Carly Tong proudly beside her Beautiful Border

HELLO AND WELCOME!

With BBC Gardeners' World Live returning to the NEC Birmingham this week, I've been reflecting on one of the biggest milestones in my own garden design journey.

In 2022, I had the incredible opportunity to exhibit a Beautiful Border at BBC Gardeners' World Live. My border, Express Yourself, was created for the show's 'WILD-life' theme and went on to receive a Gold Award.

For four days, thousands of visitors walked past the border, chatted about planting, asked questions and shared their own gardening stories.

What many people don't see, however, is everything that happens behind the scenes before a garden reaches the showground.

THE STORY BEHIND EXPRESS YOURSELF

The theme for the Beautiful Borders in 2022 was 'WILD-life', celebrating wildlife-friendly gardening and our connection with nature.

My border, Express Yourself, explored how planting can become a reflection of personality. A vibrant colour palette represented individuality and self-expression, while carefully selected pollinator-friendly plants ensured the border would also support wildlife. Evergreen structure, inspired by my love of Italian gardens, provided year-round interest and a framework around which the softer planting could weave.

Like many of my designs today, planting sat firmly at the heart of the concept.

WHAT VISITORS DON'T SEE

When people visit BBC Gardeners' World Live, they see finished gardens and beautiful displays.

What they don't see are the months of preparation beforehand.

There are concept sketches, planting plans, sourcing challenges, sponsorship conversations, logistics, transport, construction schedules and countless design decisions.

Every plant needs selecting. Every detail needs considering. Every square metre needs to work hard.

Carly Tong with sunburn and very sore hands

BRINGING THE DESIGN TO LIFE

One of the most rewarding parts of the project was seeing the border move from a digital design to a real space.

No matter how many drawings you produce, nothing quite prepares you for seeing a design planted and assembled in real life.

AWARD DAY

The first morning of the show is always a nervous one.

When Express Yourself was awarded Gold, it felt like a huge validation of the work that had gone into creating it.

For a small independent garden design business, it was a moment I will always be proud of.

WHAT THE EXPERIENCE TAUGHT ME

Looking back, the show reinforced several things that still shape my work today:

• Planting creates atmosphere.
• Structure is just as important as colour.
• Wildlife-friendly gardens can still feel elegant and intentional.
• Small spaces can have a big impact.
• Great gardens are about how they make people feel.

IF YOU'RE VISITING BBC GARDENERS' WORLD LIVE THIS WEEK

If you're heading to the NEC this week, take time to look beyond the headline show gardens.

The Beautiful Borders are often where you'll find some of the most creative ideas for real gardens.

FROM SHOW BORDER TO REAL GARDENS

Exhibiting at BBC Gardeners' World Live was a pivotal moment in my career.

While the border itself existed for only a few days, the lessons learned continue to influence the gardens I create today.

Thoughtful planting, strong structure and designing spaces that feel personal remain at the heart of every project.

If you would like to start planning your dream garden, I offer both full garden design and virtual garden design services across the UK. Get in touch to begin the conversation.

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