Events & Entertainment | Posted on May 6th, 2026 | return to news

Show stopper gardens at BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair

Thousands of visitors turned up to visit the Spring Fair at Beaulieu in the New Forest over the Bank Holiday weekend of 1-3 May.

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There was no shortage of inspiration and ideas for every shape, size and type of garden at the BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair.

Stallholders sold all sorts from carnivorous plants, flowers, gardenalia, water features and even a tiny house. There was plenty of ‘grow your own’ inspiration with the Make a Metre Matter Border by BBC Newsround presenter De-Graft Mensah and Lucy Chamberlain, and edible displays by the National Vegetable Society. Show gardens were in abundance and won high praise from BBC Gardeners’ World presenter Adam Frost.

A gold award went to Hampshire-based garden designer Vicky Lincoln and Rob Woodhouse from Solent Garden Services for their Showcase Garden, Nature’s Spa.

Winner Vicky Lincoln (pictured) said: “We’re delighted to win this award and have really enjoyed the process of creating a garden that visitors love. We’re so grateful for the opportunity and the support we’ve had.”

The Spring Fair’s headline sponsor Hillier brought the wow factor winning gold for its beautiful border.

Horticulture and landscaping students from Merrist Wood College, Guildford scooped Best College Garden and a gold for their garden, Heritage Rewoven.

The Spring Fair’s Beautiful Borders competition gave first-time designers, charities and community groups the opportunity to try their hand at designing a smaller-scale show garden.

A platinum went to A shared fairytale by Jane Benson, Wimborne Community Garden whose designers were Christopher and Victoria Lawrence.

In the Floral Display award categories, Millais Nursery from Farnham won Best Designed Display, and Hampshire Carnivorous Plants from Southampton won Best Quality of Plants. Jurassic Plants from Denbighshire won Best Display of Rare/Unusual Plants, and Best Overall Display went to Beech Tree Farm Plants from North Yorkshire.

Congratulating all entrants on their awards, Adam Frost, said: “I’ve got nothing but respect for anyone that invests their time, vision and hard graft into bringing a show garden to life at a big public event like this. I’ve done it myself and I know the heart and soul that goes into it. It’s an absolute pleasure to meet the wonderful folk that created these gardens, and I know they will inspire so many Spring Fair visitors with their fantastic ideas.”

Lord Montagu of Beaulieu said: “In past years, some of the gardens at the Spring Fair have been so good that I have wanted them to be left as a permanent feature. Sadly, that is not in the nature of these display gardens, but the compensation is the prospect of another great selection in the following year.”