Jo Thompson and The Archers Garden

This year, the world’s longest-running radio drama, The Archers, celebrates a very big birthday. To mark the occasion, The Archers 75th Anniversary Garden, is bringing the BBC Radio 4 show to life like never before.

Designed by Jo Thompson, the garden is based on the central location Bridge Farm, imagining how it might adapt after a flood, which was a major storyline in the series in 2025. A passionate listener of The Archers for years, multi-RHS Gold-medal winning designer Jo explains how she conjured this fictional space, talks about the challenges it presented and reveals a few secrets for superfans.

The Archers 75th Anniversary Garden, designed by Jo Thompson

Are you a big fan of The Archers?

Oh, absolutely. I grew up with the programme playing in the background at home, without paying too much attention to it. In my twenties, I properly started following the story, and now I’m completely hooked. I’ve had a couple of breaks along the way, though, like when lovely Nigel Pargetter was killed off after falling from a roof. I was genuinely outraged!

As a long-time listener, what does this project mean to you?

It’s been a real honour. Being invited to translate such a familiar and much-loved place into a physical landscape felt both exciting and deeply personal. I’ve also been working closely with the team behind the programme, getting to hear little previews and snippets – a big treat for a fan like me.

It must have been a huge responsibility…

The task was a bit daunting, because everyone has their own idea of what Bridge Farm looks like. I grew up imagining each of the locations in the show in my own way, and I know other listeners will have done the same. Because of that, the first thing we decided was not to recreate the farmhouse itself, as it would have had too much visual impact. Instead, we are just including the front door, nestled within the planting.

So, how did you bring to life a garden that doesn’t exist?

When I work on a garden design, I always like to get to know my clients. In this case, it’s been even easier because I check on my ‘clients’ every day on the radio! I know the Archers are busy farmers, so they’re unlikely to have a perfectly tidy, manicured garden. I also know they’re embedded in their community, so it’s easy to imagine plants that have been given as gifts or picked up at the local garden centre.

What real world inspirations did you use?

Partly my imagination, partly my village. I walk my dog past farmland every morning, so I regularly see farmers out at work and am very exposed to the cycle of seasons. The garden also follows a 2025 storyline from The Archers, where Bridge Farm is lovingly replanted after a sewage spill. It includes water-management features like a wildlife pond, a swale and resilient planting, all reflecting how Bridge Farm is at the forefront of innovative farming.

Are there any surprises in store for The Archers’ fans?

There are plenty of little Easter eggs dotted around the garden for visitors to spot as they wander through. Long-time listeners will recognise familiar details, such as Tony’s beloved tractor and Pat’s jam stand. There’s even a cheesemaking corner as a nod to Helen’s business, alongside beds brimming with beans, tomatoes and other vegetables to echo Tony’s 75th birthday, when he handed out seed packets to the whole village. And at the entrance of the garden, a big noticeboard will share the latest goings-on in Ambridge during the show.

• Book tickets now for the RHS Badminton Flower Show, 8 – 12 July 2026