As green shoots start to sprout in gardens across the UK, exciting new highlights are announced for the BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair which opens at Beaulieu in the New Forest from 28-30 April. Whether you’re a keen gardener, experienced plant enthusiast or a budding beginner, inspiration will be in plentiful supply, and tickets are on sale now.
Headline partner, Hillier, will present a stunning walk-through garden inspired by The Secret Garden. Enclosed by high hedges, visitors will step inside to discover a spectacular display of colour co-ordinated plants and shrubs portraying the movement of the sun during a spring day, from the cool whites and purples of daybreak to the fiery reds and oranges of sunset.
The line-up of more than 150 exhibitors offering quality outdoor and indoor plants, garden tools, kit and accessories. Don’t want to carry your haul of new plants and garden bargains around the show? The Spring Fair’s Plant Crèche is the place to leave shopping so you can enjoy your day bag-free, collecting it all when you head home.
Visitors to the Spring Fair will find imaginative design and planting ideas at every turn. Award-winning designer Paul Stone’s showcase garden, Theatre of Greens, will be packed with veg and edible plants and features an accompanying programme of daily talks. Hosted by Chris Bavin, the talks area will feature ‘grow your own’ gurus including Garden Organic’s Head of Horticulture and former Blue Peter gardener, Chris Collins, fungi experts.
Spring Fair visitors can book added extras for their day out, like the ever-popular Plant Expert Tours of Beaulieu’s Victorian walled gardens with Lucy Chamberlain, Saul Walker and Beaulieu Head Gardener, Kelvin Yapp; Floral Crown workshops with tutors from the National Association of Flower Arrangement Societies’ (NAFAS) Hampshire group; and Oyster Mushroom Growing workshops with the Caley Brothers.
For visitors looking for a bite to eat, there will be delicious food and drink to be enjoyed at the BBC Good Food Market and a variety of artisan producers and street food vendors, with live music at the Bandstand.
Visitors to the Spring Fair can enjoy a full day out as tickets include access to Beaulieu’s stunning grounds, gardens and attractions, including Palace House, the National Motor Museum, the Monorail, and Little Beaulieu adventure play area.
Tickets for the BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair at Beaulieu are on sale now. Advance tickets from £15, concessions £14, children £8.50, under 5s free. Transaction fee applies. www.bbcgardenersworldfair.com
