Taking place on the 2nd – 4th of May 2025, the BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair aims to inspire gardeners by means of a range of showgardens, beautiful borders, budget friendly gardens and will also showcase the new BBC Gardeners’ World ‘Make a Metre Matter’ campaign to encourage gardeners to transform a metre of outdoor space to support wildlife, biodiversity and edible plants.
Lucy Tremlett, Event Director at Immediate Live, organisers of BBC Gardeners’ World events, said: “Beaulieu is a wonderful location and we’re really looking forward to celebrating the BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair’s fifth birthday there in May. Visitors can look forward to exciting new highlights along with the impressive Hillier Experience and much-loved Showcase Gardens, College Gardens and Beautiful Borders. We’re mad about gardening and growing, and it gives us real joy to see visitors laden with plants for their exciting spring and summer gardening projects.”
Show gardens & Borders
- Taking centre stage is Hillier’s woodland-themed feature garden which brings a cultivated woodland to the New Forest show, with plants such as Cornus, Hellebores, Ferns, Foxgloves and Primroses.
- The Lighthouse Community Garden designed by Poole-based Matt Evans. This coastal garden represents Lighthouse Poole, a multi arts venue that nurtures the creative arts and culture. The garden features a symbolic lighthouse, an important pillar of the local community, acting as a guiding light through good times and bad.
- From Darkness to Daylight by Salisbury-based designer David Long, portrays a journey of imposter syndrome, from self-doubt to being ‘good enough.
- The Living Well Garden by Totton-based Kate Pomeroy for the charity Diabetes UK explores how thoughtful design can cultivate health, balance, and vitality for managing diabetes.
- Flori’s Garden by Becky Hall is a place of calm and connection for three-year-old Florence, who lives with severe neurodevelopmental difficulties, and her family.
- The Time Together Garden by Headley Dad, Jonny Coller and eight-year-old son, Inigo, from Floreat Garden Design, represents the unique ability of gardens to bring different generations of a family together and forge strong bonds across ages.
For the College Gardens competition, students from Capel Manor, Kingston Maurward, Merrist Wood and Plumpton Colleges, mentored by garden designer Cherry Carmen, will create budget-friendly gardens inspired by the theme of ‘Nature’s Art within the Garden’. The Association of Professional Landscapers’ Landscaping and Design Drop-In Clinic is on hand to offer expert garden design advice.
Supported by BBC Two’s Gardeners’ World TV series, the Magazine, events and digital platforms, their new ‘Make a Metre Matter’ campaign will be featured extensively throughout the show, to encourage gardeners to transform a metre of outdoor space to support wildlife, biodiversity and edible plants. Garden designer, Pip Probert will be creating a collection of metres for the Spring Fair to inspire visitors to make small but meaningful changes in their gardens.
Carol Klein will be making her Spring Fair debut at the fair this year. The BBC Gardeners’ World presenter will be live at the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Stage to share seasonal gardening advice and chatting about the Make a Metre Matter campaign with the Magazine’s editors. Adam Frost, Arit Anderson and Lucy Chamberlain, will also be presenting at the show.
The new ‘In Conversation With’ Stage hosted by garden podcaster and writer, Adam Kirtland will feature a daily programme of conversations with horticulturalists and gardening personalities, such as; August Bernstein from the Raymond Blanc Gardening School, Jason Williams and Kelly-Jane Leach.
The Spring Table
New for 2025 is The Spring Table, a space for seasonal food, drink and table setting inspiration, hosted by BBC food broadcaster, Chris Bavin. Luke Holder, chef director at the New Forest Lime Wood Hotel will be sharing a selection of no-cook dishes. Mixologists from The Pig hotel will be preparing plant-based drinks at ‘make and taste’ cocktail masterclasses.
Mushroom-growing experts, Lorraine and Jodie Caley from Caley Brothers, will be showing how to make pickled mushrooms for a delicious addition to antipasti platters or charcuterie boards. Floral designer, Jordan Weston, will be introducing the art of Ikebana flower arranging.
Arena highlights include the New Forest Tractor and Engine Club’s collection of vintage Land Rovers, tractors and mini steam engines, and the Beaulieu-based Countryside Education Trust, celebrating its 50th anniversary with coppicing workshops. For younger visitors, there are daily falconry displays on the Palace House lawn, and the Little Beaulieu adventure playground, Monorail Skytrain and woodland walks to explore.
Throughout the weekend, Plant Experts Lucy Chamberlain, Saul Walker, Bob Sweet and Beaulieu Head Gardener, Kelvin Yapp, will be hosting guided tours of Beaulieu’s Victorian Walled Kitchen Gardens and Ornamental Gardens.
Further show and ticket details can be found on BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair 2025. Well-behaved dogs on leads welcome in the outdoor areas.