A multi-award winning garden designer and television personality is creating the headline space at this month’s BBC Gardeners’ World Autumn Fair.
Pip Probert, who featured on the BBC’s Your Garden Made Perfect, is in charge of the main feature garden for the event at Audley End House and Gardens, which takes place from Friday August 29 to Sunday August 31.
Her garden will bring to life Gardeners’ World’s Make a Metre campaign, which encourages gardeners to transform a metre of outdoor space for the good of the planet. More than 13,500 eco-friendly metres have been pledged at gardenersworld.com to date.
Pip Probert, who featured on the programme Your Garden Made Perfect, has planned the headline feature garden at the BBC Gardeners’ World Autumn Fair. Picture: BBC Gardeners’ World Events
The three-day fair offers a great day out for budding gardeners, keen growers, foodies and non-gardeners alike.
Horticultural highlights include Showcase Gardens, Beautiful Borders and floral displays by specialist plant nurseries.
At the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Stage, Gardeners’ World presenters Adam Frost (Friday), Arit Anderson, Rachel de Thame (both Saturday) and Frances Tophill (Sunday) join the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine editors to share seasonal gardening advice, all hosted by plant expert David Hurrion.
Last year’s BBC Gardeners’ World Autumn Fair at Audley End
The Autumn Table is a new space for seasonal food, drink and table décor inspiration, hosted by BBC food presenter Chris Bavin.
On the menu are cheese and apple tasting with urban smallholder Sara Ward (Hen Corner), cocktail tasting with Mike Grieshaber from The Surrey Copper Distillery, dried-flower wreath making with Shilpa Reddy (The London School of Floristry) and an introduction to Ikebana floristry with Jordan Weston (The Bearded Botanist). Pre-book an exclusive seat or drop by to watch and learn.
Also new is the In Conversation With Stage, where host Ade Sellars (The Good Life Gardener) hosts laid-back chats with a gardening guest, like Probert, mushroom growers Caley Brothers, dahlia expert Kim O’Brien and community flower grower Cara Thompson (Make It Flourish).
And the headline feature garden will also offer a wealth of inspiration. Set in a realistic small plot, the garden features all the interests of a true gardener, with veg beds, wildlife and pollinator patches, a water bowl mini pond with oxygenating plants, planters for structure and plenty of Probert’s signature recycled style.
A removable shade sail creates shelter from the rain and cover for shade-loving plants while Alpines and succulents will find a home amongst gravel and stepping stones, softening the hard landscaping and filling every space with green.
“In the Make a Metre Matter Garden, we’re aiming to show multiple ways of enhancing just a small amount of garden space and to demonstrate how reusing things can be done in a way that looks new and fresh,” said Probert.
“The garden will have a range of creative planting combinations and will demonstrate that even the smallest garden space can attract wildlife.
Pip Probert’s headline feature garden. Picture: Pip Probert
“It’s been wonderful to create Make a Metre Matter spaces at all BBC Gardeners’ World events this year and this garden is full of colour and different plant types, providing a burst of interest as we move into autumn.”
Other attractions at the show include guided kitchen garden tours, hands-on workshops and demonstrations as well as a host of street food options, the English Heritage afternoon tea tent, cocktail bars and live music.
BBC Gardeners’ World Autumn Fair advance adult tickets start from £24.50 (concessions £22.50). All tickets include full access to Audley End, including the house, parklands and children’s play area. Well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome in the grounds.
The limited-edition VIP Extra package offers dedicated parking close to the fair’s entrance, a VIP Lounge with comfy seating, a glass or two of fizz, refreshments, goody bag and extra talks by the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine editors and special guests.
BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine subscribers can enjoy access to the Subscriber Club Lounge, featuring extra seating, refreshment options and talks. English Heritage members receive exclusive ticket rates, with anytime entry, free parking and a free BBC magazine.
Go to www.bbcgardenersworldfair.com to find out more and to book tickets.
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