The Plant Fairs Roadshow (PFR) is organised by a collective of specialist nurseries in the South East. As expert growers the collective aims to create memorable gardening events at some of the best gardens in the region and provide visitors an opportunity to buy plants direct from knowledgeable growers. Boosted by their first cooperative appearance at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2023, the PFR’s popularity has grown.
Exhibiting at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show again this year, the collective will bring their global range of top quality plants to some of the most beautiful estates and gardens in Kent, Sussex, Surrey, London and Hertfordshire. From a huge range of hot peppers nurtured by Clare‘s Chilies in Sussex, to drought-tolerant plants grown by Daisy Roots (Hertfordshire), to a Kent Wildflower seed producer, and Plantbase (a specialist in jungle and tropical plants in Wadhurst), the range of plants and nurseries involved in the Plant Fairs Roadshow (PFR) promises to be extensive in 2024.
Paul Seaborne, Event Coordinator of the PFR says: “Key to the success of the Plant Fairs Roadshow is the specialist expertise of the differing nurseries involved, that lends a sense of horticultural heritage to the events whether they’re at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show or at Leonardslee or Ramster or Bennington Lordship Gardens. We are indebted to the incredible venues that allow us to come and display our life’s work in their fantastic gardens and castles – it’s an honour to be invited back year on year.”
“All of the plants exhibited are grown and nurtured in the south east, no air miles are associated with the plants on sale, and all plants have been grown by the people showcasing them. This enables buyers to not only purchase fantastic plants but to also take home specific knowledge of the plant delivered by the people who actually grow it. This unique relationship of handing over knowledge with the plant has meant that buyers return year after year to the events to share success stories of plants that have performed floriferous miracles in their home gardens”, added Seaborne.
The PFR at Bennington Lordship Gardens in Hertfordshire will be hosted by Susanna and Richard Bott, fourth generation owners of the property built in the early 1700’s. The manor house has 19th century, neo-Norman embellishments, a turreted gatehouse, folly, curtain-wall and delightful herbaceous borders.
Susanna Bott says: “We feel very honoured to have been asked to host the plant fair on 9 June with the Plant Fairs Roadshow and we are looking forward to meeting new faces and to offering visitors the chance to purchase unusual plants. It is also timely, as we have recently completed a redesign of our main herbaceous borders, away from traditional, labour intensive planting to a more naturalistic and contemporary design and this will be its first year in bloom.”
The PFR will also be visiting beautiful Ramster Gardens (pictured) in Surrey on Sunday 28 April for the first time. Owner Rosie Glaister said: “Having the Plant Fairs Roadshow visit is a thrill, it will give inspiration and knowledge to visitors as they buy the different homegrown plants.”
See the events diary for the 2024 Plant Fair Roadshow dates for 2024.