When is the BBC Gardeners’ World Autumn Fair at Audley End?

Green-fingered Essex residents can get top tips and inspiration at the BBC Gardeners’ World Autumn Fair.

The BBC Gardeners’ World Autumn Fair, featuring TV presenters and plant experts, opens at Audley End House and Gardens on Friday 2 September.

The English heritage site will open its gardens, grounds and homes to thousands of enthusiastic gardeners for the weekend to Sunday 4th September.

The Autumn Fair, in partnership with English Heritage, will be a showcase for local gardening expertise, with gardening inspiration and gorgeous plants to browse and buy from nurseries and specialist growers near and far.

If you’re looking for gardening advice, the Autumn Fair has plenty of experts on hand. BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine editor Lucy Hall and her team will host special guests on stage and for talks in Audley End’s gardens.

BBC Gardeners’ World presenters Adam Frost (Friday), Arit Anderson (Saturday) and Joe Swift (Sunday) will share their extensive knowledge.

Adam Frost said: “I’m really looking forward to the new Autumn show at Audley End.

“There is nothing I love more than meeting people who love gardening, whether they are experienced or just starting out.

“It’s a great way to exchange inspiration and ideas surrounded by magnificent plants and in a place with such a rich garden history.”

BBC Two Gardeners’ World presenter Arit Anderson added: “It’s always a privilege to meet and chat with gardening enthusiasts at our live BBC Gardeners’ World events so I’m really looking forward to the new Autumn show in Audley End.

“What a wonderful start to the fall season!”

Stage sponsor Regent Seven Seas Cruise will speak to David Hurrion, Associate Editor of BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine, about plants, travel and inspirational destinations from around the world.

BBC Radio Essex resident plant expert Lucy Chamberlain and Saul Walker will lead garden tours and there will be a wealth of nurseries, breeders, designers and landscapers on site.

For garden inspiration for small spaces, visitors can visit Beautiful Borders.

Two borders created by local designers Catherine McCarthy and Shona Lockheart, plus a third by English Heritage trainees, will illustrate how a compact space can be filled with autumn colours.

In addition, three local landscaping companies, AdScapes, Gadd Brothers and TKE Landscapes, are participating in the Professional Skills Competition, sponsored by the Association of Professional Landscapers, who will put their skills to the test to build a competitive garden designed by an award-winning designer was designed. Kim Parish, in just 16 hours.

If growing vegetables is your passion, the Autumn Fair is the place to learn more about growing mushrooms.

Caley Brothers, a sibling-run business from Sussex, grows oyster mushrooms in a low-tech, sustainable environment on recycled coffee grounds.

The family will offer workshops – book in advance – and lectures on how to grow mushrooms at home and sell grow kits.

In recognition of Audley End’s role as Heritage Seed Guardian, growing seeds for the National Heritage Seed Library, Garden Organic, who maintain the library, will present a Potager Garden.

The garden, designed by Teasels Landscapes of Norfolk, will include a central shed with climbing roses and jasmine, a children’s mud kitchen, a tub garden and ancient vegetables.

The Garden Organic team offers tips and advice at the ‘In Conversation’ sessions in the Parterre Gardens.

The award-winning gardens at Audley End are set in a landscape designed by Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown, who will be making a rare ‘appearance’ at the Autumn Fair and runs garden tours every day.

Today’s Head Gardener, Louise Ellis and her team will be giving a slightly more up-to-date account of what goes into managing the extensive gardens of Audley End in a series of live lectures at the show.

Louise said: “We are delighted to welcome the BBC Gardeners’ World team to Audley End.

“Many English Heritage members and visitors are keen gardeners and with so much on offer it is a wonderful opportunity to design a day trip for them.

“We will have a team of experts in our gardens to share practical tips with visitors, as well as members of our garden team taking part in the exclusive Plant Expert Tours. It’s going to be a great day!”

There are also many options for shopping. Exhibitors including local nurseries, Leafy Plants from Essex and Mandy Plants and Peter Beales from Norfolk, as well as exhibitors from further afield including lily specialists HW Hyde & Sons from Sussex and Bean Nurseries from Kent will sell a wide range of plants.

Vegetables, ferns and aspidistra will take the spotlight with individual displays and there are also exhibitors of gardening tools, containers and pots, accessories, furniture, clothing and more, as well as tempting food, drink and treats at the BBC Good Food Market.

Other show features include a tree giveaway from the Woodland Trust and fun free children’s activities from The Gardens Trust with a pop-up exhibition of historic parks and gardens.

How to get tickets

Tickets to the BBC Gardeners’ World Autumn Fair include full access to Audley End House and Gardens.

Buying in advance is the best way to avoid disappointment, with presale prices starting at £18 for adults, or £9.50 for English Heritage adult members.

Tickets sell quickly so to avoid disappointment visitors are advised to book tickets in advance or check the website for ticket availability before traveling to Audley End.

Learn more and book tickets at www.bbcgardenersworldfair.com