Once upon a time... Where Imagination Lived by Paul Nicholson - BBC Gardeners' World Autumn Fair 2026 - GardensDB [ Skip to content ](#main) Browse [ ![](/images/leaf_icon.svg) Gardens**DB** ](https://gardensdb.com) [ Gardens ](https://gardensdb.com/gardens) [ Shows ](https://gardensdb.com/shows) [ Studios ](https://gardensdb.com/studios) [ People ](https://gardensdb.com/people) [ Search gardens, designers, shows… ](https://gardensdb.com/search) [ Log in ](https://gardensdb.com/login) [ Register ](https://gardensdb.com/register) [ ](https://gardensdb.com/search) Discover - [ Home ](https://gardensdb.com) - [ Gardens ](https://gardensdb.com/gardens) - [ Plants ](https://gardensdb.com/plants) - [ Shows ](https://gardensdb.com/shows) - [ Events ](https://gardensdb.com/events) - [ 360° tours ](https://gardensdb.com/360-tours) - [ Trails ](https://gardensdb.com/trails) People & studios - [ People ](https://gardensdb.com/people) - [ Studios ](https://gardensdb.com/studios) - [ Books ](https://gardensdb.com/books) - [ Jobs ](https://gardensdb.com/jobs) Organisations - [ Sponsors ](https://gardensdb.com/sponsors) - [ Charities & non-profits ](https://gardensdb.com/charities) - [ Collectives ](https://gardensdb.com/collectives) - [ Companies ](https://gardensdb.com/companies) - [ Education institutions ](https://gardensdb.com/education-institutions) - [ Nurseries ](https://gardensdb.com/nurseries) Account - [ Log in ](https://gardensdb.com/login) - [ Register ](https://gardensdb.com/register) Follow [ gardensdb on Instagram (opens in a new tab)](https://www.instagram.com/gardensdb/) Discover - [ Home Today's highlights ](https://gardensdb.com) - [ Gardens Show gardens, catalogued ](https://gardensdb.com/gardens) - [ Plants What was planted, and who used it ](https://gardensdb.com/plants) - [ Shows Horticultural shows ](https://gardensdb.com/shows) - [ Events Festivals, courses & open days ](https://gardensdb.com/events) - [ 360° tours Step inside, long after the show packs up ](https://gardensdb.com/360-tours) - [ Trails Curated routes through the gardens ](https://gardensdb.com/trails) People & studios - [ People Designers, judges, growers ](https://gardensdb.com/people) - [ Studios Design practices ](https://gardensdb.com/studios) - [ Books Recommended reading ](https://gardensdb.com/books) - [ Jobs Roles in the industry ](https://gardensdb.com/jobs) Organisations - [ Sponsors Organisations that back the gardens ](https://gardensdb.com/sponsors) - [ Charities & non-profits Causes behind the gardens ](https://gardensdb.com/charities) - [ Collectives Groups & community projects ](https://gardensdb.com/collectives) - [ Companies Suppliers & contractors ](https://gardensdb.com/companies) - [ Education institutions Schools, colleges & universities ](https://gardensdb.com/education-institutions) - [ Nurseries Plant suppliers & growers ](https://gardensdb.com/nurseries) [ Submit a garden ](https://gardensdb.com/gardens/submit) [ About GardensDB ](https://gardensdb.com/help) [ gardensdb on Instagram (opens in a new tab)](https://www.instagram.com/gardensdb/) ![A playful border features cricket stumps, a red ball, and a wooden crate of sports gear, framed by vibrant mixed flowers.](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/63d49e20-5d46-43dd-a21f-3894f4d5bead/conversions/PXL_20260911_150249912-gallery.webp) [Gardens](https://gardensdb.com/gardens) / [ BBC Gardeners' World Autumn Fair 2026 ](https://gardensdb.com/shows/bbc-gardeners-world-autumn-fair-2026) Beautiful Borders ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/awards/bbc-gardeners-world-live-silver-merit/icon.webp) Silver Merit Award Once upon a time... Where Imagination Lived ============================================= Designed by Paul Nicholson At a glance Show BBC Gardeners' World Autumn Fair Year 2026 Category Beautiful Borders 360° Tour Border Photo: GardensDB About this garden The story ----------- At the bottom of my childhood garden, through the old metal archway, there was a world that belonged only to us. The grass like a tournament field, and with sticks for swords we became knights of legend, as daring as Robin Hood and as loyal as any cavalry sworn to a noble cause. The trees were our fortress walls, their branches ladders to secret watchtowers where we could see kingdoms no one else believed in. We climbed without fear, bark rough against our palms, the scent of leaves and earth rising like a promise of endless summer. Time did not exist there - only laughter, breathless chases, and the distant echo of our names when dinner was ready. Years have passed, yet that small patch of green lives on inside me. In my own garden now, I have shaped trees and winding paths to mirror that sacred place, rebuilding the magic where imagination once ruled. Award Recognition ------------- - ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/awards/bbc-gardeners-world-live-silver-merit/icon.webp) Silver Merit Award BBC Gardeners World Live The people behind it Designer ---------- - [ ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/people/paul-nicholson/profile_photo.webp?v=a298220d-17e5-4d9e-884b-288aae3d6014) Paul Nicholson Designer ](https://gardensdb.com/people/paul-nicholson) Step inside 360° tour ----------- Add to your site Copy the code below and paste it into your website to show this 360° tour on your own page. <iframe src="https://gardensdb.com/360-tours/d33a5201-a710-4526-acb1-4e3edbeaad4e/embed" title="Once upon a time... Where Imagination Lived - 360° tour" width="100%" height="500" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> [ Sizing and Squarespace help (opens in a new tab) ](https://gardensdb.com/help#add-360-to-your-site) { copied = true; setTimeout(() => copied = false, 2000) }, () => $refs.code.select())" > Copy code Copied! Loading panorama... Unable to load panorama tour. Click and drag to look around, click hotspots or arrows to move. Scroll to zoom. Tap and drag to look around, tap hotspots or arrows to move. Pinch to zoom. 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