Record show gardens and 90,000 visitors at BBC Gardeners’ World Live
90,000 visitors were spoilt for inspiration at BBC Gardeners’ World Live this year with a bumper 48 Show Gardens, Showcase Gardens and Beautiful Borders to enjoy. The annual four-day event at the NEC Birmingham (12-15 June) is a plant lover’s paradise, packed with ideas and floral finds to take home.
Nick Bailey's headline Show Garden, The Plant-Based Garden, made from 100% natural materials, championed this year’s campaign message: "Make a Metre Matter", urging gardeners to transform a metre of space for the planet. More than 11,000 metres have already been pledged, with plant supplier Hillier showing visitors how to recreate the look at home.
Adam Frost launched The Tasting Table, a new garden-meets-gastronomy space celebrating homegrown food. Celebrity chefs including Si King, John Torode and Lisa Faulkner joined for live cookery and chat, tying in with the Good Food Show Summer.
Presenters Monty Don, Rachel de Thame, Frances Tophill, and others appeared at the BBC Gardeners’ World Theatre, sponsored by British Garden Centres, sharing seasonal tips. New stage features included intimate An Audience With talks and diverse discussions on wildlife gardening, worm composting, and urban greening.
The Floral Marquee, sponsored by L&G, wowed with over 90 brand new plants. Dahlia Gardenetta® Velvet Crush won both the Peter Seabrook Award for Best New Plant and the Visitors’ Choice Award, praised for its sturdy form, lavender-purple blooms and bronze leaves.
Other crowd favourites included QVC’s Reflective Retreat (Best Show Garden), Sunflower Power (Best Showcase Garden), and Bud and Blossom ‘Reflection’ Garden (Best Beautiful Border). The Health for Life School Wheelbarrow Competition also returned, with young winners from Birmingham and Coventry. BBC Gardeners’ World Live will return to the NEC from 11–14 June 2026, with Autumn and Spring Fairs also planned.