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Teacher's garden design to star at BBC's live show

Jo Hoyer Leanne holding a bunch of colourful flowers Jo Hoyer
Leanne Wood said she can't wait to be displaying her designs at the gardening show

A primary school teacher will see a garden she designed exhibited at BBC Gardeners' World Live.

Leanne Wood, from Bugbrooke, Northamptonshire, created Following in My Footsteps, a border garden that included a "mud kitchen" and areas for play, to celebrate the education and connecting with nature at any age.

The theme of this year's Beautiful Borders event at the live show is Share my Space - with gardens packed with colour to inspire small and challenging spaces.

Ms Wood said she hoped visitors to the show would "find it inspiring and take away ideas that they can recreate at home".

The gardening event is being held at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in Birmingham between 13 and 16 June.

Jo Hoyer Artist impression of the border display Jo Hoyer
Following my Footsteps - a border designed by teacher Leanne Woods - will be split between two Northamptonshire primary schools following BBC Gardener’s World Live

Ms Wood said she was inspired by her grandparents' green fingers and wanted to design a space that allowed her children the opportunity to play - as well as create a haven for herself.

The border uses reclaimed materials and features a mud kitchen, bench with weaving screen, and planting to encourage bees and butterflies.

It will be split an donated to two Northamptonshire primary schools after the live event.

'Huge challenge'

"I’ve always been passionate about gardening and love sharing this with others, be that through my work as a forest school leader, or by giving flowers and produce from my allotment to friends and family," she said.

"Designing and building a Border at BBC Gardeners' World is a huge challenge, but one that I’ve really enjoyed.

“I’m really looking forward to sharing my garden with visitors to the show and hope they will find it inspiring and take away ideas that they can recreate at home."

Lucy Tremlett, head of Horticultural Division at Immediate Live, organisers of BBC Gardeners’ World Live, said: "No matter what size garden or level of gardening experience you have, it’s impossible to spend a day at BBC Gardeners’ World Live without feeling inspired."

She said the "spectacular show gardens and floral displays", as well as expert advice and workshops made the live show "the ultimate day out for gardening fans".

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