Create a garden that transports you to a different place, with Jo and Andi Butler

In this episode of the BBC Gardeners World Magazine Podcast, hosts Sunny Patel Ellis welcomes Jo and Andy Butler, the People's Choice Winners of the BBC Gardeners World Competition 2024. The couple took on a daunting rural garden in Shropshire, laden with brambles and overgrown trees, and began their gardening transformation during the COVID-19 lockdown. They share their journey of cultivating a diverse, exploratory garden made up of various themed areas that reflect their creativity and love for travel. The couple often opens their garden to the public to support nursing charities, which Jo is deeply passionate about due to her background in the NHS.

Jo and Andy's initial reluctance to enter the competition soon turned into success when they received overwhelming local support and social media engagement. They describe the experience of preparing their garden for public viewing, facing challenges such as time constraints and managing a large garden without professional help. The garden is designed to be engaging and has been divided into several smaller themed sections, including areas for shade-loving plants and raised beds for vegetables and flowers.

Throughout the conversation, they emphasize the importance of feedback, inspiration from their travels, and creativity in garden design. Jo and Andy encourage potential entrants to the competition to seek honest opinions about their gardens and to enjoy the process of gardening, regardless of the outcome in competitions. They reflect on their joy in inspiring others and how interacting with visitors has helped them grow as gardeners. They conclude by providing insights on how to prepare for entering the competition, highlighting the significance of quality photos and a well-thought-out representation of their garden’s features and benefits for wildlife.