The Garden Centre Buyer team was delighted to attend the Gardeners’ World Live press event on Wednesday 11th June at the NEC. Once we’d navigated the entrance, found some high vis. vests and come to turns with the fact the ice-cream vans and coffee shops were all closed, we settled down to enjoy the fabulous array of show gardens and plant displays, which included a magnificent showcase from the Orchid Society of Great Britain.
Above is one of the amazing orchid selections, presented by the North England Orchid Society, one of 14 regional groups who are participating in this year’s show.
There was a lot to take in during our afternoon and early evening event, but highlights of the visit included the spectacular Greenfingers Charity garden (pictured top) designed by award winning garden designer, Pip Probert and sponsored by BBC Gardeners’ World Live, Miracle-Gro, BGC and others. See this amazing garden at Stand GA7
We were also thrilled when the lovely Jan O’Brien (above) won the first major award of the evening – Best Interpretation of the Theme – for her Willow Moments and Memories Garden, part of the Borders display, which featured handmade copper bee drinkers and bulrushes by Copper and Green. In a very popular decision that was given a roar of approval from the crowd, this garden was deemed to have had the Best Interpretation of the show Borders brief.
Elsewhere, Copper and Green’s beautiful water feature was part of The nectary by Miss Kate Patrick, The Messy Allotmenteer, whilst the incredible full scale copper and iron tree was a stunning centrepiece of the Garden of Reflection created by Marc Buirski from 2 Forks and a Spade
Speaking to Garden Centre Buyer at the event, Jan – a beneficiary of the wonderful Willow Foundation charity – paid tribute to the army of dedicated followers from around the UK who helped grow the necessary flowers and took a week of their time to help Jan put the winning garden together at the NEC. She also explained: “I’m a beneficiary of the foundation and I wanted to take it further by creating the everlasting memories” displayed in her beautiful show garden.”
Willow creates bespoke experiences and treats for seriously ill young adults and their loved ones. “My experience was afternoon tea at the Dorchester, which was fabulous!” Jan added. Copper was a theme that ran through the wonderfully tranquil and moving space, with Copper and Green’s beautiful handmade garden features prominently displayed.
Another of our favourite gardens, ‘Sunflower Power’ designed for Beth’s Sunflowers charity, won a Platinum award. The gorgeous garden was the work of Kate Moody and her team at Jack Moody Landscaping, with gorgeos metal sunflowers provided by Nicci Fairbank and a bespoke timber bench by Fell Design Ltd. Grassroots charity, Beth’s Sunflower Charity, does amazing work raising vital funds for blood cancer research and patient support.
Above: GCB editor, Charlotte Cowell, gets friendly with the fuchsias!
Gardeners’ World Live Award winners in full
Scottish garden designer, Rachel Bailey, scooped Best Show Garden and a Platinum award for Where There’s Water, There’s Life, which highlights the vital link between water, plants, people and nature, and showcases innovative design features that slow water flow and conserve resources, all set in a stunning garden landscape.
Rachel Bailey’s award-winning garden celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Association of Professional Landscapers (APL) and demonstrates how thoughtful landscaping can sustain life, promote biodiversity and create beautiful, functional outdoor spaces. Highlights include a rain garden, a decked walkway elevated over a pond, and a green roofed pergola covering a decked seating area.
BBC Gardeners’ World events are keen supporters of the talent, technical skills and teamwork of professional landscaping teams, and there where were double celebrations when the garden’s landscape team, Design It Landscapes from the West Midlands, won the Best Construction Landscaper award.
Rachel said: “This is an amazing result for our team, I’m thrilled. It shows what can be achieved when professional designers and landscapers work together from concept stage to bringing a garden to life. I’m grateful to the Association of Professional Landscapers and Society of Garden Designers for their support.”
Dan Ryan from Design It Landscapes said: “It’s a great thing to have achieved this for the APL and for Rachel. We’ve had a great team of APL member companies and suppliers providing behind the scenes support.”
Phil Tremayne, General Manager of the Association of Professional Landscapers said: “This 30th Anniversary Garden has blown us away and I’m thrilled to bits with this award. Collaboration between professional designers and landscapers is something we promote at the APL and we’ve had some great support with the garden from APL members.”
Best Showcase Garden
Continuing the top awards at BBC Gardeners’ World Live, winner of Best Showcase Garden and a Platinum award was Just a Garden … by Derbyshire designer, Carleen Osborne. This pollinator friendly garden is inspired by the designer’s love for plants and the belief that gardening should be achievable and sustainable. Its planting is tailored to local microclimates whilst leaf litter, a log pile and hedge offer shelter for small mammals and amphibians.
Carleen Osborne said: “I’m blown away to have won this award. Nick, my husband, and I are the perfect team and we’ve created a beautiful garden with lots of takeaway ideas to inspire gardeners. We’ve felt real satisfaction and joy from making aspects of the garden, like the screens, decking and furniture, and from planting together.”
Best Beautiful Border
BBC Gardeners’ World Live’s ever-popular Beautiful Borders offer inspiration for small garden spaces and challenging places. Creative designers from across the UK have packed these tiny plots with big ideas, all inspired by the theme of ‘Cultivating Connections’.
The winner of Best Beautiful Border and a Platinum award was North Yorkshire garden designer, Anita Rose, for The One to Three Border. The garden is designed to foster connections between oneself, other people and nature. Seating for three encourages reflection, a seat for two invites shared moments, and a single seat under a tree offers quiet contemplation. Its message is that it’s easy as 1,2,3 for visitors to replicate its look in their own gardens to cultivate calm and connection.
Anita Rose said: “It means so much to have won the Best Border award and I feel lucky to have been able to take part. It’s been an amazing experience, I’ve learnt so much and met so many lovely people that have supported each other.”
Best BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Subscriber Border and a Gold award went to first-time garden designer Ellen Tozer from We Say Grow in Bristol. Ellen’s design, The Golden Hour, is a restful space to reconnect and escape the hustle and bustle of daily life. Inspired by the golden hours of sunrise and sunset, it features warm, earthy tones in flowers and foliage with relaxing amber and orange hues. Wild, loose planting encourages a carefree, informal approach
Ellen Tozer said: “I’m really honoured to win this award for my first ever garden design, it’s been great fun to put together.”
Best Interpretation of the Theme and a Silver Merit award went to Jan O’Brien from Lancashire for Willow Moments and Memories, inspired by the work of Willow, a charity providing special days for seriously ill young adults. Jan is a beneficiary of Willow’s support and her Border features a river of memories with everlasting flowers, leading to a tranquil spot by a willow tree.
Jan O’Brien said: “I’m a first-time garden designer and only submitted my entry at the last minute so it feels incredible to have won this award after so many months of hard work. As a beneficiary, Willow is close to my heart so it’s wonderful to be able to give it a voice.”
Nine of this year’s Beautiful Borders were designed by members of Working for Gardeners Association, a charity that provides horticultural skills training through its Work and Retrain As a Gardener Scheme (WRAGs). Winner of Best WFGA Border and a Platinum award was Isabel Sabine from Winchester for Apple Core Values which explores how neighbours can create mini orchards in small gardens, fostering community spirit through planning, selecting apple varieties and sharing recipes and apple juice.
Isabel Sabine said: “I’m overwhelmed by the award and very grateful to the WFGA for the opportunity to create this garden. It’s been an amazing experience.”
As well as the many inspiring Show Gardens and Beautiful Borders, the large Floral Marquee has eye-catching displays by specialist nurseries and growers, the Hot Off The Potting Bench gallery or brand new plants, the International Orchid Show, Let’s Talk Plants stage and Plant Expert advice desk.
BBC Gardeners’ World Live takes place at the NEC Birmingham from 12-15 June.
