A Bishop’s Stortford resident who transformed her newbuild back garden into a wildlife haven will be inspiring visitors at next week’s BBC Gardeners’ World Autumn Fair.
Charlotte Hugh is creating a Beautiful Border for the three-day show at Audley End House and Gardens, which runs from Friday August 29 to Sunday August 31.
First-time buyers Charlotte and husband Ben Owers moved into their Stortford Fields newbuild home in June 2020, having been renting a flat in the Maltings in Sawbridgeworth.
It took Charlotte and husband Ben four years to give her the mud pit a cottage garden vibe
They transformed the back garden – which started as a 12m (39ft 4in) x 7m (23ft) boxy newbuild mud pit – into a characterful haven for wildlife.
With no prior gardening experience at all, just learning as they went, the 35-year-old couple created a space packed full of perennial planting, blossom trees, beautiful borders and lots of characterful touches.
Charlotte, originally from Cornwall, and former Bishop’s Stortford High School boy Ben, who live with their border terrier Rags, created a cottage garden vibe in the heart of a suburban newbuild estate.
Charlotte Hugh
Charlotte, a creative lead for Sainsbury’s, filled it with pollinator-friendly planting, a wildlife pond and even a home-made bird table.
They documented the whole process on their social media channels – and the garden even featured on an episode of Gardeners’ World.
Now she is getting to show off her skills at the programme’s Autumn Fair by creating a 9m² plant-packed border full of clever design features.
This year’s Beautiful Borders theme is Cultivating Connections and Charlotte’s is entitled Conversation in Bloom.
Charlotte Hugh’s Conversation in Bloom design. Picture: Charlotte Hugh
“We know spending time in nature can have a profound impact on our social skills. It allows us to be more present, listen more clearly and become more attuned to our emotions,” said Charlotte.
“This border aims to provide the perfect environment to cultivate connections, old and new – and you might just meet a butterfly, bee or ladybird too.”
The Autumn Fair will also feature a headline space created by a multi-award winning garden designer and television personality.
Charlotte and Ben’s garden as it looks now in 2025
Pip Probert, who featured on the BBC’s Your Garden Made Perfect, is in charge of the main feature garden. It 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.
The three-day fair offers a great day out for budding gardeners, keen growers, foodies and non-gardeners alike.
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.
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.
“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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