnered with Kitti Kovacs to design Reflective Retreat, a show garden beautifully combining aesthetics and eco-consciousness.
Discover the all-new QVC Reflective Retreat Show Garden! Following their 2024 success—earning both the Gold and Best Showcase Garden Awards—QVC will unveil an inspiring new garden design by the celebrated and award-winning garden designer, Kitti Kovacs.
Renowned for her artistry in creating lush, tranquil spaces, Kitti will once again capture the essence of relaxation and escape in this year’s highly anticipated show garden.
You can experience QVC’s Show Garden first hand to get a flavour of their vision for outdoor living, and inspiration to create your own garden escape. Search My Garden Escape on the QVC website @ qvcuk.com to discover the plants and furniture from the stand, and much more.
Nicki Chapman is an accomplished TV presenter and broadcaster known for her work including the nation’s favourite Escape To The Country and for BBC1.Nicki has been host of the BBC Gardeners’ World Live Theatre since 2022, chatting frankly with gardening heroes including Monty Don, Adam Frost, Frances Tophill and Carol Klein amongst many more.
Sue Kent is a much-loved gardening expert who takes to the stage at BBC Gardeners’ World Live to share her insight and experience with visitors. In 2025, she will be at the show on Thursday 12 June.
Pip Probert is an accomplished garden designer with nearly two decades of experience transforming outdoor spaces into stunning, personalised havens. Her passion for innovative design, combined with an extensive horticultural background, has made her a respected name in the gardening world both nationally and internationally.
Over her career, Pip has created 42 award-winning show gardens at prestigious events, including RHS Chelsea Flower Show, RHS Tatton Park Flower Show, RHS Malvern Spring Flower Show, BBC Gardeners’ World Live, Gardening Scotland, and the Ascot Spring Garden Show. These gardens showcase her expertise in design, construction, and planting, consistently earning medals for their high standard.
Pip has also collaborated with other designers to bring their show garden visions to life and mentors aspiring designers through their first garden builds as part of her Garden Design Diploma course. Internationally, her designs have been featured at events like the Besiktas Garden Festival in Istanbul and the Beijing Horticultural Expo, highlighting her global influence.
Rachel de Thame will share gardening advice at BBC Gardeners’ World Live.
We’re delighted to announce that BBC2 Gardeners’ World presenter, Rachel de Thame, will join the expert line-up at the BBC Gardeners’ World Live 2025.
Rachel is a broadcaster, writer and passionate gardener. Trained at The English Gardening School, she has been a regular presenter on BBC2’s Gardeners’ World since 1999. Rachel is also a long-term member of the team providing coverage of all the major RHS Flower Shows, for which she co-anchored several episodes in 2021. Rachel’s other television series include Small Town Gardens and Gardening with the Experts for the BBC and Countrywise for ITV. A Good Read for BBC Radio 4 and Essential Classics for BBC Radio 3 are among her radio appearances.
Adam Frost, presenter on BBC2s Gardeners’ World, is a regular at BBC Gardeners’ World Live and the Fairs, sharing top tips and advice live on stage.
Jordan is particularly passionate about planting combinations and how to create year-round interest and depth in the garden using a range of different textures, foliage shapes and colours and flowers. Year round interest in the garden is so important and Jordan will talk through ways you can do this at home in your very own garden.
Four Acre Farm Young Veg salad with Luke Holder, Lime Wood Hotel
Join Luke Holder for an engaging and hands-on culinary workshop where you’ll explore the vibrant flavours of his Four Acre Young Veg salad for spring! Taste the freshness of spring, see Luke in action with a demo and then make your very own salad with fresh ingredients brought especially by the team.
Kicking off with an exciting demo where Luke will create a fresh, seasonal dish right before your eyes. From there you’ll have the chance to join in, adding your own personal touch to the dish by selecting fresh vegetables from our spring-inspired table.
Meet the Experts: Caley Brothers
Learn about the fun of funghi from mushroom maestros, Caley Bros – whether it’s during a talk at the drop-in Get Growing Stage or during a hands-on Oyster Mushroom Workshop!
Jodie and Lorraine of the Sussex-based Caley Brothers were raised in Surrey, with a childhood was enriched with home grown, nutritious and delicious food. From working on their folks and gramps allotments to holiday cover on a livestock farm in the New Forest that included tractor driving, sheep herding, vineyard planting, hay bailing, egg collecting and lambing to prepping geese for the festive season and so much more.
It is these experiences that gave them a deep-rooted respect for good quality food, how to appreciate it, and what is just as important – how to source and support it. Within a year of growing their own mushrooms the curiosity surrounding our change in careers and the story behind why they were now ‘mushroom farmers’ had them making simple, small-scale kits for our family, our friends and friend of friends so they too could get growing their own mushrooms.
Meet the experts - Arit Anderson
See Arit at BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair.
Arit is a regular presenter on BBC2 Gardeners’ World.
Prior to this, she spent 25 years working in retail fashion and creative events, which she balanced with interests in well-being and holistic therapies, leading her to the world of gardening.
Find out more about the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Stage at the Spring Fair, where you can see Arit on Saturday 3 May 2025.
Meet the experts - Carol Klein
See Carol Klein at BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair.
Carol Klein is one of the most familiar gardening experts working in the media today, most famous for her role as regular presenter of BBC2 Gardeners’ World.
Find out more about the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Stage at the Spring Fair, where you can see Carol on Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 May 2025, here.
Meet the Experts: Kim O'Brien
See Kim O’Brien live across both the BBC Gardeners’ World Stage, the NEW Get Growing Stage and hosting NEW Spring Floristry workshops at the Spring Fair!
Chris Bavin at the Spring Table
Chris will host the Spring Table ever day of the Spring Fair 2025. Drop by to hear from him and the experts who’ll be delivering masterclasses at this NEW demo area.
See Adam Frost at BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair.
Adam Frost, presenter on BBC2s Gardeners’ World, is a regular at BBC Gardeners’ World events, sharing top tips and advice live on stage.
In June 2024, Adam designed and built the hugely popular ‘Chef’s Table’ Show Garden at BBC Gardeners’ World Live.
Find out more about the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Stage at the Spring Fair, where you can see Adam on Friday 2 May 2025, here.
Hillier returns as the headline sponsor of the Spring Fair, which is now in its 5th year. Charles Carr is the Head of Wholesale Nurseries at Hillier Nurseries Ltd.
The interview can cover the Hillier Experience the fair. One of the leading features is the Woodland themed garden feature. A colourful herbaceous display sets the scene, with stepping stones leading through soft pastel planting to a sun-drenched gravel garden and stream. Moving into cool shade, the garden transitions into a woodland display with tall tree ferns, deep greenery and mature trees. [See separate press release for more details]
Hillier also have a large shop and 121 advice at the Fair.
Charles will be on the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Stage every day sharing expert advice. Charles will also give talks in the Club Lounge, exclusively for Hillier Garden Club Members and Gardeners’ World Magazine Subscribers. Charles will man the 121 advice desk in the Club Lounge to give bespoke garden tips, at certain times each day.
Beaulieu Head Gardener
Kelvin Yapp is the head gardener at Beaulieu. As the head gardener, he’s been involved in every one of the Fair’s five years (fifth year in 2025). Kelvin leads the Plant Expert Tours of Beaulieu’s Victorian Walled Gardens with the Fair’s Plant Experts (Lucy Chamberlain and Saul Walker). Visitor to the Fair can pre-book these tours, as an added extra during their visit.
See Kevin Smith on Friday 3 May at BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair as he hosts the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Stage throughout the day!
Kevin Smith is the Editor of BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine and Head of Content for the Gardeners' World brand. He’s worked for Gardeners' World for the past 18 years and is responsible for leading the magazine’s content in print and on GardenersWorld.com, the Gardeners' World podcast, social media and the live events.
Kevin’s a passionate gardener with a suburban plot in Essex that he shares with his wife and daughter – he’s trying to adapt the way he gardens to be more sustainable and better suit our changing climate. Kevin’s a regular radio contributor and has been a host of Stages and Theatres at BBC Gardeners’ World events for several.
A background in Medical Sciences and Mathematics may seem an unlikely starting point for a garden designer, but Kim‘s extensive knowledge of these subjects has proven invaluable when drawing inspiration for her design work. Kim creatively translates sequences, patterns, and natural geometry to the drawing board, enabling her to build schemes that speak from the heart of nature itself; using the rules and then breaking them accordingly as part of the creative process.
Kim‘s first garden transformation was her own Cambridge city garden which she renovated from a blank canvas to an elaborate floral haven 23 years ago. Her design incorporated, a myriad of flowers, including dahlias; which she left behind when she moved to Toronto, Canada. Fast forward 20 years; and back on UK soil; Kim’s love for dahlias reignited with a passion, and she now boasts a collection of over 200 varieties at her home, field and allotment.
Kim’s success as a flower grower has catapulted her to expert status in the area of dahlias in recent years. With a passion to share her garden knowledge and expertise with other gardeners, Kim has written and curated her own ‘how to’ course, helping dahlia growers and providing step by step guidance on how to get the best from these fascinating blooms.
An accomplished floral designer, Kim works at a top Cambridge floristry company, meaning she gets to flex her creative muscle on a daily basis. Experienced in creating bespoke floral installations in and around the city of Cambridge, Kim relishes the opportunity to design new and exciting arrangements using combinations of colour, texture and form.
Following a career change from social care in her mid 30’s, Louise studied horticulture at Brooksby Melton College in Leicestershire and gain practical paid experience at the same time by working for a local garden centre, a specialist plant nursery and a large scale bedding grower.
Having successfully gained a place as a Historic and Botanic Garden Training Programme Trainee (HBGTP) at Audley End in 2007, Louise spent 12 months working for the 2 Head Gardeners who managed the gardens at that time. Once the traineeship was complete, Louise was kept on as a Gardener in the ornamental gardens, promoted to Senior Gardener several years later, and then became Head Gardener 4 years ago. Louise is responsible for managing the 100 acres of gardens and grounds and works alongside a team of 11 staff and 60 volunteers.
Marcus Bean is a chef, author, and presenter, who learned to cook by taking charge of the kitchen in his Shropshire pub. He got straight in the kitchen and taught himself to cook and then went on to win Iron chef UK on channel 4.
Since then, Marcus has become a regular chef on ITV’s “This Morning”, wrote a cookery book all about Chicken, releases in July 2024.
The Good Chicken Cookbook: Over 100 Delicious and Sustainable Recipes.
Marcus has become a popular host at the Good Food shows around the country. He’s appeared on Good Food Channels “Market Kitchen” Channel 4’s “What’s Cooking” shows on Food Network & ITV’s new children’s cookery show “MunchBox” & The Saturday Show.
Marcus and his wife Jenny currently own & run “Brompton Cookery School” in Shropshire, during this time Marcus has taught over 25,000 people to cook.
Marcus specialises in using local and seasonal produce from Shropshire and surrounding areas, and over the years has built up a great relationship with his suppliers which he showcases in the school & for demonstrations around the country.
Marcus also works as a private chef for regular clients across the world, alongside working as a hospitality consultant, helping create and manage new and existing food and drinks businesses around the country.
Marcus is a keen Runner, completing London marathon 7 times. He’s also an advocate of helping and supporting local charities like The Shrewsbury Ark, a Shelter for the homeless & vulnerable, alongside helping reduce food waste with Local charities like the Shrewsbury Food Hub.
Sara Ward has transformed her Victorian terraced house in London into an urban smallholding, ‘Hen Corner’, complete with chickens, honeybees, fruit trees and overflowing veg patches. Last year they harvested £4,000 worth of food from their back garden. Her recent book ‘Living the Good Life in the City’ shares some of the ways she and her family have brought city and country together, and shows that you, too, can make a difference to how you live and the food you eat.
Sara will be on the Let’s Grow Stage
Saul Walker fell in love with horticulture through his Grandparents passion for visiting historic houses and gardens, and after a brief spell as an Archaeologist, he went to train and work as a Gardener for the National Trust at Antony House in Cornwall.
After many years there he was accepted to study on the prestigious 3-year Kew Diploma of Botanical Horticulture at RBG, Kew and was exposed to the fantastic plant collections in the gardens and glasshouses, as well as travelling to Australia, Southern Spain and the French Riviera to study plants in their native habitats. Following his time at Kew he spent a couple of years as part of the Show management teams for both the RHS Hampton Court Palace and RHS Chelsea Flower Show respectively, however he was unable to resist the call back to his native Devon, where he is now the Head Gardener of Stonelands House- a privately owned 10-acre garden. Saul’s speciality interests include Woodland Gardens, Orchids, and Exotic plants. A member of the RHS Tender Plant Committee and Trustee of The Hardy Plant Society and the Chartered Institute of Horticulture, he also co-hosts the Talking Heads Podcast with Lucy Chamberlain.
The host of the chart topping podcast, Tales From The Potting Bench – Adam is a gardener, writer and public speaker not to mention an expert when it comes to all things DIY in the garden. When it comes to gardening, Adam tries to make and mend as much as he can, recycling thrown away items into unique garden projects and eye catching designs.
Over the last few years, Adam has become a well-known figure across the horticultural landscape and online with his popular Instagram account, sharing his projects along with his bulb filled garden in spring! At this year’s show, Adam is going to be sharing his DIY secrets and some projects that you can take away and try for yourself at home. You can follow Adam on Instagram @viewfromthepottingbench
David Hurrion has spent more than 20 years writing for and editing the nation’s crop of garden magazines, and is now Associate Editor for BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine.
David has also appeared both as a regular contributor and an horticultural commentator on a wide range of national and local radio programmes, as well as on television.
David’s knowledge is based on more than 40 years of growing plants, working in gardens and nurseries, and gardening his own plots in many different parts of the UK. He studied horticulture at Writtle College in Essex and went on to gain his certificate in education which took him to teach at some of the country’s foremost horticultural colleges. He has also travelled to every continent with the exception of antarctica to discover plants and gardens, both independently and, on more than 40 trips accompanying groups of gardeners. Click here for his website.
Emma Crawforth is the Horticultural Editor of BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine and responsible for shaping gardening content that’s horticulturally correct.
Kew trained, she’s worked for the brand for over 10 years creating inspirational, problem-solving and thought-provoking features. At home she grows fruit, veg and flowers while tending her ornamental and productive gardens. Her book, Things to do with Plants, was published this year with the aim of helping us all connect more with the botanical world.
Emma will be on the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Stage sharing tips and advice
Find Glynn Purnell at BBC Gardeners’ World Live on all four days (13-16 June) at the Chef’s Table Show Garden.Often called the ‘Yummy Brummie’, Glynn Purnell started cooking professionally at the age of 14. After securing a work experience placement in a hotel kitchen, he spent the next two years catching the No 966 bus to the Metropole Hotel at the NEC where he was quickly promoted to making salads and flipping burgers. A six-year stint followed, gaining experience in every department from banqueting to the A La Carte Terrace Restaurant, where he discovered his talent and passion for fine dining. It wasn’t long before he began winning awards including the prestigious Salon Culinaire.
His next professional step was as Chef de Partie at Simpson’s Restaurant where he progressed to the position of Sous Chef. The restaurant was awarded a Michelin star and Glynn went on to win many accolades within the industry.
After training with top chefs including Gordon Ramsay, Gary Rhodes and Claude Bosi, Glynn travelled abroad to work with well-known Michelin starred chefs in Europe. He went on to help launch Jessica’s in July 2003, which was awarded Birmingham’s first Michelin star back in 2005. Glynn is now the proud owner of two establishments in Birmingham, Purnell’s Restaurant on Cornwall Street, which opened in July 2007 and was awarded a Michelin star in 2009, and Purnell’s Bistro & Ginger’s Bar on Newhall Street, which opened in September 2012.
Glynn has become a household name after taking part in the Great British Menu, winning twice and then later appearing as a mentor. He has previously featured on The Great British Food Revival and The Secret Chef, among other television programmes. He can regularly be seen on Saturday Kitchen as a host and guest chef. He presented the latest series of My Kitchen Rules UK alongside Rachel Allen on Channel 4 last year.
Michelin Star – 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
AA Restaurant of the Year (England) 2009
The Guardian Top 10 Restaurants in the Midlands 2010
Harden’s Restaurant Guide 2016 – listed 54th in top 100 restaurants in the country
BMW Square Meal Best UK Restaurant Award 2012
What’s On Readers Awards 2016, 2017, 2018 – Best Midlands Chef (Glynn Purnell)
What’s On Readers Awards 2016, 2017, 2018 – Best Birmingham Restaurant
Midlands Food, Drink and Hospitality Awards 2016, 2018 – Best Michelin Star Restaurant
Midlands Food, Drink and Hospitality Awards 2016 – Best Chef (Glyn Purnell)
Midlands Food, Drink and Hospitality Awards 2018 – Special Recognition Award (Glynn Purnell)
Nicki Chapman is back hosting the Theatre at this year’s BBC Gardeners’ World Live.
Taking place from Thursday 13th – Sunday 16th June 2024 at the NEC Birmingham, Nicki will be leading a range of ‘in-conversation’ talks with some of the UK’s top gardening experts.
Tamsin Westhorpe is an experienced horticultural journalist and author, RHS Chelsea Flower Show Judge, podcaster and lecturer. After editing a national magazine for many years Tamsin is now curator and gardener at Stockton Bury Gardens in Herefordshire.
Having started her horticultural career at the age of 17, spending time as a parks gardener and greenkeeper she is passionate about being hands on in the garden. Her aim is to demystify gardening and help people gain in confidence whilst having great fun.
Find out more about the Plant Expert Tours.
Introducing the new UrbanGardening space which will broaden the event’s appeal to new and diverse audiences. Supporting nextgeneration gardening talent is an important part of all our events and we can’t wait to see what the young build teams have in store for us with their Urban Showcase Gardens.
The International Orchid Show is a wonderful addition to our Floral Marquee and comes with a host of enthusiastic experts, keen to share
their knowledge and experience with visitors.
Plant Expert Tours
Experience a unique tour of the plants in the Floral Marquee. Lucy Chamberlain and Saul Walker lead tours around their plant highlights, from new launches to trusted favourites, you’ll explore a host of must-haves for your garden.
Saul Walker fell in love with horticulture through his Grandparents passion for visiting historic houses and gardens, and after a brief spell as an Archaeologist, he went to train and work as a Gardener for the National Trust at Antony House in Cornwall.
Ellen Mary is a horticultural broadcaster and wellbeing advocate speaking at shows and organisations around the world about the ways in which gardening and the natural world can benefit wellbeing. Having loved plants since she was a child in her family kitchen garden she has produced and presented gardening content on TV, authored two books ‘The Joy of Gardening; the everyday zen of mowing the lawn’ and ‘How to Grow a Garden’, writes columns for numerous magazines and hosted one of the first community gardening radio shows in the UK.
Passionate about horticulture including both indoor and outdoor plants, Ellen connects people and plants through her writings, social media and plant based consultancy People Plants Wellbeing.
Manoj Malde is an award-winning garden designer, writer and public speaker. Although raised in the UK, he attributes much of his love of colour to his ethnic background and Indian ancestry.
As a graduate of the Master’s programme in fashion design at the Royal College of Art, Manoj’s career has taken him to Italy, Germany, New York, Hong Kong and India. He worked in the fashion industry for 18 years, latterly as creative director.
Manoj then studied garden design at the English Gardening School and uses much of his fashion experience within his present career as a landscape designer. Although the materials have changed, his thought process still begins with themes, mood boards, colour palettes and textures. Manoj has a wealth of knowledge and design experience.
Manoj works closely with his private clients to create a unique space that reflects their personality. He also works with architects, interior designers and corporate organisations.
Bonsall Field BarnsFaye Geeson
Garden designed in collaboration with Derby College and Derbyshire Historic Buildings Trust, highlighting the Bonsall Field Barn Restoration Project. Features a restored field barn within a setting inspired by the Peak District village of Bonsall. This includes dry stone walling, typical of the area, a limestone path representing the Limestone Way, planted with predominantly UK natives around a dew pond and a representation of a covered, disused lead mine shaft, featuring ‘T’Owd Man of Bonsall’. Planting in keeping with the area, including a wildflower meadow and ornamentals thriving on limestone sites.
My Garden Escape at QVC believes that gardens are not just spaces for socialising with friends and family, but also sanctuaries for finding peace and tranquillity.
This Border is designed to show visitors a versatile outdoor space where connections are made and moments of serenity are embraced, a welcoming haven for shared experiences and quiet reflection.
Experience this meticulously designed border that encloses you in vibrant blooms, stylish furniture and decor.
Plant Expert Tours
Experience a unique tour of the plants in the Floral Marquee. Lucy Chamberlain and Saul Walker lead tours around their plant highlights, from new launches to trusted favourites, you’ll explore a host of must-haves for your garden.
Book Now
With an Honours Degree in plant sciences she then worked at the Royal Horticultural Society Garden (RHS) Wisley. After six years she left to pursue a career as a garden writer – first, for four years at Amateur Gardening magazine and then for six years as Editor of Grow Your Own magazine.
She is now Head Gardener at East Donyland Hall – a 100- acre private estate which is home to a sizeable walled garden. Lucy is author of the book, The RHS Step-by-Step Veg Patch, and she also regularly writes for gardening magazines such as Gardeners’ World, The Garden and Amateur Gardening. She regularly podcasts with her Head Gardener friend, Saul Walker, on the Talking Heads gardening podcast.
Lucy is also the gardening expert for BBC Essex radio, and she won Practical Journalist of the Year in 2020.
Peter is a multi-award-winning entrepreneur and inventor, known for his innovative approach to business and his dedication to environmental issues. Born and raised in Birmingham, Peter attended Naseby high school in the same city. After a brief stint as an insurance sales associate, he started his first business at the age of just eighteen.
In 1999, Peter invented his first commercial product, called the Technical Development Ring. He wrote the patent for the product and had it granted, which paved the way for a successful career in innovation and entrepreneurship. Peter's passion for innovation and his ability to identify new opportunities led him to appear on the popular TV show Dragons Den.
Over the years, Peter has won numerous awards and accolades for his work. He was twice crowned British Inventor of the Year, in 2003 and 2004. His concern for environmental issues led him to create the Leaf Log, a carbon-neutral biomass solid fuel made from fallen leaves. In addition to inventing the product, he also designed the machine to make it.
Peter has appeared on several UK TV news feeds featuring his products, and also including Czech Television. His unique Eureka project, designed to assist participants in designing, prototyping, and commercialising their ideas, has been used in schools, individual businesses, and HMP prison services.
Peter is also a motivational speaker and mentor, using his wealth of experience and knowledge to inspire others to pursue their own entrepreneurial dreams. In his free time, Peter likes to create bespoke lighting and furniture from recycled scrap materials.
Peter's awards include the GO Green Environmental Business of the Year 2008, the ACBF Business of the Year award 2009, the ACBF Environmental/Medical Technology award 2009, and the Shell Springboard award. He has also been involved in several European projects across seven countries, looking at best practices within the prison services.
Beautiful Borders - Sponsored by QVC
This popular area of the Show is always awash with take-home ideas to help you squeeze the most into your garden. Be it growing veg in tight spaces, colour combinations, plants for shady spaces or clever use of materials you’ll find inspiration in abundance.
The theme of 2024 is ‘Share my Space.’ The theme is all about harnessing the potential of small garden spaces and using them as catalysts for building a sense of community through gardening. Our gardens, no matter how big or small, are spaces we can come together, learn from one another and cultivate a shared green oasis.
My Garden Escape by QVC
Surrey-based garden designer Kitti Kovacs will be bringing QVC UK’s gardening content to life with the My Garden Escape Border. The design will be a versatile haven for both shared experiences and quiet reflection, featuring vibrant blooms with stylish furniture and décor. Visitors will also be able to meet one of the shopping channel’s gardening experts, Emma Real-Davies.
My Garden Escape at QVC provides everything from indoor and outdoor plants to water features, garden equipment and outdoor furniture to lighting and décor. Authentic recommendations, personalised plant care tips and interactive live streams from the shopping channel’s resident garden experts will help turn any outdoor space into a Garden Escape.
Nicki is the host of ‘In Conversation’ style sessions on the BBC Gardeners’ World Live Theatre, where she’ll lead candid conversations with experts including Monty Don, Adam Frost and Carol Klein, to name but a few. She first hosted the Theatre in 2022, and has done so ever since. Visitors can book seats at the same time as booking tickets
Nicki Chapman is an accomplished TV presenter and broadcaster known for her work including the nation’s favourite Escape To The Country and for BBC1. She previously worked in the music industry.
Nicki has become a mainstay of the BBC presenting team, being a central figure during the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
She’s a regular presenter for Radio 2, often sitting in for Zoe Ball on the Breakfast Show and Vanessa Feltz on Early Breakfast. She has also hosted three documentaries: The Fuller Picture (an in-depth interview with music entrepreneur Simon Fuller), Here We Come – The Monkees at 50, and Let’s Abba Party.
Having started her career as a Promotions Assistant at MCA Records, Nicki quickly become one of the youngest and most successful publicists in the industry. Three years later she moved to RCA Records as Head of TV Promotions, before joining Brilliant! PR Company where she was joint partner for five years. Her vast knowledge of the music industry led Nicki to be a judge on ITV’s Popstars and then subsequently on Pop Idol. Having met with Simon Fuller in the nineties Nicki joined his management company 19 Entertainment in January 2001 as Creative Director, working with artists and personalities such as Annie Lennox, David and Victoria Beckham, Will Young, The Spice Girls, Carrie Underwood and S Club 7.
Lockdown presented an opportunity for Nicki to further spread her wings, this time working on a podcast from her home studio called Talking Success where she interviewed some of the biggest names in the media and the arts.
Nicki is a proud Ambassador for British Dressage and a keen and active supporter of Teenage Cancer Trust, Childline and Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy. After successful brain surgery in 2019, Nicki is now a passionate Ambassador for The Brain Tumour Charity.
BBC Gardeners' World Live Theatre
Sponsored by British Garden Centres
Experience an inspirational talk or practical demos from your gardening hero, with seats in the BBC Gardeners’ World Live Theatre.
You can book seats at the same time as tickets or, if you’ve already booked tickets, you can add seats to your booking using the other button below. Remember, the earlier you book, the more choice you have!
https://www.bbcgardenersworldlive.com/whatson/bbc-gardeners-world-live-theatre/
The Viewer's Content Show Garden - Realised by Pip Probert
This garden is a reflection of the average plot. A space that has to work practically, financially and often as a quick fix.
Designer, Pip, has been working with some of the Gardeners’ World Viewers to incorporate their ideas showcased on the BBC2 programme, including ideas for the greenhouse, potting shed, fluff hangers, hedgehog ramps and even a sculpture.
The ideas have been put together to form a garden for people who love to make something out of nothing, as reusing, recycling, re-purposing and upcycling are words that define this garden. From pallet planters and fencing through to old windows and shower screens being used for the greenhouse, and doors to make an arbour seat.
Kevin Smith is the Editor of BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine and Head of Content for the GW brand. He’s worked for GW for the past 18 years and is responsible for leading the magazine’s content in print and on GardenersWorld.com, the GW podcast, social media and our live events.
Kevin’s a passionate gardener with a suburban plot in Essex that he shares with his wife and daughter – he’s trying to adapt the way he gardens to be more sustainable and better suit our changing climate. Kevin’s a regular radio contributor and has been a host of BBC Gardeners’ World Live theatres for several years.
Joe Bagley is the creator of ukhouseplants.com which influences and teaches people about houseplant care in a simplistic, standardised way.
From top tips, care requirements and common issues, keeping your houseplant alive is just a scroll away.
You might have heard Joe on BBC Radio Leicester every Sunday and Tuesday where he shares ‘Joe’s Houseplant of the Week’ and discusses a whole range of easy-to-find plants and how to care for them.
Find Joe on the House Plant Hub stage and Get Growing Stage, where he will share his expertise on houseplant care!
Let's Talk Plants Stage - Sponsored by Hillier.
Drop into this stage for expert advice from a bumper crop of gardening experts, floral exhibitors and more, in the heart of the Floral Marquee. Plus, you’ll be able to dig into sessions hosted by stage sponsor Hillier.
Stage hosted by gardening expert David Hurrion, and will include talks with Monty Don, Adam Frost, Sue Kent and Charles Carr from Hillier Nurseries.
Soak up seasonal advice with Saul Walker – whether on a tour of one of Beaulieu’s stunning gardens or in a hands-on Have-A-Go Workshop each day at the Fair!
Saul Walker fell in love with horticulture through his Grandparents passion for visiting historic houses and gardens, and after a brief spell as an Archaeologist, he went to train and work as a Gardener for the National Trust at Antony House in Cornwall.
After many years there he was accepted to study on the prestigious 3-year Kew Diploma of Botanical Horticulture at RBG, Kew and was exposed to the fantastic plant collections in the gardens and glasshouses, as well as travelling to Australia, Southern Spain and the French Riviera to study plants in their native habitats.
Following his time at Kew he spent a couple of years as part of the Show management teams for both the RHS Hampton Court Palace and RHS Chelsea Flower Show respectively, however he was unable to resist the call back to his native Devon, where he is now the Head Gardener of Stonelands House- a privately owned 10-acre garden. Saul’s speciality interests include Woodland Gardens, Orchids, and Exotic plants.
A member of the RHS Tender Plant Committee and Trustee of The Hardy Plant Society and the Chartered Institute of Horticulture, he also co-hosts the Talking Heads Podcast with Lucy Chamberlain.
See Rachel de Thame at BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair on Sunday 5 May.
Rachel de Thame, presenter on BBC2s Gardeners’ World, makes her BBC Gardeners’ World Events debut in 2024, sharing top tips and advice live on stage.
Rachel is a broadcaster, writer and passionate gardener. Trained at The English Gardening School, she has been a regular presenter on BBC2’s Gardeners’ World since 1999. Rachel is also a long-term member of the team providing coverage of all the major RHS Flower Shows, for which she co-anchored several episodes in 2021. Rachel’s other television series’ include Small Town Gardens and Gardening with the Experts for the BBC and Countrywise for ITV. A Good Read for BBC Radio 4 and Essential Classics for BBC Radio 3 are among her radio appearances
The author of three gardening books, Rachel is a gardening columnist for the Sunday Times and The Garden magazine for the RHS. Her writing commissions for other publications, include BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine and The Huffington Post.
Design projects, range from the LK Bennett Garden at Chelsea Flower Show 2008 and the floral decorations for the Royal Barge, during the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant in 2012,to bespoke planting plans for private gardens.
Rachel co-curated the RHS London Rose Show in 2016 and has been the key speaker and/or host for talks and events at The Ashmolean Museum, The Garden Museum, Highgrove, Hever Castle, The Charleston Garden Festival and The Royal Geographical Society.
Rachel is Vice President of wild flower charity Plantlife, and an Ambassador for The National Garden Scheme. She has also supported Flowers From the Farm – the network for the UK’s cut flower growers – since its inception.
The mother of four children, Rachel’s interests beyond horticulture include the performing and fine arts, history, antiques and crafts of all kinds. She is currently restoring the garden – including walled vegetable, herb and cut flower beds – and interiors at her home in the Cotswolds, where country walks and wildlife spotting are welcome distractions.
See Frances Tophill at BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair on Friday 3rd May, live on the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine stage.
In 2016 Frances joined BBC’s Gardeners’ World doing a few strands for the programme, one on vegetable seed trials which she worked on from her local RHS garden, RHS Rosemoor and another on gardens situated in extreme locations.
Frances is involved with the RHS campaign for school gardening and is passionate about enthusing young people to get into horticulture. She is working on a number of community gardening projects in the South West and is also helping the redevelopment of some costal gardens that were damaged by the 2014 storms. This is a particular passion of hers having grown up by the sea and was also part of her degree specialisation.
Frances is a popular choice for gardening talks and has appeared at Blenheim Palace Flower Show, Hampton Court Flower Show and the Eden Project Green Fingers Festival to name a few. Hailing from Deal in Kent, Frances now lives in Exeter having completed her BSc in Horticulture with Plantmanship at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh in 2013. Frances got into gardening from an early age, helping out around the garden at home and after overly ambitiously designing a terraced landscape in a planter, given to her by her mum, age 7, she was hooked. As well as all things gardening Frances is a budding crafter and currently doing a pottery course.
Frances’ first book, First Time Gardener, was published in 2015 and her 2nd book, Container Gardening will be published in April this year. She has also written a column for Coast magazine on highs and lows of coastal gardening.
Adam will be the Gardeners’ World presenter headlining the line-up on Saturday 4 May. he will be sharing practical spring gardening tips in the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Stage, alongside a member of the Gardeners’ World Magazine editorial team. and will also make a couple of appearances in the Club Lounge, with exclusive extra ‘In Conversation’ talks, where the expert talks frankly with a member of the magazine team about their life in gardening. The Club Lounge is for BBC GW Mag Subscribers AND Hillier Gardening Club Members.
Brand new for 2024, after his day at the Show, Adam will be heading to Lime Wood Hotel (Lymington, Hampshire) where he’ll be hosting the Supper Club at Lime Wood, with Lime Wood’s chef director Luke Holder. Diners will be welcomed by Adam and Luke Holder, for a reception and talk with drinks, in Lime Wood's beautiful greenhouse. Adam and Luke will then take diners on a culinary adventure with their collaborative menu, showcasing local and seasonal ingredients, including some grown onsite in Lime Wood’s impressive green house. Tickets are exceptionally limited, ensuring an intimate atmosphere.
Visitors can book the Supper Club on its own (on the Spring Fair box office) or with Spring Fair tickets, there’s no requirement to visit the Fair as part of it, though it would make for a really spectacular day!
Meet the experts - The Caley Brothers
Jodie and Lorraine of the Sussex-based Caley Brothers were raised in Surrey, with a childhood was enriched with home grown, nutritious and delicious food. From working on their folks and gramps allotments to holiday cover on a livestock farm in the New Forest that included tractor driving, sheep herding, vineyard planting, hay bailing, egg collecting and lambing to prepping geese for the festive season and so much more.
It is these experiences that gave them a deep-rooted respect for good quality food, how to appreciate it, and what is just as important – how to source and support it. Within a year of growing their own mushrooms the curiosity surrounding our change in careers and the story behind why they were now ‘mushroom farmers’ had them making simple, small-scale kits for our family, our friends and friend of friends so they too could get growing their own mushrooms.
Join them for an Oyster Mushroom workshop at the Autumn Fair!
Chris Bavin is so full of character he was born to be on TV. After a TV production company first stumbled across him in 2011 he has gone from strength to strength and is currently co-presenting his fourth series of BBC1’s hugely successful series Eat Well For Less? With Gregg Wallace. The show has had incredible ratings across its first three series with the next two to be aired later on this year.
In addition to Eat Well for Less, Chris has presented Tomorrow’s Food with Dara O’Brian, The Truth about Meat and he is co-presenter of BBC1’s returning series Food: truth or scare with Gloria Hunniford.
Chris is the co-founder of ‘The Naked Grocer’ a retail business that was twice voted as ‘National Independent Retailer of the Year’ award as well as ‘Best Contribution to the Community’ award. The Naked Grocer is now an online business supplying catering, fruit for offices as well as veg boxes for the public. www.thenakedgrocer.com
SEE CHRIS ON THE LET'S GROW STAGE
Chris Collins is Head of Horticulture at Garden Organic .He’s also a gardening writer, TV broadcaster, lecturer and horticultural consultant. Chris’s books include ‘Grow Your Own For Kids’.
Chris Graduated from the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, and has previously been Head Gardener Westminster Abbey.
He’s done much TV work including This Morning and being a former Blue Peter gardener.
Chris will be on the Let’s Grow Stage at the Fair, find out more below.
Frances is involved with the RHS campaign for school gardening and is passionate about enthusing young people to get into horticulture. She is working on a number of community gardening projects in the South West and is also helping the redevelopment of some costal gardens that were damaged by the 2014 storms. This is a particular passion of hers having grown up by the sea and was also part of her degree specialisation.
Frances is a popular choice for gardening talks and has appeared at Blenheim Palace Flower Show, Hampton Court Flower Show and the Eden Project Green Fingers Festival to name a few. Hailing from Deal in Kent, Frances now lives in Exeter having completed her BSc in Horticulture with Plantmanship at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh in 2013. Frances got into gardening from an early age, helping out around the garden at home and after overly ambitiously designing a terraced landscape in a planter, given to her by her mum, age 7, she was hooked. As well as all things gardening Frances is a budding crafter and currently doing a pottery course.
Frances’ first book, First Time Gardener, was published in 2015 and her 2nd book, Container Gardening will be published in April this year. She has also written a column for Coast magazine on highs and lows of coastal gardening.
Ade Sellars is a gardener, presenter, writer and content producer, with a passion for growing food in his kitchen garden.
After working in London as a TV producer for many years, he re-trained with the Royal Horticultural Society at Capel Manor and Regent’s Park before upping sticks and moving to the heart of rural Suffolk to build the kitchen garden of his dreams and launch his gardening business.
As a regular garden writer for various magazines, Ade has presented on the QVC channel,
BBC Radio Suffolk and regularly deliver talks and demonstrations around the country. Along with his wife Sophie, they write their award-winning garden and food blog, Agents of Field.
Catch Ade on the Let’s Grow Stage on Sunday!
Louise is Head Gardener at Audley End House and Gardens in Essex.
Following a career change from social care in her mid 30’s, Louise studied horticulture at Brooksby Melton College in Leicestershire and gain practical paid experience at the same time by working for a local garden centre, a specialist plant nursery and a large scale bedding grower.
Having successfully gained a place as a Historic and Botanic Garden Training Programme Trainee (HBGTP) at Audley End in 2007, Louise spent 12 months working for the 2 Head Gardeners who managed the gardens at that time. Once the traineeship was complete, Louise was kept on as a Gardener in the ornamental gardens, promoted to Senior Gardener several years later, and then became Head Gardener 4 years ago. Louise is responsible for managing the 100 acres of gardens and grounds and works alongside a team of 11 staff and 60 volunteers.
Sara Ward has transformed her Victorian terraced house in London into an urban smallholding, ‘Hen Corner’, complete with chickens, honeybees, fruit trees and overflowing veg patches. Last year they harvested £3,000 worth of food from their back garden. Her recent book ‘Living the Good Life in the City’ shares some of the ways she and her family have brought city and country together, and shows that you, too, can make a difference to how you live and the food you eat.
Arit Anderson is a garden designer, writer and presenter on BBC Two’s Gardeners’ World.She spent 25 years working in the dynamic industries of retail fashion and creative events. She managed teams that delivered collections and events across the globe. She balanced this fast-paced career with interests in well-being, working as a therapist and teaching holistic therapies, which led her to travel extensively to the USA.
It was the joy of having her own garden that enabled Arit to diversify her creative experiences. She found that the visual nature of fashion and the healing properties of her therapies could beautifully meld in the garden. Playing with a new palette of colour and materials in her garden, drove her to explore the unique relationships between her love of plants, people and place. After just one season, Arit knew she wanted horticulture to become her work as well as her pleasure.
She studied gardening at Capel Manor College and whilst there had success at RHS Chelsea 2013 winning the Fresh Talent category for a student design collaboration with two other students. After attaining a diploma in garden design, she won a Gold Medal for her own design at RHS Hampton Court in 2016 in the conceptual category.
In her designs for both private and commercial clients her ethos includes simplicity and environmental sensitivity – affecting her choice of products and plants at source, with regard to their future setting. Working as presenter for Gardeners World, and writing for national publications has enabled Arit to publicise issues about the future of gardening in an ever-changing climate, and promote solutions to the wider public.
Emma Crawforth is the Horticultural Editor of BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine and responsible for shaping gardening content that’s horticulturally correct.
Kew trained, she’s worked for the brand for over 10 years creating inspirational, problem-solving and thought-provoking features. At home she grows fruit, veg and flowers while tending her ornamental and productive gardens. Her book, Things to do with Plants, was published this year with the aim of helping us all connect more with the botanical world.
David Hurrion has spent more than 20 years writing for and editing the nation’s crop of garden magazines, and is now Associate Editor for BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine.David has also appeared both as a regular contributor and an horticultural commentator on a wide range of national and local radio programmes, as well as on television.
David’s knowledge is based on more than 40 years of growing plants, working in gardens and nurseries, and gardening his own plots in many different parts of the UK. He studied horticulture at Writtle College in Essex and went on to gain his certificate in education which took him to teach at some of the country’s foremost horticultural colleges. He has also travelled to every continent with the exception of antarctica to discover plants and gardens, both independently and, on more than 40 trips accompanying groups of gardeners.
Kevin Smith is the Editor of BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine and Head of Content for the GW brand. He’s worked for GW for the past 18 years and is responsible for leading the magazine’s content in print and on GardenersWorld.com, the GW podcast, social media and our live events.
Kevin’s a passionate gardener with a suburban plot in Essex that he shares with his wife and daughter – he’s trying to adapt the way he gardens to be more sustainable and better suit our changing climate. Kevin’s a regular radio contributor and has been a host of BBC Gardeners’ World Live theatres for several years.
Lucy Bravington is the award winning designer behind the Liz Earle Beauty Co.’s Botanical Show Garden at BBC Gardeners’ World Live 2023. The garden will harness the power of plants for feelings of wellbeing, featuring perennial plants to showcase the botanicals included in many Liz Earle Beauty Co. products, such as echinacea, rosemary and lavender. Every day, Liz Earle’s ethnobotanist, James Wong, will be on the garden to talk to visitors and share insights into the power of plants.
The focal point of the garden is a sculpture inspired by brand’s coastal home and the Fibonacci spiral which represents the efficacious nature of Liz Earle Beauty Co. products.
The Show Gardens at BBC Gardeners’ World Live are known for their inspirational design and planting whilst being relatable and packed with practical ideas that visitors can recreate in their own gardens.
Visitors will enjoy the Show Gardens, feature gardens, APL Avenue, Showcase Gardens and Beautiful Borders in a relaxed and engaging atmosphere with picnics, bandstand entertainment and magic moments around every corner.
A Garden Fit for a King, by Paul Stone
In this year of the Coronation, this stunning take on
gardening for the future will celebrate The HRH King Charles
III’s passion for gardening and his concern for the
environment. This beautiful manifestation of the King’s
ideology is inspired by the ecosystem of the Highgrove
Arboretum, incorporating a natural wildflower carpet
interspersed with the King’s favourite trees, Magnolia,
Beech, Acer and Cherry.
Visitors will be inspired by sustainable initiatives that the King has integrated into the renowned gardens at
Highgrove and to recreate aspects to create their own ecosystem at home. There will be many recognisable hints
of Highgrove, plus an atmospheric Bothy cottage made from natural building materials, which visitors will be able
to meander through as part of the garden experience.
Chris Collins is Head of Horticulture at Garden Organic .He’s also a gardening writer, TV broadcaster, lecturer and horticultural consultant. Chris’s books include ‘Grow Your Own For Kids’.
Chris Graduated from the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, and has previously been Head Gardener Westminster Abbey.
He’s done much TV work including This Morning and being a former Blue Peter gardener.
Nicki Chapman will be the host of ‘In Conversation’ talks at BBC Gardeners’ World Live 2023, as well as hosting a unique series of talks on the headline show garden ‘A Garden Fit for a King’ and on the Let’s Talk Plants Stage.
Nicki is an accomplished TV presenter and broadcaster known for her work including ‘Wanted Down Under’, the nation’s favourite ‘Escape To The Country’ and its spin-off, ‘I Escape To The Country’ for BBC1.
She has become a mainstay of the BBC presenting team, being a central figure during The RHS Chelsea Flower Show, broadcasting live as well as being a contributor on Morning Live and recently narrating the long-running classic, Points of View.
Nicki is a regular presenter for Radio 2, often sitting in for Zoe Ball on the Breakfast Show and Vanessa Feltz on Early Breakfast. She has also hosted three documentaries: The Fuller Picture (an in-depth interview with music entrepreneur Simon Fuller), Here We Come – The Monkees at 50 and Let’s Abba Party.
For television, she has also recently presented three documentary programmes for the BBC, the Dave Myers’ hosted Operation People Power, Britain’s Home Truths and Holding Back The Years. On top of this, Nicki is a much sought after event host and speaker and is a qualified coach offering empowerment and advisory skills to celebrities, individuals and corporate businesses alike.
Women’s health takes centre stage at this year’s BBC Gardeners’ World Live (NEC Birmingham, 15-18 June) as leading menopause expert, Dr. Louise Newson, joins forces with award-winning garden designer, Ruth Gwynn, to create the Newson Health Menopause Show Garden.
The walk-through Show Garden reflects Newson Health’s ethos of inclusive and accessible menopause support for everyone. It is designed to evoke feelings of community, creating a safe, tranquil and comfortable space for women to reflect on their health and to discover the nutritional and physical power of plants for mental health and wellbeing. There will be interactive ‘symptom stations’ exploring different aspects of menopause and perimenopause, with clinicians and experts on hand with information and advice about diet and nutrition, the wide-reaching benefits of gardening, exercise, mindfulness and mental wellbeing.
Ruth Gwynn, who co-designed Frances Tophill’s Platinum Award winning and ‘Best In Show’ Show Garden at last year’s BBC Gardeners’ World Live, has selected plants for the Newson Health Menopause Garden which will create a visually enriching yet calm atmosphere. There will be an area for relaxation, a yoga corner and also an area for outdoor cooking.
Find out more at bbcgardenersworldlive.com
Arit Anderson is a garden designer, writer and presenter on BBC Two’s Gardeners’ World.
She spent 25 years working in the dynamic industries of retail fashion and creative events. She managed teams that delivered collections and events across the globe. She balanced this fast-paced career with interests in well-being, working as a therapist and teaching holistic therapies, which led her to travel extensively to the USA.
It was the joy of having her own garden that enabled Arit to diversify her creative experiences. She found that the visual nature of fashion and the healing properties of her therapies could beautifully meld in the garden. Playing with a new palette of colour and materials in her garden, drove her to explore the unique relationships between her love of plants, people and place. After just one season, Arit knew she wanted horticulture to become her work as well as her pleasure.
She studied gardening at Capel Manor College and whilst there had success at RHS Chelsea 2013 winning the Fresh Talent category for a student design collaboration with two other students. After attaining a diploma in garden design, she won a Gold Medal for her own design at RHS Hampton Court in 2016 in the conceptual category.
In her designs for both private and commercial clients her ethos includes simplicity and environmental sensitivity – affecting her choice of products and plants at source, with regard to their future setting. Working as presenter for Gardeners World, and writing for national publications has enabled Arit to publicise issues about the future of gardening in an ever-changing climate, and promote solutions to the wider public.
Saul Walker fell in love with horticulture through his Grandparents passion for visiting historic houses and gardens, and after a brief spell as an Archaeologist, he went to train and work as a Gardener for the National Trust at Antony House in Cornwall.
After many years there he was accepted to study on the prestigious 3-year Kew Diploma of Botanical Horticulture at RBG, Kew and was exposed to the fantastic plant collections in the gardens and glasshouses, as well as travelling to Australia, Southern Spain and the French Riviera to study plants in their native habitats.
Following his time at Kew he spent a couple of years as part of the Show management teams for both the RHS Hampton Court Palace and RHS Chelsea Flower Show respectively, however he was unable to resist the call back to his native Devon, where he is now the Head Gardener of Stonelands House- a privately owned 10-acre garden. Saul’s speciality interests include Woodland Gardens, Orchids, and Exotic plants.
A member of the RHS Tender Plant Committee and Trustee of The Hardy Plant Society and the Chartered Institute of Horticulture, he also co-hosts the Talking Heads Podcast with Lucy Chamberlain.
Find out more and book tickets at bbcgardenersworldfair.com
Known as ‘The People’s Gardener’, Matt Biggs trained at The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and has presented a number of television programmes, written several books and undertake lectures and talks.
He is best known for his regular appearances on Radio 4 Gardeners’ Question Time.
Start the gardening season in style at the BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair, taking place at Beaulieu in the New Forest, from 28-30 April 2023.
Get your garden ready for the year ahead with inspiration from Showcase Gardens and Beautiful Borders; the Hillier Experience; expertise on tap at the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Stage and Theatre of Greens; shopping from over 100 exhibitors of plants and gardening kit; hands on workshops and exclusive tours; plus street food, BBC Good Food Market, bandstand entertainment and access to all the Beaulieu attractions.
Frances Tophill will be at the Spring Fair on Friday 28 April. Visitors can see Frances sharing practical advice about ‘what to do now’ in your garden on the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Stage along with the magazine editors. Arit Anderson heads to the Fair on Saturday and Adam Frost on Sunday.
Find out more and book tickets at bbcgardenersworldfair.com
Visit Audley Ends attractions and gardens
Enjoy a day out exploring the spacious grounds and estate of one of England’s grandest mansions, Audley End. Whether you’re exploring the servant’s wing, state rooms, stables, kitchen garden or beautiful grounds, you’ll discover what life was like at a Victorian country house.
Whether you’re exploring the servant’s wing, state rooms, stables, kitchen garden or beautiful grounds, you’ll discover how a what life was like above and below stairs at a Victorian country house.
Wander the glorious state rooms, reflecting the taste of the third Lord Braybrooke, who redecorated many of its rooms in the Jacobean style in the 1820s. Make yourself at home and feel free to play the piano, play with the toys in the nursery or step into Lady Braybrooke’s private apartments, lit for her return from an evening party. Explore the Service Wing including historic kitchens, a dairy and laundry rooms to see what life would have been like for the Victorian servants that worked there. Take a stroll over to the stable yard to meet the horses and find out the story of the estate at work and play.
Wander the award-winning gardens, remodelled by Capability Brown. Marvel at the formal, beautifully restored parterre and cloud hedge before admiring the organic kitchen garden. Wander through the acres of parkland to discover the peaceful Elysian Garden, Temple of Concord and memorial to the Second World War Polish resistance soldiers.
Plant Expert Tour
Autumn garden inspiration will be in abundance as you join a Plant Expert Tour at the BBC Gardeners’ World Autumn Fair.
Feature Garden Platinum Award Winner
This year marks the BBCs 100th year and, to celebrate, a host of displays in the Floral Marquee will be inspired by popular BBC programmes. Find out more about Alexandra Froggatts’ feature, inspired by the Peaky Blinders.
Find out when she’s on the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Stage here.
Frances Tophill will be at BBC Gardeners’ World Live 2022 on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Find out when she’s on the BBC Gardeners’ World Live Theatre here.
In 2016 Frances joined BBC’s Gardeners’ World doing a few strands for the programme, one on vegetable seed trials which she worked on from her local RHS garden, RHS Rosemoor and another on gardens situated in extreme locations.Frances is involved with the RHS campaign for school gardening and is passionate about enthusing young people to get into horticulture. She is working on a number of community gardening projects in the South West and is also helping the redevelopment of some costal gardens that were damaged by the 2014 storms. This is a particular passion of hers having grown up by the sea and was also part of her degree specialisation.
Frances is a popular choice for gardening talks and has appeared at Blenheim Palace Flower Show, Hampton Court Flower Show and the Eden Project Green Fingers Festival to name a few. Hailing from Deal in Kent, Frances now lives in Exeter having completed her BSc in Horticulture with Plantmanship at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh in 2013. Frances got into gardening from an early age, helping out around the garden at home and after overly ambitiously designing a terraced landscape in a planter, given to her by her mum, age 7, she was hooked. As well as all things gardening Frances is a budding crafter and currently doing a pottery course.
Frances’ first book, First Time Gardener, was published in 2015 and her 2nd book, Container Gardening will be published in April this year. She has also written a column for Coast magazine on highs and lows of coastal gardening.
Book to see Pippa on stage for her sessions on House Plants with British Garden Centres
Pippa Greenwood trained as a botanist at Durham University (BSc hons) and then gained an MSc. in Crop Protection at Reading University. In 2007 she was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Science by The University of Durham.
In 1985, Pippa started working at The Royal Horticultural Society’s Garden at Wisley in Surrey, where she ran the Plant Pathology Department, answering several thousand gardening queries every year. In 1988 I began working for the BBC, joining Alan Titchmarsh for the weekly gardening slot on BBC 1’s Daytime Live.
For over 13 years, Pippa was a regular presenter on BBC 2’s ‘Gardeners’ World’, presenting items on garden pests and diseases, science and gardening, and creating and running my organic kitchen garden from her Hampshire garden. She is also a regular panelist on BBC Radio 4’s Gardeners’ Question Time.
Pippa presented my own series, ‘Growing Science’ on BBC Radio 4. and was the Presenter on BBC Radio Solent’s ‘Topsoil with Pippa Greenwood’, a three hour gardening and music show.
Pippa was the gardening consultant for the ITV murder mystery series Rosemary and Thyme starring Pam Ferris and Felicity Kendal, advising on the gardening sub-plot and other plant related matters, and the gardening personalities of the two actresses!
She has several regular writing commitments including BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine & NFU Countryside and for 18 years was the gardening columnist for The Mirror newspaper.
Pippa has written many books including the bestsellers, ‘New Gardener’ (in excess of one and a half million copies sold) & Gardening Hints and Tips, RHS Garden Pests and Diseases, Garden Problem Solver, Flower Gardener, Pippa’s Organic Kitchen Garden, A Garden for All Seasons, Pippa Greenwood’s Gardening Year, 1001 Ways to be a Better Gardener. She co-authored The Gardeners’ Question Time book. Her latest publication is The Gardener’s Year (Summersdale).
Adam Frost will be at BBC Gardeners’ World Live 2022 on Saturday and Sunday.
Find out when he’s on the BBC Gardeners’ World Live Theatre here.
Adam will also be at BBC Gardeners’ World Autumn Fair on Friday 2 September.
Adam Frost, seven-time Chelsea gold medallist, started his career building Geoff Hamilton’s gardens for the BBC at Barnsdale.
In 2013, he helped set up the Homebase Garden Academy and in 2014 became an RHS Ambassador to raise the profile of horticulture and encourage secondary schools to embrace gardening.
Recently, he wrote and published his own book ‘Real Gardens’ which tells the journey of his award winning Chelsea gardens.
Professor David Stevens FSGD, FCI Hort is one of the best known garden designers in the world.
He originally trained as a landscape architect and went on to form his own private practice in 1972. He was offered and accepted the first Chair of Garden Design at Middlesex University.
David’s 26 RHS Chelsea Flower Show medals, 11 of which have been gold, and three Best Garden in Show awards have ensured his success. He has additionally won three Gold Medals at The Hampton Court International Flower Show as well as awards in South Africa, Australia and Best Garden in Show Awards at Shizuoka and Hamamatsu in Japan. He has just won yet another Gold Award at BBC Gardeners’ World Live.
David has been a gardening consultant to B and Q Retail, Wyevale, Homes and Gardens Magazine and was also chosen as the designer to create a public memorial to Princess Diana at the Royal National Rose Society gardens in Hertfordshire.
David has contributed articles to virtually every gardening publication including The Sunday Times, The Daily Telegraph and The Sunday Telegraph. He is the author of 21 books on landscape and garden design selling many million copies.
He pioneered garden design on television with the acclaimed six part series Gardens by Design, this being followed by an equally popular series Gardenwise both for the BBC. He has worked as a TV guest presenter for numerous garden shows including BBC coverage of the Chelsea and Hampton Court Flower Shows, Gardeners’ World, Grassroots, and the long running TVS series ‘That’s Gardening’. He runs a thriving practice and continues to broadcast around the world and teaches both in the UK and the superb Filoli Gardens in California.
David has also appeared both as a regular contributor and an horticultural commentator on a wide range of national and local radio programmes, as well as on television.
David’s knowledge is based on more than 40 years of growing plants, working in gardens and nurseries, and gardening his own plots in many different parts of the UK. He studied horticulture at Writtle College in Essex and went on to gain his certificate in education which took him to teach at some of the country’s foremost horticultural colleges. He has also travelled to every continent with the exception of antarctica to discover plants and gardens, both independently and, on more than 40 trips accompanying groups of gardeners. Click here for his website.
**Lucy Hall is the Editor of BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine, taking over from founding editor Adam Pasco in 2012, after 10 years as Deputy Editor.
Her earliest memory is the smell and taste of fresh tomatoes in her grandfather’s greenhouse and, from then on, she was hooked on growing her own.**
Growing up north of the border, Lucy was raised on a diet of Beechgrove Garden, as well as Geoff Hamilton’s Gardeners’ World, while these days she gardens in the west country, in a awkwardly narrow garden. At BBC Gardeners’ World Live, she’ll be sharing tips and tricks for growing success in the smallest space
Saul Walker fell in love with horticulture through his Grandparents passion for visiting historic houses and gardens, and after a brief spell as an Archaeologist, he went to train and work as a Gardener for the National Trust at Antony House in Cornwall.
After many years there he was accepted to study on the prestigious 3-year Kew Diploma of Botanical Horticulture at RBG, Kew and was exposed to the fantastic plant collections in the gardens and glasshouses, as well as travelling to Australia, Southern Spain and the French Riviera to study plants in their native habitats. Following his time at Kew he spent a couple of years as part of the Show management teams for both the RHS Hampton Court Palace and RHS Chelsea Flower Show respectively, however he was unable to resist the call back to his native Devon, where he is now the Head Gardener of Stonelands House- a privately owned 10-acre garden. Saul’s speciality interests include Woodland Gardens, Orchids, Exotic and Aline plants. A member of the RHS Tender Plant Committee and Trustee of The Hardy Plant Society and the Chartered Institute of Horticulture, he also co-hosts the Talking Heads Podcast with Lucy Chamberlain.
Lucy was raised at her parents’ market garden in Essex, before venturing to further her horticultural education at Writtle and Wye colleges.
With an Honours Degree in plant sciences she then worked at the Royal Horticultural Society Garden (RHS) Wisley. After six years she left to pursue a career as a garden writer – first, for four years at Amateur Gardening magazine and then for six years as Editor of Grow Your Own magazine. She is now Head Gardener at East Donyland Hall – a 100- acre private estate which is home to a sizeable walled garden. Lucy is author of the book, The RHS Step-by-Step Veg Patch, and she also regularly writes for gardening magazines such as Gardeners’ World, The Garden and Amateur Gardening. She regularly podcasts with her Head Gardener friend, Saul Walker, on the Talking Heads gardening podcast. Lucy is also the gardening expert for BBC Essex radio, and she won Practical Journalist of the Year in 2020.
Joe is a familiar gardening face having been a regular presenter on BBC Gardeners World since 1998. He also anchors The BBC coverage of The Chelsea Flower show and other RHS shows and has presented several gardening series over the years.
Joe is the Design Director of Modular, a garden design and build brand. He has won many design awards including a Chelsea Gold Medal and Society of Garden designers awards.
Joe writes a weekly column for The Times and Radio Times Magazine and has written eight books, including his most recent a series of Expert Guides for Collins.
Darren is a multi award winning garden designer, broadcaster, lecturer and garden writer.He has spent his career delivering and managing horticultural and other land based qualifications as well as running a successful garden design consultancy. He was one of the first recipients of the City and Guilds medal of excellence.
Darren regularly has articles published in the gardening press and is the permanent gardening expert for BBC WM 95.6 in the West Midlands; know as “ the Laughing Gardener” he was nominated for a garden media guild award in 2016 and 2017 for his novel and inspirational approaches to gardening issues and problems.
Darren is a garden judge at National shows and also mentors school children through the green plan it Challenge run by the Royal Horticultural Society; aimed at getting children involved in gardening and living healthier lifestyles.
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Arit Anderson will be at BBC Gardeners’ World Live 2022 on Sunday.
Find out when she’s on the BBC Gardeners’ World Live Theatre here.
Link: Book Tickets
Arit will also be at BBC Gardeners’ World Autumn Fair on Saturday 3 September.
Leading the production team, ensuring all plants are grown in the correct environment with the necessary nutrition, watering and cultural techniques. I also lead the team for all plant production and preparation for show plants.
Matt Biggs will be at BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair 2022 Everyday.Find out when he’s on the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Stage.
Known as ‘The Peoples Gardener’, Matt Biggs trained at The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and has presented a number of television programmes, written several books and undertake lectures and talks. He is best known for his regular appearances on Radio 4 gardeners’ question time.
Frances Tophill will be at BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair 2022 on Sunday.Find out when she’s on the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Stage here.
In 2016 Frances joined BBC’s Gardeners’ World doing a few strands for the programme, one on vegetable seed trials which she worked on from her local RHS garden, RHS Rosemoor and another on gardens situated in extreme locations.
Frances is involved with the RHS campaign for school gardening and is passionate about enthusing young people to get into horticulture. She is working on a number of community gardening projects in the South West and is also helping the redevelopment of some costal gardens that were damaged by the 2014 storms. This is a particular passion of hers having grown up by the sea and was also part of her degree specialisation.
Frances is a popular choice for gardening talks and has appeared at Blenheim Palace Flower Show, Hampton Court Flower Show and the Eden Project Green Fingers Festival to name a few. Hailing from Deal in Kent, Frances now lives in Exeter having completed her BSc in Horticulture with Plantmanship at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh in 2013. Frances got into gardening from an early age, helping out around the garden at home and after overly ambitiously designing a terraced landscape in a planter, given to her by her mum, age 7, she was hooked. As well as all things gardening Frances is a budding crafter and currently doing a pottery course.
Frances’ first book, First Time Gardener, was published in 2015 and her 2nd book, Container Gardening will be published in April this year. She has also written a column for Coast magazine on highs and lows of coastal gardening.
Adam Frost will be at BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair 2022 on Friday 29 April.Find out when he’s on the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Stage here.Adam Frost, seven-time Chelsea gold medallist, started his career building Geoff Hamilton’s gardens for the BBC at Barnsdale.
In 2013, he helped set up the Homebase Garden Academy and in 2014 became an RHS Ambassador to raise the profile of horticulture and encourage secondary schools to embrace gardening.
Recently, he wrote and published his own book ‘Real Gardens’ which tells the journey of his award winning Chelsea gardens.
Joe Swift will be at BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair 2022 on Saturday.
Find out when he’s on the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Stage.
Joe is a familiar gardening face having been a regular presenter on BBC Gardeners World since 1998. He also anchors The BBC coverage of The Chelsea Flower show and other RHS shows and has presented several gardening series over the years.
Joe is the Design Director of Modular, a garden design and build brand. He has won many design awards including a Chelsea Gold Medal and Society of Garden designers awards.
Joe writes a weekly column for The Times and Radio Times Magazine and has written eight books, including his most recent a series of Expert Guides for Collins.