It’s been revealed that more than 90,000 visitors attended the BBC Gardeners’ World Live at the NEC in Birmingham this year, and enjoyed a bumper 48 Show Gardens, Showcase Gardens and Beautiful Borders.
The annual four-day event at the NEC Birmingham ran between June 12 and 15 and was a plant lover’s paradise, packed with ideas and floral finds to take home.
BBC Gardeners’ World presenter and designer, Nick Bailey, wowed the crowds with his headline Show Garden, The Plant-Based Garden, created entirely from natural materials.
His message was to ‘Make a Metre Matter’ which was this year’s BBC Gardeners’ World campaign for 2025, encouraging as many people as possible to transform just one metre of outside space for the good of the planet.
More than 11,000 metres have been pledged to date at the Gardeners’ World website, including pollinator beds, veg patches, ponds and composting spaces.
Experts from Hillier, plant supplier for The Plant-Based Garden, showed visitors how to replicate the The Plant-Based Garden’s aesthetic and ethos at home.
Fellow BBC Gardeners’ World presenter, keen veg grower and home cook, Adam Frost, was on hand to present The Tasting Table, an exclusive new gardening and gastronomy space, with Si King, John Torode and Lisa Faulkner among guest chefs from sister event, Good Food Show Summer, that dropped by to whip up garden-inspired dishes and share foodie chat in a rustic-chic setting.
Adam Frost, Nick Bailey and BBC Gardeners’ World colleagues, Monty Don, Rachel de Thame and Frances Tophill, joined Nicki Chapman and BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine editor, Kevin Smith, on stage at the BBC Gardeners’ World Theatre, sponsored by British Garden Centres, for summer gardening tips and advice.
At the new ‘In Conversation With’ Stage, leading gardening personalities discussed wide-ranging topics from small-space food growing and how to ‘green’ our cities to worm composting and gardening for wildlife.
Specialist plant nurseries, growers and retailers also pulled out all the stops with their displays, tempting visitors with new plants to browse and buy.
In the Floral Marquee, sponsored by L&G, the Hot Off The Potting Bench gallery displayed more than ninety brand new plants.
This year’s Peter Seabrook Award for Best New Plant at BBC Gardeners’ World Live went to Dahlia Gardenetta Velvet Crush.
The event was full of colour and life as thousands of people enjoyed the sights on show
The robust and sturdy new dahlia from Ball Horticulture and Allensmore Nurseries is perfect for patio containers with double lavender-purple, two-tone flowers and deep bronze leaves.
BBC Gardeners’ World Live visitors voted for their own favourite plants and gardens throughout the event.
The Visitors’ Choice for Best New Plant at the Hot Off The Potting Bench gallery was also Dahlia Gardenetta Velvet Crush.
QVC’s Reflective Retreat designed by Kitti Kovacs for QVC was the Visitors’ Choice favourite Show Garden, with Sunflower Power designed by Hannah Thomas for Beth’s Sunflowers Charity winning Visitors’ Choice Showcase Garden.
The Bud and Blossom ‘Reflection’ Garden designed by Trinity Catholic School History Group from Leamington Spa was the Visitors’ Choice Beautiful Border winner.
Lucy Tremlett, event director at Immediate Live, organisers of BBC Gardeners’ World events, said: “This year’s incredible show gardens were an absolute feast for the senses, with Nick Bailey’s sustainable The Plant-Based Garden a sight to behold.
“2025 is the year of BBC Gardeners’ World’s ‘Make a Metre Matter’ campaign and there were ideas throughout the event for ways to create planet-friendly metres with a big impact.
“We added more horticultural highlights with the BBC Gardeners’ World presenters and Magazine editors, the Floral Marquee, displays of indoor, outdoor and brand new plants, the International Orchid Show, new workshops and stages, expert tips and advice, book signings and children’s activities.
“Adam Frost’s Tasting Table was a fantastic new feature, celebrating the joys of home-grown produce, outdoor cooking and great conversation.
“We can’t wait for more green-fingered fun at our Autumn and Spring Fairs, set against some stunning heritage backdrops.”
BBC Gardeners’ World Live returns to the NEC from June 11 to 14 2026.