A GARDEN FIT FOR A KING! BBC GARDENERS’ WORLD LIVE CELEBRATES THE CORONATION WITH A STUNNING SHOW GARDEN INSPIRED BY THE GARDENS AND ARBORETUM AT HIGHGROVE

10th May 2023

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Celebrating HM King Charles III’s Coronation, the headline Show Garden at BBC Gardeners’ World Live will be 'A Garden Fit for A King', a unique walk-through garden inspired by the gardens, Arboretum and sustainable practices at Highgrove in Gloucestershire. The return of this much-loved Show to Birmingham's NEC brings a fresh collection of inspirational Show Gardens, incredible nurseries to shop from, unbeatable expertise and entertainment, all alongside the BBC Good Food Show Summer, for four wonderful days from 15 - 18 June. Designed by award-winning garden designer Paul Stone, ‘A Garden Fit for a King’ celebrates King Charles III’s long-held interest in gardening, and concern for the environment. The garden offers a serene take on gardening for the future and is set to inspire visitors with sustainable gardening practices like those used at Highgrove. The stunning Show Garden combines a natural wildflower carpet interspersed with native and non-native Magnolia, Beech, Acer and Cherry trees – and will include subtle nods to the Highgrove gardens and Arboretum, including an atmospheric Bothy cottage made entirely from natural building materials. The garden will also pay homage to Highgrove’s award winning wildflower meadows which commemorate the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II's Coronation. A range of plants that feature in the garden will be supplied by Royal Warrant Holder, Hillier Nurseries, who are plant supplier to a number of Show Gardens at BBC Gardeners’ World Live. As part of a day out at BBC Gardeners' World Live, visitors can drop in on expert talks around the Show, including one exclusive talk each day set within A Garden Fit for A King. These talks will be hosted by Nicki Chapman, and feature Alan Titchmarsh on Thursday, Monty Don on Friday, Frances Tophill on Saturday and Adam Frost on Sunday. Visitors will also be inspired by a wide range of stunning Show Gardens and Beautiful Borders, including the brand-new Liz Earle Beauty Co’s Botanical Show Garden and the Newson Health Menopause Garden, which both demonstrate the power of plants and the joy of gardening in supporting health and wellbeing. Fans of popular gardening social media-influencer Lucy Hutchings, @SheGrowsVeg, can find her hosting talks from her We Grow edible garden, as well as discover two Wildlife Trust Competition gardens and four APL Avenue Show Gardens. Elsewhere, at the Show, visitors can browse hundreds of floral displays and plants in one of the country’s largest Floral Marquees. Keen gardeners will also get the chance to learn from the best with one-to-one advice from the Plant Experts. Paul Stone, designer of ‘A Garden Fit for a King’, comments: “The garden is inspired by Highgrove's gardening ambitions and projects, and tells the story of an approach to gardening and living that is all about investment in the environment, the love of plants, and the resulting benefits to us all at many levels. I felt that the biggest tribute I could give in celebration of the Coronation would be to concentrate on and credit the King's specific contribution to the renovation of the Highgrove gardens and the resulting impact on the gardening community. The Show Garden's message is to trust in nature." Rachel Poletti-Gadd, Portfolio Director at BBC Gardeners’ World Live, said: “This year’s Show is set to be a real treat for both budding gardeners and seasoned pros. With plenty of opportunities for visitors to take home ideas for their own gardens, discover the importance of ecosystems and stroll through an array of stunning gardens, there’s lots to learn and uncover this summer at Birmingham’s NEC”. For more information and to book tickets to this year’s Show, please visit: www.bbcgardenersworldlive.com.

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