Fourteen years ago Jane Sterck and Lizzie Dymock were asked to set up a garden show at Stansted Park in Hampshire to create a forum for start up businesses and to showcase the work of talented groups like The Princes Trust. We also thought that this might also be a good opportunity for local gardeners, designers and artists to exhibit; particularly those who had previously avoided the larger, more commercial shows.

Gardening was becoming more fashionable and accessible by the second as people were discovering that you didn't have to be that knowledgeable to make your garden look great. Even better for us, there was a thirst for good design, plants and garden products and a gap in a market that we were sure we could fill …… the moment was ripe!

Our first show consisted of about 30 enthusiastic stands, an art exhibition and a series of lectures given by well known garden experts who had kindly agreed to come and talk for practically nothing. Anthony Paul, Penelope Hobhouse, John Brookes and Paula Pryke were among nine speakers to kick us off in style. Our visitors were impressed and liked the calibre of the Show. They enjoyed chatting to local plantsmen, locating a suitable garden designer or specialist plant or buying a piece of innovative sculpture. They approved of finding all this in one location without the hassle of the bigger event. It was a success and we believed in what we were doing.

We now have about 300 exhibitors with a gate of approx 16,000 and have extended our remit to highlight important issues such as the organical movement, environmental awareness and fair trade. Now we have your English Garden Roadshow answering puzzling garden questions and dilemmas and guys like Jimmy (from Jimmy's Farm) joining us, in support of the Show's ethos.

Over the years the show has supported many charities by giving them either free or subsidised exhibition space and we feel this is important. As well as the Gift, Garden, and Art and Design marquees people can seek advice from experienced complementary practitioners in the Well Being Marquee or be tempted in the Food Marquee, this year with a special ‘Food Experience'.

We are told that we have an appealing and eclectic range of stands and Stansted Park is a fabulous place to hold the event - families can spend the day exploring and playing in its stunning grounds and the scenery and atmosphere provide a great back drop to the Show.

Our learning curve has been steep but worthwhile. We have been amazed how well or how badly things can go but have been supported throughout by wonderful friends and long suffering family, all happy to take the weekend off and be the staff! Not only that but both Jane and Lizzie are delighted that Emily, Jane's daughter, has joined the team full time to bring young and fresh ideas to the show.

The Show has grown, its landscape has changed but we are confident that its original essence has held true. Talented individuals continue to gain visibility celebrating all that is very good about the garden and life!

Jane Sterck & Lizzie Dymock