Gardeners' World Live facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gardeners' World Live |
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| Status | Active |
| Genre | Gardening |
| Venue | National Exhibition Centre |
| Location(s) | Birmingham |
| Country | UK |
| Inaugurated | 1991 |
| Attendance | 101,005 |
| Organized by | River Street Events Ltd |
BBC Gardeners' World Live is a big, exciting event for anyone who loves gardening! It happens every June at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in Birmingham, UK. This show is inspired by the popular BBC TV programme, Gardeners' World. It's a place where you can see amazing gardens, learn new tips, and discover cool new plants and tools. It even happens at the same time as the Good Food Show Summer, so you can enjoy both!
The event usually features famous gardeners and experts. They share advice and lead workshops. You can also see new gardening products and beautiful show gardens. There is a special area called the floral marquee, filled with stunning flowers. Many companies also have stalls where you can buy plants, tools, and other gardening items.
Contents
History of Gardeners' World Live
The very first Gardeners' World Live show took place in June 1992. It was created because the Gardeners' World TV show was so popular. The first event had 17,500 visitors and more than 100 companies showing their products.
Since 2005, Gardeners' World Live has been held alongside the Good Food Show Summer. This means visitors can enjoy two big shows at once! Until 2015, the event also included the Royal Horticultural Society Flower Show Birmingham. After 2015, these two shows became separate. However, BBC Gardeners' World Live is still one of the UK's most important gardening events.
The Gardeners' World team also started new events. Since 2021, the Gardeners' World Spring Fair has been held every April or May. This fair takes place at Beaulieu Motor Museum in Hampshire. Since 2022, the Gardeners' World Autumn Fair has been held every September. You can find this fair at Audley End House in Essex.
What Happens at the Show?
The show brings in a lot of people each year. Around 90,000 to 100,000 visitors come to enjoy the event. For example, in 2010, over 101,000 people attended. That year, 564 companies took part in the show.
Tickets for the show are sold through the NEC's box office, The Ticket Factory. In 2017, the event celebrated a big milestone. It marked 50 years of BBC Two's Gardeners' World TV show.
Show Highlights and Features
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The 2017 show had special features to celebrate 50 years of Gardeners' World. One was The Nostalgia Garden, designed to look like a garden from the 1960s. Another was The Anniversary Garden, which showed how garden styles have changed over many years. The BBC Two TV team even filmed a special one-hour show at the event. This show aired on Friday, June 17, 2017.
In 2016, the show included a Floral Marquee, filled with beautiful flowers. There were also many Show Gardens to inspire visitors. The BBC Gardeners' World Live Theatre hosted TV presenters. They shared their gardening ideas live on stage. Famous gardener Alan Titchmarsh was there on Friday.
In 2013, the show had many popular areas. These included the Royal Horticultural Society Floral Marquee and the BBC Gardeners' World Theatre. There was also The Kitchen Garden Stage and The Design Clinic. A section called Gardening for Wildlife helped people learn how to attract animals to their gardens. Many famous gardeners attended, like Monty Don, Carol Klein, and Joe Swift.
In earlier years, the show featured the Gardeners' World Magazine Theatre. It also had award-winning show gardens and a "grow your own" garden area. Floral Marquees and Floristry Master-classes were also popular.
Famous Guests and Awards
Many famous people often visit Gardeners' World Live. These include TV presenters and gardening experts. Some well-known names are Toby Buckland, Monty Don, Joe Swift, John Craven, Julia Bradbury, James Martin, Ainsley Harriott, and the Hairy Bikers.
Each year, prizes are given for the best gardens. These awards are presented by visiting celebrities. This brings a lot of attention from the media.
A special tradition is the Rose Dedications. Every year, a new type of rose is named after a well-known public figure. Past honorees include Phillip Schofield, Barbara Windsor, and Twiggy. In 2017, a new rose called 'Gardeners' Gold' was introduced.
Show Sponsors
Many companies help to support the Gardeners' World Live show. In recent years, some of the sponsors have included:
- Lexus: They were the main sponsors from 2014 to 2017.
- Wyevale Garden Centres: They sponsored the show from 2015 to 2017.
- GreenThumb: They sponsored the Floral Marquee in 2016.
- Honda
- Thompson & Morgan
Past Show Dates
The show happens every year in June, except for a few special cases.
- 14–18 June 2006
- 16–20 June 2007
- 11–15 June 2008
- 10–14 June 2009
- 16–20 June 2010
- 15–19 June 2011
- 13–17 June 2012
- 12–16 June 2013
- 12–15 June 2014
- 11–14 June 2015
- 16–19 June 2016
- 15–18 June 2017
- 14–17 June 2018
- 13–16 June 2019
- The 2020 show was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The 2021 show was held later in the year, from August 26-29. This was also due to COVID-19 rules.
- 16-19 June 2022
- 15-18 June 2023
- 13-16 June 2024
Other Gardening Shows
- Royal Horticultural Society
- Chelsea Flower Show
- Tatton Park Flower Show
