Frances is involved with the RHS campaign for school gardening and is passionate about enthusing young people to get into horticulture.  She is working on a number of community gardening projects in the South West and is also helping the redevelopment of some costal gardens that were damaged by the 2014 storms.  This is a particular passion of hers having grown up by the sea and was also part of her degree specialisation.

Frances is a popular choice for gardening talks and has appeared at Blenheim Palace Flower Show, Hampton Court Flower Show and the Eden Project Green Fingers Festival to name a few.  Hailing from Deal in Kent, Frances now lives in Exeter having completed her BSc in Horticulture with Plantmanship at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh in 2013.  Frances got into gardening from an early age, helping out around the garden at home and after overly ambitiously designing a terraced landscape in a planter, given to her by her mum, age 7, she was hooked.  As well as all things gardening Frances is a budding crafter and currently doing a pottery course.

Frances’ first book, First Time Gardener, was published in 2015 and her 2nd book, Container Gardening will be published in April this year.  She has also written a column for Coast magazine on highs and lows of coastal gardening.

Plant Expert Tours

Experience a unique tour of the plants in the Floral Marquee. Lucy Chamberlain and Saul Walker lead tours around their plant highlights, from new launches to trusted favourites, you’ll explore a host of must-haves for your garden.

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With an Honours Degree in plant sciences she then worked at the Royal Horticultural Society Garden (RHS) Wisley. After six years she left to pursue a career as a garden writer – first, for four years at Amateur Gardening magazine and then for six years as Editor of Grow Your Own magazine. 

She is now Head Gardener at East Donyland Hall – a 100- acre private estate which is home to a sizeable walled garden. Lucy is author of the book, The RHS Step-by-Step Veg Patch, and she also regularly writes for gardening magazines such as Gardeners’ World, The Garden and Amateur Gardening. She regularly podcasts with her Head Gardener friend, Saul Walker, on the Talking Heads gardening podcast.

Lucy is also the gardening expert for BBC Essex radio, and she won Practical Journalist of the Year in 2020. 

Peter is a multi-award-winning entrepreneur and inventor, known for his innovative approach to business and his dedication to environmental issues. Born and raised in Birmingham, Peter attended Naseby high school in the same city. After a brief stint as an insurance sales associate, he started his first business at the age of just eighteen.
In 1999, Peter invented his first commercial product, called the Technical Development Ring. He wrote the patent for the product and had it granted, which paved the way for a successful career in innovation and entrepreneurship. Peter's passion for innovation and his ability to identify new opportunities led him to appear on the popular TV show Dragons Den.

Over the years, Peter has won numerous awards and accolades for his work. He was twice crowned British Inventor of the Year, in 2003 and 2004. His concern for environmental issues led him to create the Leaf Log, a carbon-neutral biomass solid fuel made from fallen leaves. In addition to inventing the product, he also designed the machine to make it.

Peter has appeared on several UK TV news feeds featuring his products, and also including Czech Television. His unique Eureka project, designed to assist participants in designing, prototyping, and commercialising their ideas, has been used in schools, individual businesses, and HMP prison services.

Peter is also a motivational speaker and mentor, using his wealth of experience and knowledge to inspire others to pursue their own entrepreneurial dreams. In his free time, Peter likes to create bespoke lighting and furniture from recycled scrap materials.
Peter's awards include the GO Green Environmental Business of the Year 2008, the ACBF Business of the Year award 2009, the ACBF Environmental/Medical Technology award 2009, and the Shell Springboard award. He has also been involved in several European projects across seven countries, looking at best practices within the prison services.

Beautiful Borders - Sponsored by QVC

This popular area of the Show is always awash with take-home ideas to help you squeeze the most into your garden.  Be it growing veg in tight spaces, colour combinations, plants for shady spaces or clever use of materials you’ll find inspiration in abundance.

The theme of 2024 is ‘Share my Space.’ The theme is all about harnessing the potential of small garden spaces and using them as catalysts for building a sense of community through gardening. Our gardens, no matter how big or small, are spaces we can come together, learn from one another and cultivate a shared green oasis.

My Garden Escape by QVC​

Surrey-based garden designer Kitti Kovacs will be bringing QVC UK’s gardening content to life with the My Garden Escape Border. The design will be a versatile haven for both shared experiences and quiet reflection, featuring vibrant blooms with stylish furniture and décor. Visitors will also be able to meet one of the shopping channel’s gardening experts, Emma Real-Davies.

My Garden Escape at QVC provides everything from indoor and outdoor plants to water features, garden equipment and outdoor furniture to lighting and décor. Authentic recommendations, personalised plant care tips and interactive live streams from the shopping channel’s resident garden experts will help turn any outdoor space into a Garden Escape.

Nicki is the host of ‘In Conversation’ style sessions on the BBC Gardeners’ World Live Theatre, where she’ll lead candid conversations with experts including Monty Don, Adam Frost and Carol Klein, to name but a few. She first hosted the Theatre in 2022, and has done so ever since. Visitors can book seats at the same time as booking tickets 

Nicki Chapman is an accomplished TV presenter and broadcaster known for her work including the nation’s favourite Escape To The Country and for BBC1. She previously worked in the music industry.

Nicki has become a mainstay of the BBC presenting team, being a central figure during the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

She’s a regular presenter for Radio 2, often sitting in for Zoe Ball on the Breakfast Show and Vanessa Feltz on Early Breakfast. She has also hosted three documentaries: The Fuller Picture (an in-depth interview with music entrepreneur Simon Fuller), Here We Come – The Monkees at 50, and Let’s Abba Party.

Having started her career as a Promotions Assistant at MCA Records, Nicki quickly become one of the youngest and most successful publicists in the industry. Three years later she moved to RCA Records as Head of TV Promotions, before joining Brilliant! PR Company where she was joint partner for five years. Her vast knowledge of the music industry led Nicki to be a judge on ITV’s Popstars and then subsequently on Pop Idol. Having met with Simon Fuller in the nineties Nicki joined his management company 19 Entertainment in January 2001 as Creative Director, working with artists and personalities such as Annie Lennox, David and Victoria Beckham, Will Young, The Spice Girls, Carrie Underwood and S Club 7.

Lockdown presented an opportunity for Nicki to further spread her wings, this time working on a podcast from her home studio called Talking Success where she interviewed some of the biggest names in the media and the arts.

Nicki is a proud Ambassador for British Dressage and a keen and active supporter of Teenage Cancer Trust, Childline and Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy. After successful brain surgery in 2019, Nicki is now a passionate Ambassador for The Brain Tumour Charity.

BBC Gardeners' World Live Theatre

Sponsored by British Garden Centres

Experience an inspirational talk or practical demos from your gardening hero, with seats in the BBC Gardeners’ World Live Theatre.

You can book seats at the same time as tickets or, if you’ve already booked tickets, you can add seats to your booking using the other button below. Remember, the earlier you book, the more choice you have!

https://www.bbcgardenersworldlive.com/whatson/bbc-gardeners-world-live-theatre/

The Viewer's Content Show Garden - Realised by Pip Probert

This garden is a reflection of the average plot. A space that has to work practically, financially and often as a quick fix. 

Designer, Pip, has been working with some of the Gardeners’ World Viewers to incorporate their ideas showcased on the BBC2 programme, including ideas for the greenhouse, potting shed, fluff hangers, hedgehog ramps and even a sculpture. 

The ideas have been put together to form a garden for people who love to make something out of nothing, as reusing, recycling, re-purposing and upcycling are words that define this garden. From pallet planters and fencing through to old windows and shower screens being used for the greenhouse, and doors to make an arbour seat. 

Kevin Smith is the Editor of BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine and Head of Content for the GW brand. He’s worked for GW for the past 18 years and is responsible for leading the magazine’s content in print and on GardenersWorld.com, the GW podcast, social media and our live events.

Kevin’s a passionate gardener with a suburban plot in Essex that he shares with his wife and daughter – he’s trying to adapt the way he gardens to be more sustainable and better suit our changing climate. Kevin’s a regular radio contributor and has been a host of BBC Gardeners’ World Live theatres for several years.

Joe Bagley is the creator of ukhouseplants.com which influences and teaches people about houseplant care in a simplistic, standardised way.
From top tips, care requirements and common issues, keeping your houseplant alive is just a scroll away. 

You might have heard Joe on BBC Radio Leicester every Sunday and Tuesday where he shares ‘Joe’s Houseplant of the Week’ and discusses a whole range of easy-to-find plants and how to care for them. 

Find Joe on the House Plant Hub stage and Get Growing Stage, where he will share his expertise on houseplant care! 

Let's Talk Plants Stage - Sponsored by Hillier.

Drop into this stage for expert advice from a bumper crop of gardening experts, floral exhibitors and more, in the heart of the Floral Marquee. Plus, you’ll be able to dig into sessions hosted by stage sponsor Hillier. 

Stage hosted by gardening expert David Hurrion, and will include talks with Monty Don, Adam Frost, Sue Kent and Charles Carr from Hillier Nurseries.

Adam Frost, presenter on BBC2s Gardeners’ World, is a regular at BBC Gardeners’ World Live, sharing top tips and advice live on stage.

We’re delighted to announce that Adam Frost will be creating the headline Show Garden for BBC Gardeners’ World Live 2024! Don’t miss the chance to see Adam’s ‘The Chef’s Table’ from 13-16 June 2024. Adam will be at the Show from Thursday to Sunday.

Pip Probert is an accomplished garden designer with nearly two decades of experience transforming outdoor spaces into stunning, personalised havens. Her passion for innovative design, combined with an extensive horticultural background, has made her a respected name in the gardening world both nationally and internationally.

Over her career, Pip has created 42 award-winning show gardens at prestigious events, including RHS Chelsea Flower Show, RHS Tatton Park Flower Show, RHS Malvern Spring Flower Show, BBC Gardeners’ World Live, Gardening Scotland, and the Ascot Spring Garden Show. These gardens showcase her expertise in design, construction, and planting, consistently earning medals for their high standard.

Pip has also collaborated with other designers to bring their show garden visions to life and mentors aspiring designers through their first garden builds as part of her Garden Design Diploma course. Internationally, her designs have been featured at events like the Besiktas Garden Festival in Istanbul and the Beijing Horticultural Expo, highlighting her global influence.

See Frances Tophill at BBC Gardeners’ World Live on Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 June. Book seats in the BBC Gardeners’ World Live Theatre or drop into the Let’s Talk Plants Stage to see Frances on the stage.

In 2016 Frances joined BBC’s Gardeners’ World doing a few strands for the programme, one on vegetable seed trials which she worked on from her local RHS garden, RHS Rosemoor and another on gardens situated in extreme locations.

Sue Kent will be joining us for BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair and BBC Gardeners’ World Live in 2024.

In 2020, Sue Kent launched her gardening career by sending a viewer’s home video to BBC2 Gardeners’ World; it was such a hit that she is now a regular presenter on the show, winning a Garden Media Award for her efforts.

Born with an upper limb disability caused by the drug Thalidomide, Sue used her feet and hands to the garden. From her own life experience and her passion for gardening, Sue is keen to show how gardening can be possible with physical limitations and encourage others to have a go whatever their ability may be. Sue is now RHS ambassador for disability inclusions. In July 2022 Sue received a Silver Gilt medal and The People’s Choice award At RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival for her garden.

Saul Walker fell in love with horticulture through his Grandparents passion for visiting historic houses and gardens, and after a brief spell as an Archaeologist, he went to train and work as a Gardener for the National Trust at Antony House in Cornwall.

After many years there he was accepted to study on the prestigious 3-year Kew Diploma of Botanical Horticulture at RBG, Kew and was exposed to the fantastic plant collections in the gardens and glasshouses, as well as travelling to Australia, Southern Spain and the French Riviera to study plants in their native habitats. 

Following his time at Kew he spent a couple of years as part of the Show management teams for both the RHS Hampton Court Palace and RHS Chelsea Flower Show respectively, however he was unable to resist the call back to his native Devon, where he is now the Head Gardener of Stonelands House- a privately owned 10-acre garden. Saul’s speciality interests include Woodland Gardens, Orchids, and Exotic plants. 

A member of the RHS Tender Plant Committee and Trustee of The Hardy Plant Society and the Chartered Institute of Horticulture, he also co-hosts the Talking Heads Podcast with Lucy Chamberlain. 

Meet the experts - The Caley Brothers
Jodie and Lorraine of the Sussex-based Caley Brothers were raised in Surrey, with a childhood was enriched with home grown, nutritious and delicious food.  From working on their folks and gramps allotments to holiday cover on a livestock farm in the New Forest that included tractor driving, sheep herding, vineyard planting, hay bailing, egg collecting and lambing to prepping geese for the festive season and so much more.

It is these experiences that gave them a deep-rooted respect for good quality food, how to appreciate it, and what is just as important – how to source and support it. Within a year of growing their own mushrooms the curiosity surrounding our change in careers and the story behind why they were now ‘mushroom farmers’ had them making simple, small-scale kits for our family, our friends and friend of friends so they too could get growing their own mushrooms.

Join them for an Oyster Mushroom workshop at the Autumn Fair!

Chris Bavin is so full of character he was born to be on TV. After a TV production company first stumbled across him in 2011 he has gone from strength to strength and is currently co-presenting his fourth series of BBC1’s hugely successful series Eat Well For Less? With Gregg Wallace. The show has had incredible ratings across its first three series with the next two to be aired later on this year.

In addition to Eat Well for Less, Chris has presented Tomorrow’s Food with Dara O’Brian, The Truth about Meat and he is co-presenter of BBC1’s returning series Food: truth or scare with Gloria Hunniford.  

Chris is the co-founder of ‘The Naked Grocer’ a retail business that was twice voted as ‘National Independent Retailer of the Year’ award as well as ‘Best Contribution to the Community’ award. The Naked Grocer is now an online business supplying catering, fruit for offices as well as veg boxes for the public. www.thenakedgrocer.com

SEE CHRIS ON THE LET'S GROW STAGE

Chris Collins is Head of Horticulture at Garden Organic .He’s also a gardening writer, TV broadcaster, lecturer and horticultural consultant. Chris’s books include ‘Grow Your Own For Kids’.

Chris Graduated from the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, and has previously been Head Gardener Westminster Abbey.

He’s done much TV work including This Morning and being a former Blue Peter gardener.

Chris will be on the Let’s Grow Stage at the Fair, find out more below.

Frances is involved with the RHS campaign for school gardening and is passionate about enthusing young people to get into horticulture.  She is working on a number of community gardening projects in the South West and is also helping the redevelopment of some costal gardens that were damaged by the 2014 storms.  This is a particular passion of hers having grown up by the sea and was also part of her degree specialisation.

Frances is a popular choice for gardening talks and has appeared at Blenheim Palace Flower Show, Hampton Court Flower Show and the Eden Project Green Fingers Festival to name a few.  Hailing from Deal in Kent, Frances now lives in Exeter having completed her BSc in Horticulture with Plantmanship at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh in 2013.  Frances got into gardening from an early age, helping out around the garden at home and after overly ambitiously designing a terraced landscape in a planter, given to her by her mum, age 7, she was hooked.  As well as all things gardening Frances is a budding crafter and currently doing a pottery course.

Frances’ first book, First Time Gardener, was published in 2015 and her 2nd book, Container Gardening will be published in April this year.  She has also written a column for Coast magazine on highs and lows of coastal gardening.

Louise is Head Gardener at Audley End House and Gardens in Essex.

Following a career change from social care in her mid 30’s, Louise studied horticulture at Brooksby Melton College in Leicestershire and gain practical paid experience at the same time by working for a local garden centre, a specialist plant nursery and a large scale bedding grower.

Having successfully gained a place as a Historic and Botanic Garden Training Programme Trainee (HBGTP) at Audley End in 2007, Louise spent 12 months working for the 2 Head Gardeners who managed the gardens at that time.  Once the traineeship was complete, Louise was kept on as a Gardener in the ornamental gardens, promoted to Senior Gardener several years later, and then became Head Gardener 4 years ago.  Louise is responsible for managing the 100 acres of gardens and grounds and works alongside a team of 11 staff and 60 volunteers.

Ade Sellars is a gardener, presenter, writer and content producer, with a passion for growing food in his kitchen garden. 
After working in London as a TV producer for many years, he re-trained with the Royal Horticultural Society at Capel Manor and Regent’s Park before upping sticks and moving to the heart of rural Suffolk to build the kitchen garden of his dreams and launch his gardening business.

As a regular garden writer for various magazines, Ade has presented on the QVC channel,  

BBC Radio Suffolk and regularly deliver talks and demonstrations around the country. Along with his wife Sophie, they write their award-winning garden and food blog, Agents of Field. 

Catch Ade on the Let’s Grow Stage on Sunday!

Sara Ward has transformed her Victorian terraced house in London into an urban smallholding, ‘Hen Corner’, complete with chickens, honeybees, fruit trees and overflowing veg patches. Last year they harvested £3,000 worth of food from their back garden. Her recent book ‘Living the Good Life in the City’ shares some of the ways she and her family have brought city and country together, and shows that you, too, can make a difference to how you live and the food you eat.

Saul Walker fell in love with horticulture through his Grandparents passion for visiting historic houses and gardens, and after a brief spell as an Archaeologist, he went to train and work as a Gardener for the National Trust at Antony House in Cornwall.

 After many years there he was accepted to study on the prestigious 3-year Kew Diploma of Botanical Horticulture at RBG, Kew and was exposed to the fantastic plant collections in the gardens and glasshouses, as well as travelling to Australia, Southern Spain and the French Riviera to study plants in their native habitats.

Following his time at Kew he spent a couple of years as part of the Show management teams for both the RHS Hampton Court Palace and RHS Chelsea Flower Show respectively, however he was unable to resist the call back to his native Devon, where he is now the Head Gardener of Stonelands House- a privately owned 10-acre garden.

Saul’s speciality interests include Woodland Gardens, Orchids, and Exotic plants. A member of the RHS Tender Plant Committee and Trustee of The Hardy Plant Society and the Chartered Institute of Horticulture, he also co-hosts the Talking Heads Podcast with Lucy Chamberlain. 

Arit Anderson is a garden designer, writer and presenter on BBC Two’s Gardeners’ World.

She spent 25 years working in the dynamic industries of retail fashion and creative events. She managed teams that delivered collections and events across the globe. She balanced this fast-paced career with interests in well-being, working as a therapist and teaching holistic therapies, which led her to travel extensively to the USA.

It was the joy of having her own garden that enabled Arit to diversify her creative experiences. She found that the visual nature of fashion and the healing properties of her therapies could beautifully meld in the garden. Playing with a new palette of colour and materials in her garden, drove her to explore the unique relationships between her love of plants, people and place.  After just one season, Arit knew she wanted horticulture to become her work as well as her pleasure.

She studied gardening at Capel Manor College and whilst there had success at RHS Chelsea 2013 winning the Fresh Talent category for a student design collaboration with two other students. After attaining a diploma in garden design, she won a Gold Medal for her own design at RHS Hampton Court in 2016 in the conceptual category.

In her designs for both private and commercial clients her ethos includes simplicity and environmental sensitivity – affecting her choice of products and plants at source, with regard to their future setting. Working as presenter for Gardeners World, and writing for national publications has enabled Arit to publicise issues about the future of gardening in an ever-changing climate, and promote solutions to the wider public.

Emma Crawforth is the Horticultural Editor of BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine and responsible for shaping gardening content that’s horticulturally correct.

Kew trained, she’s worked for the brand for over 10 years creating inspirational, problem-solving and thought-provoking features. At home she grows fruit, veg and flowers while tending her ornamental and productive gardens. Her book, Things to do with Plants, was published this year with the aim of helping us all connect more with the botanical world.

David Hurrion has spent more than 20 years writing for and editing the nation’s crop of garden magazines, and is now Associate Editor for BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine.

David has also appeared both as a regular contributor and an horticultural commentator on a wide range of national and local radio programmes, as well as on television.

David’s knowledge is based on more than 40 years of growing plants, working in gardens and nurseries, and gardening his own plots in many different parts of the UK. He studied horticulture at Writtle College in Essex and went on to gain his certificate in education which took him to teach at some of the country’s foremost horticultural colleges. He has also travelled to every continent with the exception of antarctica to discover plants and gardens, both independently and, on more than 40 trips accompanying groups of gardeners.

Lucy Chamberlain & Saul Walker - BBC GWL Autumn Fair Preview 2023

Kevin Smith is the Editor of BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine and Head of Content for the GW brand. He’s worked for GW for the past 18 years and is responsible for leading the magazine’s content in print and on GardenersWorld.com, the GW podcast, social media and our live events.

Kevin’s a passionate gardener with a suburban plot in Essex that he shares with his wife and daughter – he’s trying to adapt the way he gardens to be more sustainable and better suit our changing climate. Kevin’s a regular radio contributor and has been a host of BBC Gardeners’ World Live theatres for several years.

Carol Klein - Gardeners World TV Show

Lucy Hutchings - The Secret Homestead Garden - 17 June 2023

Neil Gow - 101 Brand new plants 'Hot Off the Potting Bench'

Andrea Childs - Beth's Garden - Community Endeavour Award - 16 June 2023

Ruth Gwynn, Designer - Platinum Best Show Garden

Hilary Collins, Grafton Nurseries - Geoff Hamilton Award Winners 2023

Claire Morrell - Platinum Best Beautiful Border Winner 2023

Kevin Smith - Editor, Gardeners World Magazine - 16 June 2023

Ellen Mary - Plant based living - 16 June 2023

Jason Williams - The Cloud Gardener - 15 June 2023 

Stephanie Hafferty - No dig gardening - 15 June 2023

David Stevens - Garden Walk Leader - 15 June 2023

David Hurrion - Show gardens and exotic plants -  15 June 2023

Darren Rudge - Local gardening talent at the Show - 15 June 2023

Michael Perry - The Plant Geek - BBC Gardeners' World Live 2023 Preview

David Hurrion has spent more than 20 years writing for and editing the nation’s crop of garden magazines, and is now Associate Editor for BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine.

David has also appeared both as a regular contributor and an horticultural commentator on a wide range of national and local radio programmes, as well as on television.

David’s knowledge is based on more than 40 years of growing plants, working in gardens and nurseries, and gardening his own plots in many different parts of the UK. He studied horticulture at Writtle College in Essex and went on to gain his certificate in education which took him to teach at some of the country’s foremost horticultural colleges. He has also travelled to every continent with the exception of antarctica to discover plants and gardens, both independently and, on more than 40 trips accompanying groups of gardeners. Click here for his website.

Lucy Bravington is the award winning designer behind the Liz Earle Beauty Co.’s Botanical Show Garden at BBC Gardeners’ World Live 2023. The garden will harness the power of plants for feelings of wellbeing, featuring perennial plants to showcase the botanicals included in many Liz Earle Beauty Co. products, such as echinacea, rosemary and lavender. Every day, Liz Earle’s ethnobotanist, James Wong, will be on the garden to talk to visitors and share insights into the power of plants.

 The focal point of the garden is a sculpture inspired by brand’s coastal home and the Fibonacci spiral which represents the efficacious nature of Liz Earle Beauty Co. products.

Chris Collins is Head of Horticulture at Garden Organic .He’s also a gardening writer, TV broadcaster, lecturer and horticultural consultant. Chris’s books include ‘Grow Your Own For Kids’.

Chris Graduated from the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, and has previously been Head Gardener Westminster Abbey.

He’s done much TV work including This Morning and being a former Blue Peter gardener.

The Show Gardens at BBC Gardeners’ World Live are known for their inspirational design and planting whilst being relatable and packed with practical ideas that visitors can recreate in their own gardens. 

Visitors will enjoy the Show Gardens, feature gardens, APL Avenue, Showcase Gardens and Beautiful Borders in a relaxed and engaging atmosphere with picnics, bandstand entertainment and magic moments around every corner.

A Garden Fit for a King, by Paul Stone
 
In this year of the Coronation, this stunning take on
gardening for the future will celebrate The HRH King Charles
III’s passion for gardening and his concern for the
environment. This beautiful manifestation of the King’s
ideology is inspired by the ecosystem of the Highgrove
Arboretum, incorporating a natural wildflower carpet
interspersed with the King’s favourite trees, Magnolia,
Beech, Acer and Cherry.
Visitors will be inspired by sustainable initiatives that the King has integrated into the renowned gardens at
Highgrove and to recreate aspects to create their own ecosystem at home. There will be many recognisable hints
of Highgrove, plus an atmospheric Bothy cottage made from natural building materials, which visitors will be able
to meander through as part of the garden experience.