Kent Garden Designer To Showcase Artistry at World Autumn Fair
From 29 – 31 August, the BBC Gardeners’ World Autumn Fair will return to Audley End House & Gardens in Saffron Walden for another spectacular celebration packed with seasonal garden inspiration and knowledge from a host of famed gardening experts, alongside many talented exhibitors from across the country showcasing their specially curated works.
A student at the British Academy of Garden Design and a Kent-based garden designer who applied after once visiting the show herself, Rebecca Sheppard will excitedly be participating in the 2025 fair’s ‘Beautiful Border’ category and honouring this year’s theme Cultivating Connections with her captivating design: The Islands – From Rain to Sun.
“The garden is really a love letter to my husband. He is from the Dominican Republic and moved to the UK a few years ago. I wanted to tell the story of two countries combining and the story of multicultural families – cultivating connections,” says Rebecca.
“The garden is divided into two halves, one that represents the Dominican Republic and the other the UK. The reds, oranges and yellows represent the tropical climate, hot sun and the sandy beaches. The UK has cool blues and purples representing rain and storms and pinks for the traditional rose garden. Both are surrounded by a circle of water – connecting both islands to form one story.
The idea is people can recreate something similar at home, especially in smaller courtyards in bigger multicultural cities where people can have their own take on their space however small, creating a welcoming environment for neighbours to pop over for a cup of tea and a chat (just like they would in the Dominican Republic). The garden also features a traditional Dominican faceless doll which is a cultural icon that represents all the cultures and ethnicities in the country.”
Tickets are on sale now for the Autumn Fair at bbcgardenersworldlive.com/autumn-fair Visitors will be also able to speak to Rebecca and admire her garden creation across the three days. For more information about Rebecca’s design visit: bbcgardenersworldlive.com/autumn-fair/whatson/the-islands-from-rain-to-sun-designed-by-rebecca-sheppard
