First wave of speakers announced!

After a sell-out first year that brought thousands of garden lovers to Somerset, the Yeo Valley Organic Garden Festival is back for 2026 - bursting with bright ideas, packed with colour and all in celebration of nature-first, organic gardening, without trowelling on the heavy stuff!

Set in the heart of the Yeo Valley Organic Garden in Blagdon, near Bristol, the three-day festival brings together expert gardeners to curious beginners (and everyone in between) for a joyful celebration of gardening that works with nature. From the depths of the soil to the tips of leaves and the buzz of bees, there’s something for everyone! Expect inspiring talks, practical tips, great food, live music and specialist garden related shopping to browse and buy. Visitors will head home with bootfuls of plants, and heads full of inspiration.

Following the success of the 2025 festival, plans are well underway for 2026, with a programme designed to spark curiosity, build confidence and explore how gardening, soil health and biodiversity are deeply connected to the future of the planet. Reflecting on the first event, Sarah Mead, owner and creator of Yeo Valley Organic Garden, says: “Last year was something else!! - the energy, the conversations, the laughter and the sheer love of gardening in all its forms. It felt like a real coming together of people who care deeply about growing with nature and those who also want gardening to feel generous, human and fun! We are absolutely thrilled to be doing it all again in 2026, with even more ideas and creativity to share. We want this festival to inspire everyone to get gardening!”

This year, the festival will be supporting the charity Garden Organic, whose work spans campaigning, advice, research and community projects to help gardeners grow in ways that support healthier soil, richer biodiversity and thriving, climate-resilient gardens.

“There’s something really powerful about people coming together around gardening. What’s so special about the Yeo Valley Organic Garden Festival is this shared curiosity for gardens - swapping ideas, learning from each other and finding simple ways to grow with nature in ways that feel fun, rewarding and realistic.” 
Fiona Taylor, Garden Organic

Meet the first few speakers

A few familiar faces return, alongside some new voices, each bringing their own take on growing, gardening and gathering at this year’s festival:

James Alexander-Sinclair

Garden designer, writer and broadcaster, James brings his signature mix of wit and wisdom to gardening and design. Known for his warmth, humour and quietly subversive take on gardening, he has a way of making even the grandest of ideas feel grounded and within reach.

Joe Swift

Broadcaster, garden designer and long-standing presenter on BBC Gardeners’ World, Joe is known for his calm, considered approach and a knack for making gardens feel both beautiful and useful. His work often explores how people live with and use their gardens, not just look at them! 

James and Joe will open the festival with a live recording of ‘The James and Joe Garden Show’ for their popular ‘Garden Collective’ podcast. 

As James says, “Joe and I are absolutely delighted to be opening the Yeo Valley Organic Garden Festival with a live podcast. This new garden event is thoughtful, generous and refreshingly unpretentious. It takes gardening seriously…without taking itself too seriously, which suits us rather well! We can’t wait to see everyone in September for a healthy dollop of late summer fruitfulness.” 

Arit Anderson

Designer, presenter and RHS Ambassador for Inclusion, Arit returns to the festival with her thoughtful, forward-looking approach to gardening. Her work often sits at the intersection of creativity and climate, exploring how gardens can adapt, respond and remain welcoming spaces for all.

As Arit said at last year’s festival: “A good garden works with nature, not against it. Think ahead about how plants will grow over time, to allow your garden to evolve. With a bit of thought now, you’ll end up with a space that’s not just beautiful, but works well for both you and the planet.”

Frances Tophill

Horticulturist, presenter and author, Frances brings a calm clarity and a deep understanding of plants. Known for her practical advice and gentle encouragement, she helps gardeners build confidence season by season.

As Frances put it last year: “We desperately need to speed up the conversation about climate-resilient gardening. I am passionate about finding and encouraging a new generation of gardeners to dig in and get their hands dirty. This festival promises a positive and inspiring get-together for gardeners of all skill levels to deepen their connection with nature.”

Georgie Newbery

Flower farmer, writer and Somerset grower, Georgie returns with her hands-in-the-soil approach to growing the finest blooms. Known for her work with British flowers and natural planting, she brings an honest, homegrown perspective that’s full of practical insight. She’ll show you how to sow, gather and present flowers, quietly assembling a bouquet as she talks, almost without you noticing!

Georgie’s passion is infectious - ‘If you have a garden, then it is in your gift to grow flowers there: to feed your environment, your serotonin levels, and your creative soul.  It’s my job to inspire and enable you to do that.’

Errol Reuben Fernandes

Head of Horticulture at the Horniman Museum and Gardens, Errol is part of a new wave of horticultural voices thinking carefully about our place within the wider landscape. His work centres on ecological gardening and how we can create spaces that feel both beautiful and alive.

As Errol says: “Contemporary horticulture is all about treading as lightly as we can and seeing ourselves as part of the ecosystem. We can work with nature, learn from it, coexisting alongside the abundant life in our gardens and green spaces. We can create beautiful, biodiverse gardens using sustainable principles that are as elegant and attractive to us as they are to nature. I am looking forward to hearing from the other fantastic speakers at Yeo Valley Organic Garden Festival, as well as coming away with some fantastic ideas and maybe even a few plants too!”

 

With these fantastic speakers, it’s already shaping up to be a rich and varied programme - but there’s still plenty more to come, with more speakers lined up to be announced very soon, so do stay tuned and happy growing!