Highlights at Gardeners’ World Live 2012
See what's coming up at this year's show.
RHS Shows department
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Back and blooming for 2012 is the UK’s most loved perennial – BBC Gardeners’ World Live. With Show Gardens to feed your imagination, shopping to spruce up your garden and expert advice to grow your horticultural knowledge.
NEW! Going wild
Do your bit for wildlife and visit our new RHS Gardening For Wildlife area. It’s packed with info and displays from the British Beekeepers Association, Pond Conservation Charity, Bat Conservation Trust and Wildlife Kate. Also head to the RHS Seeds Of Knowledge area for the latest wisdom from horticultural colleges and national plant associations.
Garden inspiration
Let your imagination run wild with everything from useful tips in the ‘Grow Your Own’ Garden to flourishing displays in the RHS Show Gardens, plus get ideas for small spaces with Birmingham Borders and practical advice for growing your own with Edible Patches. If you want to beat the crowds, reserve a place on a pre-show guided Garden Walk.
Best-ever gardens
The RHS is linking with national regeneration charity Groundwork and RHS Gold Medal winner Chris Beardshaw to create a garden feature. The garden will be re-used locally after the show. Sponsored by Marks & Spencer.
Fellow RHS Gold Medal winner Andy Sturgeon will judge our On Your Marks, Get Set, Garden! Competition – new for 2012, which showcases new British designers.
Kids go free at the weekend
With lots to learn about plants and our environment, the whole family can enjoy a fun-filled day out! Head to Gardeners’ Green for family entertainment including garden crafts for children with Dawn Isaac and be sure to make the most of our Parenting Room. On Saturday and Sunday, paying adults can bring up to two children under 18 into the show, absolutely FREE! (Children aged under 6 get free admission into the show each day).
Schools join in
Local schools will be taking part in the new Happy Habitats competition, where they will be tasked with habitats for wildlife in the garden.
Expert advice
Head to the BBC Gardeners’ World Theatre featuring Monty Don, Alan Titchmarsh and Joe Swift for top tips and advice, plus visit the Ask the Experts Stage to get the answers to all your gardening questions – no problem’s too tricky for specialists like Carol Klein and Pippa Greenwood. With experts and live demonstrations at every turn, you’re guaranteed to go home full of ideas.
Go for the good life
With two shows in one ticket price, you can meet the experts offering advice and ideas on growing your own seasonal fruits and vegetables in BBC Gardeners World Live, then head to the BBC Good Food Show Summer where you’ll find seasonal recipe inspiration to experiment with those ideas.
Career changing gardens
A new area at the show will focus on careers, learning and specialist horticultural knowledge. We hope that the exhibits will encourage visitors to pursue their interests or even take up a new horticultural passion!
Fantastic shopping
Discover wall-to-wall flowers in the RHS Floral Marquee, meet the growers and fill your basket with a vast array of colourful plants on the RHS Plant Avenue where you can take advantage of special show offers and bargains. Plus you can store your shopping at the Shop & Drop for free courtesy of Renault, enabling you to fully enjoy the show.
Beautiful bonsai
If bonsai is already your passion, the good news is that we have a dedicated Bonsai area with demonstrations, a talks area and a show feature garden in collaboration with the Japanese Garden Society. The area is being led by Gold medal winner David Cheshire from Ambion Bonsai.
Regular features with a new twist
Edible Patches
The Edible Patches at this year’s show will get an exotic flavour – and we will be asking visitors to suggest recipes that can be produced using the vegetables and fruit in our patches. The best patch will also be chosen by public vote.
Gardening for Wildlife
Gardening for Wildlife will be back with exciting features including the British Beekeepers Association, RSPB and Bat Conservation Trust.