Local angle to NEC showcases

Best of the Midlands at BBC Gardeners’ World Live and BBC Good Food Show Summer.

Returning to the NEC for four days of outstanding garden and food displays, demonstrations and much more, BBC Gardeners’ World Live and BBC Good Food Show Summer will take place in Birmingham from 15th–18th June.

With all tickets providing access to both shows, guests can enjoy two shows for the price of one, accessing a whole host of Midlands-grown talent and local businesses, alongside a chance to discover the best of the region at this year’s BBC Gardeners’ World Live and BBC Good Food Show Summer.

Throughout the four-day Show, visitors can look forward to insights from local gardening and food experts across a variety of stages and areas including the BBC Gardeners’ World Live Beautiful Borders, We Grow Stage and House Plant Hub, as well as BBC Good Food Show Summer’s Big Kitchen, Summer Kitchen and Let’s Talk Good Food Stage.

Both budding and expert gardeners alike can look forward to expert advice from home grown Midland’s green-fingered experts including creator of UK House Plants, Joe Bagley and Walsall-based ‘laughing gardener’, Darren Rudge.

Hosting daily sessions in the House Plant Hub, Leicestershire-born Joe Bagley teaches people about houseplant care in a simplistic way, is set to offer his unique houseplant advice throughout the long weekend. Elsewhere, multi award-winning garden designer, broadcaster and lecturer, Darren Rudge, will lead exclusive and informative Plant Expert Tours.

Alongside BBC Gardener’s World Live, BBC Good Food Show Summer will also be back, hosting a plethora of much-loved Midlands experts throughout the weekend, including Michelin star chef, Glynn Purnell, Brompton Cookery School owner and chef, Marcus Bean, Wolverhampton’s budget meals TikTok sensation, Mitch Lane and third-generation restaurateur and Cantonese chef, Kwoklyn Wan. At Thursday’s Show, visitors can catch Glynn Purnell cooking up a storm in the Big Kitchen as he cooks live in the theatre or head to the Let’s Talk Good Food Stage to discover the secrets of his success. Meanwhile, the Summer Kitchen will play host to 14 chefs with live cooking demonstrations and talks, providing plenty of recipe inspiration plus tips and tricks to enhance cooking at every level.

Offering stunning garden inspiration for smaller or challenging spaces, visitors can also explore a selection of BBC Gardeners’ World Live’s Beautiful Borders, curated by Midlands-based designers, at the heart of the Show. From Wander and Wonder, designed by RHS Level 2 students from Winterbourne House and Gardens in Birmingham, which adopts explore and escape as its key themes, to As You Like It by Birmingham Garden designer, Katie Day, which is a border inspired by the Shakespeare play set down the road from the NEC in the Forest of Arden, the Beautiful Borders offer heaps of inspiration from local experts.

Additionally, guests can discover and shop from a range of local exhibitors at the BBC Gardeners’ World Live Plant Village and BBC Good Food Show Summer Producers Village. Discover the best of the Midlands’ growers, nurseries and gardening suppliers including David Cheshire Nurseries, Middleton Nurseries, Garden Organic, Plant Supports, Gap Garden Products and Hooksgreen Herbs alongside a taste of the region with brands such as Claudia’s Kitchen, Brownie Che, Bakes for Your Soul and much more.

Elsewhere at the Show, enjoy plenty of famous faces including green-fingered royalty, Monty Don, Carol Klein, Adam Frost, Frances Tophill and Alan Titchmarsh, alongside culinary stars such as James Martin, Ainsley Harriot, Nadiya Hussain, Michel Roux and The Hairy Bikers, as they take to the stage throughout the four-day weekend. Plus, visitors can explore Show Gardens, Beautiful Borders, the Floral Marquee, Summer Workshops, the Summer Kitchen and much more.

For more information and to book tickets to this year’s Show, visit bbcgardenersworldlive.com or bbcgoodfoodshow.