Keen gardeners are invited to enter the 'beautiful borders' competition at BBC Gardeners' World Autumn Fair, which will take place in Saffron Walden next year.

The Autumn Fair will be held at Audley End House and Gardens from September 1-3, 2023.

Applications for the beautiful borders competition are open until May, with anyone from seasoned garden designers to first-time creators invited to show what they can bring to a small space.

Rachel Poletti-Gadd, who is portfolio director of the gardening division at Immediate Live - which organises BBC Gardeners' World events, said: "Visitors flock to see the Beautiful Borders because they are literally bursting with creative, inspiring ideas than can be achieved at home.

"The Borders show that gardens don’t have to be large, costly or complicated to be full of colour and character, and that even the most challenging spaces, like a shady spot or a tricky corner, can be transformed with some imaginative design.

"We’re really looking forward to next year’s entries and can’t wait see the finished Borders in situ at our Autumn Fair."

The theme of the 2023 competition is 'My Garden Escape' - which can lend itself to themes of oasis and refuge, peace and mindfulness, or health and wellbeing.

Alternatively, the 'garden escape' could be a place of vibrant joy, sensory simulation and social gatherings with friends and family - perhaps a place to enjoy fresh produce grown from the soil.

The beautiful borders will be assessed by a panel of horticultural experts, with awards presented to winning designers.

The winner of the 2022 competition was 'We're all Cuckoo Here' by Shona Lockheart, which was inspired by an old farm near the designer's hometown of Colchester.

As well as the platinum, gold, silver merit, silver and bronze awards, the panel will also award the 'best beautiful border' and 'best interpretation of the theme' awards to recognise the most outstanding entries.

A 'best subscriber border' award is given to the best design by a subscriber to BBC Gardener's World magazine.

To enter visit bbcgardenersworldfair.com or contact horticultural manager, Lucy Tremlett, at lucy.tremlett@immediate.co.uk.

Applications close on May 2, 2023.