Scooping the Best Beautiful Border accolade and a Platinum award were Arundel husband and wife garden designers, Briony and Jonathan Dakic, for The 160th Unbirthday of Alice in Wonderland. This fantastical and playful garden marks 160 years of Lewis Carroll’s beloved classic with a plant-based twist. Under a woodland canopy hung with fluttering playing cards and teacup bird feeders, the chaotic Mad Hatter's Tea Party comes to life, with a spectacular "Unbirthday Cake" taking centre stage.
Always popular at BBC Gardeners’ World events, the Beautiful Borders are 9m2 ‘mini but mighty’ plots, packed with creative features, materials, planting and colour schemes, and often with rich personal stories behind them. The Borders are designed to provide inspiration that visitors can replicate in their own gardens, particularly in small spaces and challenging places. The creative theme for this year’s Beautiful Borders is ‘Cultivating Connections’, inspired by the way that even the smallest garden space can build bonds between people, nature, cultures and communities.
On the Spring Fair’s panel of expert show garden assessors were multi award-winning garden designers Richard Barnard (Kings Oak Landscapes), Shaun Beale (Woodslee Landscapes) and Alexandra Froggatt (Alexandra Froggatt Garden Design), and editor at large at Garden News, Ian Hodgson. The Spring Fair’s Floral displays were assessed by expert horticulturalist, Rupert Eley from The Place for Plants in East Bergholt, Suffolk.
Chair of assessors, Ian Hodgson, called Briony and Jonathan's winning Border: “A triumph of imagination, both in interpretation and creation.”
Receiving their award for Best Beautiful Border, the winners said: “Words can’t say how we feel right now. We’ve spent long days preparing this garden and it’s great to get the recognition we were hoping for. We’re both autistic and winning this prize is proof of what autistic people can achieve.”
Meeting this year’s Spring Fair winners and runners up on their gardens, BBC Gardeners’ World presenter, Adam Frost, said: “I don’t envy the assessment panel this year. It’s a really tough job judging these gardens and there are some fantastic ones to see here at Beaulieu this year. As a garden designer myself, it’s always great to see how the creative process works, from initial idea to putting the final touches to the garden on site. No matter whether you know everything or nothing about gardening, there is so much inspiration, enthusiasm and expertise to be found here at the BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair. You’re sure to go home excited to get out in your own garden and plant something new.”
The BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair’s headline sponsor, Hillier, has created a large, serene, woodland-themed feature garden, designed with contrasting planting for both full sun and shadier conditions. There are advice pods and a large shop featuring three brand new plants, Philadelphus x ‘Petite Perfume Pink’, Geranium x Gold Nugget ™ (Hillger) and Rhapiolepsis indica ‘White Cloud’ - Limited Edition. Charles Carr, Hillier’s Head of Wholesale Nurseries, will be sharing expert plant advice at the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Stage and Subscriber Club Lounge.
Lord Montagu of Beaulieu said: “I am delighted to see BBC Gardeners' World Spring Fair return to Beaulieu in 2025. The wide range of stands, engaging talks by the presenters, and the great variety of food outlets make this one of my favourite events at Beaulieu.”
The BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair takes place at Beaulieu in the New Forest from 2-4 May. Visitors are encouraged to join this year’s BBC Gardeners’ World ‘Make a Metre Matter’ campaign to transform a metre of garden for the good of the planet. Multi award-winning garden designer, Pip Probert, from BBC 2 Your Garden Made Perfect, has designed an inspiring collection of Spring Fair metres that include veg plots, a pond and pollinator patch.
There are spectacular Showcase Gardens, Beautiful Borders, College Gardens and floral displays, of course, plus the new Spring Table featuring seasonal food, drink and tablescaping inspiration, hosted by BBC food broadcaster, Chris Bavin. BBC Gardeners’ World presenters Adam Frost, Carol Klein and Arit Anderson share seasonal gardening tips with the Magazine’s editors at the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Stage (sponsored by Regent Seven Seas Cruises). Adam Kirtland hosts relaxed garden chat with gardening personalities at the new ‘In Conversation With’ Stage (sponsored by egg, Cracking Energy) and there are guided garden tours by the Spring Fair’s Plant Experts.
Plant lovers can shop from more than 30 specialist plant nurseries and growers and there are 100+ retailers selling high-quality garden goods, from outdoor furniture and décor to tools and equipment. Volunteers from Maggie’s Cancer Care will be hosting a Plant Crèche and Wheelbarrow Porter Service.
Get hands-on with spring floristry, mushroom growing, willow weaving and coppicing workshops, or watch forging and tablescaping demonstrations. In the Arena, the New Forest Tractor and Engine Club will be displaying its collection of vintage Land Rovers, tractors and mini steam engines. For younger visitors, there are daily falconry displays on the Palace House lawn, the Countryside Education Trust’s sheep to meet, and the Little Beaulieu adventure playground, Monorail Skytrain and woodland walks to enjoy.
At the Good Food Market, there’s a wide range of artisan produce to taste and take home, street food and live music. BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine subscribers and Hillier Gardening Club members can enjoy the exclusive Club Lounge, featuring daily talks by the Magazine’s editors and special guests, a Hillier plant advice pod, refreshments and additional seating. Access is subject to capacity, with seating available on a first come, first served basis. There’s an additional VIP Lounge for VIP Extra ticket holders.
Tickets for the BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair are on sale at www.bbcgardenersworldfair.com. Advance tickets are from £17.00 and include access to all of Beaulieu’s attractions. Well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome in the outdoor areas.
www.bbcgardenersworldfair.com