BBC Gardeners' World Spring Fair Beautiful Borders competition

The event will take place at Beaulieu in the New Forest from May 2 to May 4.

The competition is a chance for designers to showcase their talent with compact 9m² show gardens, popular for their creative features and imaginative planting.

These smaller gardens, called Beautiful Borders, offer endless inspiration for visitors, especially those with small or challenging spaces to work with.

Entrants, whether professionals, first-time designers, students, gardening clubs, community groups, or charities, will be supported throughout the process by the BBC Gardeners’ World events horticultural team.

The theme for the 2025 competition is ‘Cultivating Connections’, focusing on how garden spaces can foster meaningful connections.

This could be between cultures, species, generations, or communities, or a way to deepen our relationship with nature, education, or mental wellbeing.

Entries will be judged on site by professional assessors, with all receiving medals.

Awards will be given for Best Beautiful Border, Best Interpretation of the Theme, and Best Subscriber Border.

Visitors to the event will also be able to vote for their favourite border in the People’s Choice award.

Lucy Tremlett, event director at Immediate Live, organisers of BBC Gardeners’ World events, said: "We – and our visitors - never cease to be impressed at the creativity that goes into the Beautiful Borders. The designs are not only technically brilliant with an eye-catching aesthetic, but really come from the heart, often reflecting a designer’s personal story, journey or experience.

"Gardens are wonderful spaces to bring human beings and nature together, so the Cultivating Connections theme should inspire some really strong entries. We can’t wait to see them!"

Winners from the 2024 Spring Fair included Southampton-based garden designers Andrew Williamson and Laura Hall, Salisbury garden designer David Long, and Pamela Barden from Woking.

Applications for the 2025 competition close on January 23.

Tickets for the fair are already on sale and include access to Beaulieu’s grounds, gardens, and attractions.

More details can be found at bbcgardenersworldfair.com.