Beautiful Border application

In 2018 three designers received a Platinum Award. In 2017 just shy of half of the Beautiful Border designers were awarded Gold. So what treats are in store for 2019? We'll we're looking for another bumper year of applications and fascinating designs! 

Beautiful Borders are a unique element of BBC Gardeners’ World Live providing an opportunity for horticultural students and budding gardeners to experience the design, planning and build of a horticultural exhibit in a show environment, without the large financial and resource commitment of a show garden. The 2019 theme "Our Space" will mean that the Beautiful Borders are packed with ideas that visitors to the show can take home to try in their own gardens.

Applications close on 29 January 2019.

Download the Beautiful Border application form > 

BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Subscriber/Reader Beautiful Border competition application deadline 15 Feb 2019. Click here for details >
Download the Magazine Border application form >

(Pictured: Adam Frost with Nikki Hollier of Border in a Box, Platinum Award winner and Best Beautiful Border)

The theme ‘Our Space’ offers up a chance to be adventurous and creative with your bijou or compromised space.

Designers and groups should choose to give a purpose to a certain spot with the intention of bringing wonder and delight to all. Think of a challenging area and find inspirational solutions showcasing your personal flair, wowing visitors with the vibrancy and life that can be infused into every inch of space.

Showcase how to entertain with plants, you could choose to transform a space into an appealing area for wildlife, bring colour to a dark corner or challenge yourself to get plants flourishing in a tricky patch challenged by arid/alkaline soil or complete shade. The border could bring joy to a city school or a technicolour flash in a concrete corner.

Your space can be entirely creative and not necessarily technical, let your imagination take over, we can’t wait to see what creative borders come out of this year’s theme.

(Pictured: Joe Swift with Derby College, Platinum Award winner and Best Interpretation of Theme winner)

Visit our gallery of successful Beautiful Border design illustrations to inspire you 

The prestigious Awards Ceremony, held as part of the Press Preview event includes the presentation of Platinum, Gold, Silver Merit, Silver and Bronze Awards plus the much-anticipated Best Beautiful Border and Best Interpretation of the Theme Awards. Presented by the Chair of the Garden Assessment Panel and attended by key members of the press, this is a sparkling event to attend.

View the 2018 Awards >

“I simply love to see the creativity bursting out of each Beautiful Borders at BBC Gardeners’ World Live - it’s what flower shows are all about – encouraging up and coming garden designers and giving them the chance to present their ideas and originality to a hordes of people! For the designers it’s a brilliant way to get themselves noticed and network with potential new clients, and for the visitors they’re packed with ideas for smaller gardens.”

Martin Lines, designer of Fire & Ice, the ‘Best Beautiful Border’ in 2016 said: “This is a major development in my design career and I would like to thank River Street Events, the APL, and BBC Gardeners’ World Live for giving me this wonderful opportunity to show case myself as a professional and unique designer in my own right and to represent Lanwarne Landscapes in such an exciting way."