Get ready to be inspired at the show of the year – BBC Gardener’s World Live and the Good Food Show.
Head to the NEC from 13 June to 16th June for an unforgettable experience for all of your senses.
BBC Gardener’s World Live
Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting your green journey, there’s something for everyone, and you are sure to head home feeling inspired:
Show Gardens: Wander through absolutely stunning show gardens designed by top landscapers and get inspired to transform your own outdoor space.
There’s yet again some show stoppers to really impress including a garden by Adam Frost entitled “The Chef’s Table”.
If I’m completely honest, I fell in love with pretty much all of them. So cleverly created. I loved the use of water in many of them. There’s definitely something about water in a garden that adds a sense of tranquility and peace.
I am a big fan of colour in gardens and there’s some great use of bold, bight, eye-catching ones.
Beautiful Borders: Discover creative and colourful border gardens showcasing innovative planting ideas and vibrant flowers that will leave you in awe.
There’s plenty to give you inspiration, a personal favourite of mine being the detail in ‘I Will Wait’, a border garden designed by Jodie-Louise Miller for her autistic son with recognition of the struggle he has in visiting new places. It is brilliant and incredibly well thought out. I could easily see my own daughter sat in this space, at one with nature.
And I now really want one of these chairs after seeing the My Garden Escape border by Kitti Kovacs Garden Design . Can you imagine sitting in this space, cosy on the chair, reading a book. Ahh, bliss.
Grow Your Own: Get expert tips and advice on growing your own fruits, vegetables, and herbs. Perfect for those looking to embrace sustainable living! There’s also plenty of people ready to offer help and support in keeping your indoor plants healthy, too. Just ask the incredibly friendly and helpful stall holders.
Live Demonstrations: Watch live demonstrations from gardening experts, including your favourite BBC Gardeners’ World presenters. Learn the latest gardening techniques and tricks right from the pros.
Book Signings: Get your favourite gardening guru to sign your book. From Adam Frost to Monty Don. There’s lots of famous faces to get a signing from – they might even pose for a photo too.
Shopping: Explore a wide range of gardening products, from tools and accessories to plants and seeds. Everything you need to enhance your garden is right here!
A personal favourite of mine that you MUST visit was the Peonies stand by Primrose Hall. It smells absolutely delightful (you know the type where you smell it before you see it) and you can purchase the Peonies plants to take home.
Family Fun: This isn’t just a show for adults. Bring the whole family along! There are activities for kids and plenty of fun for all ages. Visit The Children’s Activities Corner run by The Conservation Volunteers!
Children can get hands-on with projects, including building a bug hotel, painting their own seed pot, planting sunflower seeds, and crafting wildflower seed bombs to create their very own wildflower meadow at home. Plus, there are a host of other interactive activities to enjoy! These free activities are designed to encourage young children to connect with nature and spark their passion for growing!
Vote For Your Favourite Wheelbarrow: Schools across Birmingham have created wheelbarrow masterpieces, and they need your help to vote for them. This year’s theme focuses on food and climate change.
The wheelbarrows show their individual takes on how the climate and environmental changes impact food production and solutions for mitigating the problems. Students will choose an aspect of this issue that interests them and design their wheelbarrows to illustrate solutions for mitigating the problem. You can explore over 45 wheelbarrows, all placed around Picnic Hill and decide on your favourite.
Eating: On the subject of Picnic Hill, you are welcome to bring picnics to the show, or you could grab a bite to eat. There’s a number of street food vans serving up delicious meals or different cuisines (Indian, Greek and Burgers) and plenty of seating areas around the venue.
Don’t miss out on this incredible event – it’s a must-visit for garden lovers and plant enthusiasts!
But it doesn’t end there. Entry to BBC Gardener’s World Live also gives you FREE entry to the BBC Good Food Show and there’s lots to see (and try!).
BBC Good Food Show
This year is a great year for food at the show. Get ready for a mouth-watering experience at the BBC Good Food Show as there’s a perfect selection for food enthusiasts of all ages, offering an incredible lineup of activities, demonstrations, and tastings that will delight your senses and inspire your inner chef.
Live Cooking Demonstrations: Watch celebrity chefs whip up their signature dishes live on stage. Learn their tips and tricks, and maybe even get a chance to ask them your burning culinary questions!
Tasting and Sampling: This year seemed an epic year for tasting and sampling. Explore a vast array of food and drink samples (alcohol and alcohol free) from local producers and international brands. From artisanal cheeses to ice cream, there’s something to satisfy every palate.
My personal favourite was the Unisnacks stand. I got to trial different drinks with fruit bits on, rice crackers, chocolates, biscuits and even hot food! And the testers work as I purchased a few boxes of treats and headed back to buy drinks when we were thirsty.
For those who like a tipple, you should definitely head to the Zymurgorium stand and try some of their exciting drinks.
Shopping Galore: Are you a fan of unique kitchen gadgets? There’s plenty on sale here along with cookware and gourmet ingredients, to take your home cooking to the next level. With hundreds of exhibitors, you’ll find everything you need to create delicious meals at home.
My top choices for you to explore are Urban Herbs for your fresh and unique herbs such a Cola Plant, Pineapple Mint and Chocolate Mint! There’s loads to choose from.
The Yorkshire Kitchen have a number of really tasty and quirky dessert butters. I highly recommend the Honey & Cinnamon Butter.
If you follow me on Instagram, you will know about my love for local business Stuffed Bakes. They used to stock Blackroot Bistro giving me my Wednesday tasty treat fix. Well, you’ll be excited to know that they are exhibiting at the show and have an array of tasty bakes to choose from, so you can try the bakes that I rave about. The hardest part is deciding which one you will choose, they’re all so tasty!
Meet the Experts: Attend insightful talks and Q&A sessions with food experts, nutritionists, and cookbook authors. Gain valuable knowledge about the latest food trends, healthy eating, and more.
Interactive Workshops: Get hands-on with cooking and baking workshops. Whether you’re a novice cook or a seasoned pro, these sessions offer a fun and educational experience.
Exclusive Offers: Take advantage of special show-only deals and discounts from your favourite brands. Stock up on gourmet goodies and kitchen essentials at unbeatable prices.
You can book your tickets to the show here: https://www.bbcgardenersworldlive.com/