The Garden of Evolution, developed by Professors Alice Roberts and David Stevens, will headline at BBC Gardeners’ World Live 2026 in Birmingham.
Alice Roberts is Professor of Public Engagement (Science) at the University of Birmingham
Academic, author and broadcaster Professor Alice Roberts and acclaimed international garden designer, Professor David Stevens, are creating the headline show garden at BBC Gardener’s World Live 2026.
Held at the Birmingham NEC from Thursday 18 – Sunday 21 June, The Garden of Evolution will trace the evolution of plants and life forms from their first appearance on our planet through to the present day. Conceived by Professor Alice Roberts and supported by University of Birmingham academics, the garden will enable visitors to walk through a living landscape of primitive plants, creatures, and the beginnings of human life.
On the announcement of The Garden of Evolution, Professor Alice Roberts said: “I am absolutely delighted to be creating a Headline Garden for BBC Gardeners’ World Live this year. I wanted to tell the story of the evolution of plants - and animals - in a landscape, where visitors will walk a path through 500 million years of evolutionary history.
I have teamed up with gardener designer extraordinaire, David Stevens, and colleagues from the University of Birmingham to bring evolutionary biology and palaeontology to life. I will be at the show every day, hosting live conversations with visitors and signing copies of my new book, HUMANS - The evolution of a species.”
I am absolutely delighted to be creating a Headline Garden for BBC Gardeners’ World Live this year. I wanted to tell the story of the evolution of plants - and animals - in a landscape, where visitors will walk a path through 500 million years of evolutionary history.
Visitors to the garden will be taken on a journey starting from the Cambrian Period some 500 million years ago, passing dramatic rocks, swamps, and cascading water, to the Carboniferous and Permian periods of primitive plants. They will then pass reach the Triassic and Jurassic Period, and encounter a model of Cretaceous dinosaurs.
The Lapworth Museum of Geology is bringing the ancient world to life in the garden through research-inspired model making. A life size model of Ajkaceratops, a small and unusual dinosaur related to Triceratops, will be on display in the Cretaceous section of The Garden of Evolution, as well as a giant 300-million-year-old millipede in the Carboniferous section.
The University of Birmingham has been at the forefront of palaeontological research for over 125 years. Scientists at the University recently discovered a brand-new fossil of Ajkaceratops, which changes our understanding of dinosaurs in Europe.
The garden will end with a celebration of the University’s climate change research, featuring a model of one of world's largest climate change experiments. BIFoR FACE is part of the Birmingham Institute of Forest Research (BIFoR), based in Staffordshire and in currently celebrating its 10-year anniversary of advancing our understanding of how forests respond to environmental change.
The garden's development has been supported by Birmingham academics, Rob MacKenzie, Professor of Atmospheric Science and Director of BIFoR, and Jeremy Pritchard, Professor of Life Sciences Education and Director of Education at BIFoR.
An artist's impression of 'The Garden of Evolution' (BBC Gardeners' World).
Lucy Ashworth, Event Director at Immediate Live, organisers of BBC Gardeners’ World events, said: “Professors Alice Roberts and David Stevens’ extraordinary evolution landscape is sure to get people talking while highlighting the vital work of BIFoR, monitoring the effects of climate change."
"Visitors can look forward to some fantastic days out at BBC Gardeners’ World Live with so much to see, do and learn – not to mention some delicious food and drink at Good Food Show Summer and the exciting new Smoke & Fire Zone.”
During the show, Alice Roberts will host daily conversations from within the garden. Alongside, horticultural specialists from Hillier, the garden’s plant supplier, will provide information to visitors about the species featured in the garden.
Professor Alice Roberts is an anatomist, archaeologist, author and broadcaster, as well as Professor of Public Engagement (Science) at the University. She has published over 15 books, including Ancestors: A Prehistory of Britain in Seven Burials (2021), Crypt (2024), and Domination (2025), and she has presented numerous TV documentaries such as Digging for Britain, Time Team, and Ancient Egypt by Train.
Professor David Stevens is an internationally celebrated garden designer, having won 26 RHS Chelsea Flower Show medals, four BBC Gardeners’ World Live awards, and awards in Japan, Australia and South Africa. He has worked as a TV guest presenter for a variety of garden shows, and in 2021, he was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award from The Society of Garden Designers.
BBC Gardeners’ World Live takes place at the NEC in Birmingham, 18 – 21 June 2026. Visitors can book tickets to see The Garden of Evolution at the BBC Gardener’s World website.
For more information, please contact the press office on +44 (0) 121 414 2772
Professor of Public Engagement in Science
Alice Roberts is an anatomist, author and broadcaster. Her research interests focus on evolutionary anatomy, osteoarchaeology and palaeopathology.
Professor of Life Sciences Education
Professor Pritchard is expert in plants, evolution and the natural environment.
Director, Birmingham Institute of Forest Research
Professor Rob MacKenzie, is an atmospheric scientist with a particular interest in how plants affect air composition.
