De-Graft Mensah and Lucy Chamberlain to create Make a Metre Matter Spaces at BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair 2026…
While of course this is a motoring magazine website, we know from feedback that our readers also have many interests, including gardening, and again this year the BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair is to be held at the motoring centre extraordinaire that is Beaulieu – and visitors can take in both attractions on the same day, and for the same entrance price…
(All words and photographs from Beaulieu/BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair).
CBBC Newsround presenter and allotmenteer, De-Graft Mensah, and garden designer Lucy Chamberlain are creating a collection of eye-catching, edible Borders for this year’s BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair, inspired by the BBC Gardeners’ World Make a Metre Matter campaign. The campaign has seen gardeners pledge thousands of planet-friendly metres that will support the UK’s 30by30 target to protect 30% of land and sea for nature by 2030.
The BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair is a fertile ground for new ideas, with 2026 set to be a bumper year for garden inspiration. This three-day event offers a great day out in a glorious heritage location, with seasonal gardening advice, hands-on workshops, lifestyle shopping and a fun, festival vibe. Great food and drink are a given!
This vibrant celebration of spring gardening takes place at Beaulieu in the New Forest, Hampshire from 1-3 May 2026. The Spring Fair features a host of horticultural highlights, and tickets provide full access to Beaulieu’s extensive grounds, gardens and attractions, including Palace House and the National Motor Museum.
Headline event sponsor Hillier tops the bill with a quad of inspiring back garden designs, featuring a family garden, an urban garden, a container garden and a cottage garden. The Hillier Experience features one-to-one plant advice, the Hillier plant and accessories shop to take elements of the show gardens home, and talks from Hillier experts, plus daily plant sessions at the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Stage and Subscriber Lounge.
The Spring Fair has further Showcase Gardens, Beautiful Borders, and specialist nurseries selling top-quality plants. Student teams from Coastland (formerly Weymouth and Kingston Maurward) and Merrist Wood Colleges will compete in the Spring Fair’s College Gardens competition. Mentored by award-winning garden designer, Cherry Carmen, the teams will be designing imaginative gardens, inspired by a creative theme of ‘Reimagined Traditions’.
BBC Gardeners’ World presenters Adam Frost (Friday), Frances Tophill (Saturday), Ashley Edwards and Sue Kent (both Sunday) will join David Hurrion and the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Team on stage, sharing expert advice for the spring gardening season.
There are wreath making and bug hotel workshops, garden tours by the Spring Fair’s Plant Experts, quality plant, garden and lifestyle shopping, and vintage games for families. Ade Sellars will be chatting ‘plot-to-plate’ with a lineup of guests at the In Conversation Stage.
Food and drink writer and broadcaster, Andy Clarke, will be hosting the Spring Table, sponsored by Regent Seven Sea Cruises, featuring daily tasting sessions by Beaulieu winery, B58, and New Forest distillers, 820 Spirits (ticketed). Feeling peckish? There’s delicious food and drink, live music and street food at the Good Food Market.
Book now at www.beaulieu.co.uk/events/bbc-gardeners-world-fair-spring/. Parking is free. Well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome (outdoor areas).