BBC Gardeners’ World Live and BBC Good Food Show Summer are set to return to the NEC in Birmingham from 15 – 18 June, and to celebrate one of the nation’s most popular days out, here are the top ten things not to miss this year.
1. A Garden Fit for a King - headline Show Garden by Paul Stone
Celebrating HM King Charles III’s Coronation, the headline Show Garden 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.
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.
Subtle nods to the Highgrove gardens and Arboretum include an atmospheric Bothy cottage made from natural building materials and a homage to Highgrove’s wildflower meadows which commemorate the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II's Coronation.
Visitors can drop in on an expert talk on the Garden, hosted by Nicki Chapman, throughout the weekend.
2. All-star experts in their field
BBC Gardeners’ World Live and BBC Good Food Show Summer are renowned for hosting the biggest and best names in gardening and food each year, and 2023 is no exception.
Across the four-day weekend at the BBC Gardeners’ World Live Theatre and the BBC Good Food Show’s Big Kitchen, visitors can enjoy live talks and demonstrations from green-fingered royalty including Monty Don, Adam Frost, Carol Klein and Frances Tophill, plus Alan Titchmarsh, while food-lovers can discover culinary experts including Nadiya Hussain, James Martin, Ainsley Harriott, Michel Roux, The Hairy Bikers, Paul Ainsworth, Jane Dunn and Glynn Purnell.
3. Spectacular Show Gardens
Every year the Show presents fresh and new garden inspiration in the Show Gardens and Beautiful Borders.
Highlights include the Liz Earle Beauty Co.’s Botanical Show Garden, designed by Award winning designer Lucy Bravington, that will highlight the power of plants for feelings of wellbeing with planting that showcases the botanicals included in many of the Liz Earle Beauty Co.’s products. Their ethnobotanist, James Wong, will make daily appearances on the Show Garden.
Shining a spotlight on women’s health, leading menopause expert, Dr. Louise Newson, has joined forces with award-winning garden designer, Ruth Gwynn, to create the Newson Health Menopause Garden. The design includes interactive ‘symptom stations’ exploring different aspects of menopause and perimenopause, with clinicians and experts on hand with information and advice about diet and nutrition, the wide-reaching benefits of gardening, exercise, mindfulness and mental wellbeing.
Further highlights include the Secret Homestead Garden by Lucy Hutchings (@SheGrowsVeg) bursting with edible flowers, vegetables and foliage, with a dramatic black and white palette contrasting with vivid coral and pink. Visitors will be able to pick up tips on growing tasty produce at the integrated ‘We Grow’ stage with speakers including Chris Collins (Garden Organic), no-dig expert Stephanie Hafferty, hi-rise gardener Jason Williams (CloudGardenerUK), Ade Sellars, Becky Searle (@sow_much_more), Lydia Lakemoore, Michael Kennard (@compost.michael) and more.
Plus, the Garden Organic Backyard Biodiversity Garden, The Fontana Garden, Derby College’s annual Show Garden, four APL Avenue Show Gardens, Showcase gardens including the Wildlife Trust competition gardens, 20 Beautiful Borders and more.
4. The Summer Kitchen
Returning for the 2023 Show, the Summer Kitchen is the perfect place for getting plenty of seasonal food inspiration and picking up tips and tricks on how to eat well throughout the summer, no matter your budget.
Hosted by Chris Bavin, the free sessions offer visitors the chance to discover a host of new recipes and top tips to brighten up seasonal dishes from chefs including Ching-He Huang, Mike Reid, Kwoklyn Wan, Crystelle Pereira, Jassy Davis, Marcus Bean, Shaun & Craig McAnuff, and many more.
5. Live demonstrations at the brand-new Tool Shed
NEW to BBC Gardeners’ World Live this year, visitors can drop into The Tool Shed to see demos from exhibitors from around the Show for tips and advice on how you can make the most out of the gardening equipment that’s in your shed.
6. On-tap food and drink tastings
Whether you’re looking to find your new favourite wine or expand your foodie knowledge, there’s plenty of tastings and workshops on offer at this year’s BBC Good Food Show Summer!
BBC Good Food Wine Club Tasting Theatre
The BBC Good Food Wine Club Tasting Theatre, hosted by Grant Hedley of Laithwaites Wines, is back for another year with five sessions a day covering everything you need to know to become a wine connoisseur this Summer!
From learning how to taste wine and get the most out of your favourite glass, to sharing top tips and recommendations for a wine filled summer, the tasting sessions offer the opportunity to brush up on your sommelier skills while discovering delicious grape varieties that you may not have come across before.
Fabulous Food Finds Tasting Theatre
Back by popular demand, the Fabulous Food Finds Tasting Theatre offers the opportunity to test your taste buds, expand your foodie knowledge, and enjoy outstanding, delicious products. Hosted by speciality food and drink expert Katy Truss, visitors can book onto sessions including the mystery tasting, cheese tasting and condiments for summer dining for an unmissable food experience.
7. New House Plant Hub
Brand new for 2023, the House Plant Hub is the one-stop-shop for expert advice and tips to ensure a home full of healthy houseplants. Hosted by gardening for wellbeing expert Ellen Mary, and featuring talks from Joe Bagley plus others, the House Plant Hub and Stage is the place to discover the best ways to green-up your indoor living spaces. A visit to the Houseplant Market will provide the chance to buy a wide range of plants, pots and accessories.
8. Mouth-watering workshops
Break away from the hustle-and-bustle of the Show and brush up on your skills at the popular Summer Workshops! Visitors can get stuck in with a delectable cheese tasting workshop, hosted by Parmigiano Reggianno, or prepare for those long, hot summer days by learning how to make a variety of refreshing summer cocktails with Ocean Spray. Visitors will also have the chance to join Chris Baber to learn how to create Summer rolls, or Chef Mike Reid to learn how to make your own BBQ marinades.
What’s more, the BBC Good Food team will also be on hand show you how to create your own Breakfast board, put your icing skills to the test and decorate a classic fondant fancy, or even teach you how to create your own pesto.
9. The iconic Floral Marquee
One of the largest in the country, the Floral Marquee is a haven of colour and scent, the ultimate destination for all gardeners and plant lovers. Inside, you’ll discover floral displays like no other, including a walk-through garden by award-winning West-Midlands’ based Ashwood Nurseries and a 40th anniversary display by Barnsdale Gardens. Green-fingered experts will share tips on the Let’s Talk Plants Stage, including Monty Don, Adam Frost and Carol Klein, as well a chance for visitors to have one-to-one advice with the Plant Experts. The plant crèche will help you store all your shopping so you can enjoy the show bag-free!
For visitors looking for the very latest must-have plants, the Hot Off the Potting Bench feature will display some of the best new plant varieties for 2023. A prestigious line-up of assessors will honour one plant with the all-new Peter Seabrook Award for Best New Plant at BBC Gardeners’ World Live, and visitors will be able to vote for their favourite.
Head outside to the Plant Village to explore more than 20 further nurseries and growers - you’ll be spoilt for choice with the range of beautiful plants on offer and are bound to leave with a handful of flowers and a head full of ideas.
10. Producers’ Village and Food Champions
Offering a host of artisan food and drink producers, who pride themselves on the quality and provenance of their products, alongside a selection of well-known brands, the Producers’ Village is an unmissable food market at the heart of the Show. Plus, visitors can try before they buy with some of the freshest seasonal foods, many of which you won’t find on your local high street.
With all of the above on offer, plus even more garden inspiration, celebrity book signings, the Takumi Lunch Club by Lexus, and so much more, this year’s shows are set to be as unmissable and fabulous as ever! Whether you’re a keen gardener, food fanatic or anywhere in between, one ticket gives entry to both Shows, packing in double the experience for one ticket.
Rachel Poletti-Gadd, Portfolio Director at BBC Gardeners’ World Live, said: “With so many inspirational gardens, features, displays, stages and exhibitors, this year’s show is set to be a real celebration of Summer and we can’t wait to welcome visitors to see it all come to life in June.”
Rachael Bosshardt, Event Director at BBC Good Food Show Summer, comments: “From our fantastic food experts and exciting workshops and tastings, through to our diverse range of outstanding producers in the Producers’ Village, this year’s food line up is truly unmissable and we are so excited for visitors to experience the show this Summer.”
For more information and to book tickets to this year’s Show, visit www.bbcgardenersworldlive.com or www.bbcgoodfoodshow.com/summer/.
