Gardeners’ World's Nick Bailey to join Botanic Garden Festival in University’s Oadby oasis

The University of Leicester will be celebrating the start of autumn with a free community festival this September.

Set against the backdrop of the beautiful Botanic Garden, the event takes place on Sunday 1 September from 11am.

As well as live music and break-dance workshops, visitors can unleash their creativity with a range of arts and crafts, while children can stay entertained with a scavenger hunt, face painting, bouncy castle and outdoor games.

Not only that but festival goers will be able to tickle their tastebuds with barbecue food, ice cream and a host of other delicious food and drink available courtesy of local traders such as Cake Origin, Saints of Mokha and Oh So Delicious.

Professor Nishan Canagarajah, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Leicester, said: “It is our aim to ensure that the Botanic Garden can be enjoyed by everyone in the community, which is why events like these are so important for bringing people together at this vibrant jewel, sitting on the borders of the city and county.

“The alumni team are organising informal learning activities to take place inside Beaumont House, such as a planetarium, robot wars and liquid nitrogen ice cream – all aimed at inspiring younger minds.

“Visitors can also attend a range of ChangeMaker talks, hosted by some of our passionate staff from across the University on a range of topics. 

“We hosted this festival last year for the first time and it went down a great success. It promises to be a joyous occasion and I am looking forward to welcoming everyone to the gardens.”

Gardeners’ World presenter Nick Bailey, who was recently appointed director of the Botanic Garden, is set to give a potting workshop at Beaumont House.

Nishan added: “We are delighted to be joined by Nick Bailey at the event, who is working with us on a part-time basis to develop a five-year plan to futureproof the much-loved Botanic Garden site and its collections.”

Home to hundreds of different plants from around the world, the Botanic Garden was originally founded in 1921 with the assistance of Leicester Literary and Philosophical Society. It was established on its present site in Glebe Road, Oadby, in 1947 and comprises 16 acres of grounds and greenhouses with arboretum, herb garden, woodland and herbaceous borders, rock gardens, water garden, and a collection of hardy Fuchsia and a series of glasshouses displaying temperate and tropical plants, alpines and succulents.

• Register for the free event and visit the Botanic Garden Festival website for more information.