Essex design teams to create stunning show gardens at BBC Gardeners’ World Autumn Fair

Saffron Walden firm, TKE Landscaping, with support from Basildon based Landscapes by Design, are proud members of the Association of Professional Landscapers and will be inspiring Autumn Fair visitors with a large-scale, wildlife-friendly Showcase Garden that marks the APL’s 30th anniversary year. The Pursuit of Excellence Garden is a walk-through garden that features layered planting for year-round interest as well as architectural and drought tolerant planting surrounding a seating area. Paul Newman from Designscape in Welwyn Garden City and Sarah Plested from Bramley Apple Garden Design in Hampshire are the garden’s designers. The Association of Professional Landscapers will be hosting a friendly, drop in Landscaping and Design Clinic for Autumn Fair visitors looking for expert advice on their own garden projects and plans.

Got a small garden or tricky space you’re not sure what to do with? The Autumn Fair’s popular Beautiful Borders are brimming with brilliant ideas. Measuring just 9m2, these petite, plant-packed creations are full of clever design features. This year’s Beautiful Borders theme is ’Cultivating Connections’ and Charlotte Hayden and Jess Rowbury from the English Heritage Historic and Botanic Garden Training Programme at Audley End House and Gardens, have embraced the theme. Their entry, The Wood and Wildlife Garden, is inspired by the rich tapestry of species that exist at the edge of habitats. In these edgeland environments, two habitats connect and host a particularly diverse range of flora and fauna that are characteristic of both spaces.

Charlotte Hayden said: “We have created a ‘forest edge’ garden that draws inspiration from two ecologically important habitats - broadleaved woodlands and wild meadows. We hope to highlight the many relationships within these ecosystems and to demonstrate that even the smallest spaces can provide the conditions to support and inspire biodiverse gardens.”

Also from Audley End House and Gardens, Senior Kitchen Gardener Emily Passmore has designed The Interwoven Garden, a celebration of the human relationship with plants and how people have used plants for thousands of years, for instance in heritage crafts. East Anglia has a long weaving tradition, and the garden features ornamental displays of plants commonly used for weaving and creating natural dyes, such as willow, Salix and Rubus. Crafted items including a woven bird feeder, hedgehog house, bench and fence will be incorporated in the design. Most of the plants in this Beautiful Border will be reused afterwards in the Audley End gardens.

Emily Passmore said: “My aim is to inspire visitors with a beautiful garden that is rich in biodiversity and history. Alongside the ornamental plants are native plants like nettles, stinking iris and brambles. While these may be plants that many gardeners want to remove, I’m including them in my design to highlight their value for nature and people. Nettles, for instance, are not only a food to harvest but have been used to create fibres and as a natural dye, as well as being an important food source for butterflies.”

The world-renowned Beth Chatto gardens and plant nursery at Elmstead Market near Colchester will present two additional display Borders.

The BBC Gardeners’ World Autumn Fair offers a great day out for budding gardeners, keen growers, foodies and non-gardeners alike. Horticultural highlights include Pip’s Make a Metre Matter Garden, the headline feature garden by multi award-winning garden designer, Pip Probert, from BBC 2’s Your Garden Made Perfect, plus Showcase Gardens, Beautiful Borders and floral displays by specialist plant nurseries. At the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Stage, BBC Gardeners’ World presenters Adam Frost (Fri), Arit Anderson and Rachel de Thame (both Sat) and Frances Tophill (Sun) join the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine editors to share seasonal gardening advice, all hosted by plant expert, David Hurrion.

The Autumn Table is an exciting new space for seasonal food, drink and table décor inspiration, hosted by BBC food presenter Chris Bavin. On the menu are cheese and apple tasting with urban smallholder Sara Ward (Hen Corner), cocktail tasting with Mike Grieshaber from The Surrey Copper Distillery, dried-flower wreath making with Shilpa Reddy (The London School of Floristry) and an introduction to Ikebana floristry with Jordan Weston (The Bearded Botanist). Pre-book an exclusive seat or drop by to watch and learn.

Also new is the In Conversation with Stage where host Ade Sellars (The Good Life Gardener) hosts laid-back chats with a gardening guest like headline garden designer Pip Probert, mushroom growers Caley Brothers, dahlia expert Kim O’Brien and community flower grower Cara Thompson (Make It Flourish).

There are plants, garden décor, tools, furniture and accessories to browse and buy, guided Kitchen Garden tours led by the Autumn Fair’s Plant Experts, hands-on workshops and demonstrations, and a Plant Creche for easy shopping. Fancy an iced latte or a tasty treat? You won’t go hungry, with vibrant street food options, artisan produce in the Good Food Market, the English Heritage afternoon tea tent, alfresco coffee and cocktail bars, and feel-good live music.

Lucy Tremlett, Event Director at Immediate Live, organisers of BBC Gardeners’ World events, said: “Set against the spectacular backdrop of Audley End House and Gardens, the Autumn Fair’s Showcase Gardens and Beautiful Borders never fail to impress, sparking fresh ideas for our visitors to try at home. It’s going to be wonderful to see the BBC Gardeners’ World Make a Metre Matter campaign brought to life with Pip Probert’s headline garden and to celebrate the 30th anniversary of our good friends, the Association of Professional Landscapers, with their very special wildlife garden.”

BBC Gardeners’ World Autumn Fair advance adult tickets start from £24.50 (concessions £22.50). All tickets include full access to Audley End’s grand mansion with its great hall, state rooms, dressing rooms, servants’ wing, stables and chapel, and the organic walled Kitchen Garden, grounds, gardens, parklands and children’s play area. Well-behaved dogs on leads welcome in the grounds.

The limited-edition VIP Extra package offers dedicated parking close to the Fair’s entrance, a VIP Lounge with comfy seating, a glass or two of fizz, refreshments, goody bag and extra talks by the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine editors and special guests. BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine subscribers can enjoy access to the Subscriber Club Lounge, featuring extra seating, refreshment options and talks. English Heritage members receive exclusive ticket rates, with anytime entry, free parking and a free BBC Magazine.

Find out more and book tickets at bbcgardenersworldfair.com.