Top awards at BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair 2026
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Minstead Trust A Garden of Many Hands
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Nature's Spa Vicky Lincoln & Rob Woodhouse
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Merrit Wood College Heritage Rewoven
The BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair took place at Beaulieu in the New Forest from 1–3 May, and after judging, the award winners have been announced.
The event showcased a wide range of show gardens, borders, floral displays and college-led projects, attracting large visitor numbers over the Bank Holiday weekend.
Gold Award
A Gold award in the Showcase Gardens category was presented to Hampshire-based designer Vicky Lincoln and Rob Woodhouse of Solent Garden Services for Nature’s Spa.
The garden, inspired by William Wordsworth’s Lines Written in Spring, was praised by the judging panel for its calming design, sensitive use of hard landscaping and planting, and focus on wellbeing and reconnecting with nature.
Best College Garden
In the College Gardens competition, Merrist Wood College, Guildford, won Best College Garden and a Gold award for Heritage Rewoven. The judges highlighted the garden’s creative reuse of materials and its exploration of the evolution of horticultural education since the college’s founding in 1945. Coastland College, Dorset, also received a Gold award for Salty Towers.
The Beautiful Borders category saw several high-scoring entries. A Platinum award and Best Beautiful Border went to New Forest Day Opportunities and the Minstead Trust for A Garden of Many Hands, a woodland-themed border inspired by an original New Forest folk tale.
The design will be rebuilt at Furzey Gardens following the show.
The Spring Fair is organised by Immediate Live and supported by headline sponsor Hillier.