A transformation has taken place to bring even more show gardens to BBC Gardeners' World Live 2004.
Organisers BBC Haymarket Exhibitions have joined forces with the Royal Horticultural Society to invest £900,000 in an extensive new outdoor area that will double the outside space at the show.
The investment builds on the £1 million spent in 2000 on the original outdoor area, which will also be improved as part of this new work.
The new outdoor area will create space for 12 additional show gardens which means visitors to the show will have the opportunity to enjoy many more inspirational and exciting garden schemes.
Award-winning garden designer and landscape architect, Michael Balston, is designing the new area.
He said: "This project has been very exciting to develop. Firstly, it is wonderful to have more space available for show gardens this year, as they are always so spectacular.
"The project allows us to incorporate underground services and access routes and, more importantly, to plant trees across the whole site to soften the rather daunting buildings.
"At present, the area is very hard and bare, a desert of car parks. We plan to soften the whole space with many different varieties of trees. The focal point will be a large spiral mound which visitors will be able to climb in order to get an aerial view of the 12 additional show gardens."
THE SHOW GARDENS
The variety of show gardens is guaranteed to inspire and educate visitors.
Expect more surprises from experienced designers like Michael Twite Landscapes and refreshing ideas from those still finding their feet.
There are two show gardens being created by Wellesbourne-based Michael Twite Landscapes for the 2004 show. His 2003 garden, The Mercedes-Benz Elegance Garden, achieved the RHS Gold Medal Award and in 2002 his design was awarded Best in Show.
With this calibre, the team have high expectations for the two gardens. Michael's design for Mercedes Benz in 2004 combines water, decking and stone in a strong, assymetric ground plan enhanced by modern contemporary planting using multi stemmed birch trees and grasses.
The other is inspired by one of the team, George Beattie who suggested that they should create a garden directly related to their every day work. Mr Beattie's Garden, designed by Alison Thomson, is just 5m square. The plants will complement the tones of the copper roofed gazebo.
Other show gardens include Jungle Chic, which is the working title of Naila Green and students from the Institute of Horticultural and Rural Studies. The Devon-based college has put together a planting scheme which is designed to express a romanticised jungle theme. Expect exotic looking plants with lush foliage and flashes of hot colour in their flowers and leaves.
On The Edge is a modern garden, incorporating a viewing platform, created by Alan Gardner based in Sutton Coldfield.
The Natural Bog Garden has used bold planting and a limited colour palette of black, grey, green and yellows. The aim by the designers, RLM Garden Design and The British Trust for Conservation Volunteers is to show 'how wonderful nature can be when left to its own devices'.
BBC Gardeners World Live 2004, June 16-20. Tickets: 0870 902 0555.
www.bbcgardenersworldlive.co.uk | 
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