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Led by Sara Ward of Hen Corner
For 10 inspiring days at the Ideal Home Show, The Edible Garden became a living, breathing masterclass in homegrown goodness – led by the wonderfully practical and endlessly passionate Sara Ward of Hen Corner.
From her West London smallholding, Sara has built a reputation for helping everyday households reconnect with their food – proving that fresh eggs, fragrant herbs, golden honey and abundant vegetables aren't reserved for rolling countryside acres. They're for balconies, back gardens, patios and even windowsills.
Across ten days of live demonstrations, Sara shared inspiring and achievable advice on:
- Starting a grow-your-own journey in even the smallest city spaces.
- Seasonal planting for year-round harvests.
- Keeping hens at home.
- The basics of beekeeping – from supporting pollinators to harvesting honey.
Visitors stepped into the Edible Garden to gather expert tips, rethink what was possible at home, and left inspired inspired to plant, nurture, and harvest something extraordinary.
Urban Hens – Keeping chickens in your garden
Sara has been keeping chickens in Omlet Eglu Chicken Coops in her London back garden for nearly 20 years. From reliable laying hybrids to beautiful bantams and large pure breeds, she shared the joys and responsibilities of keeping hens at home.
In this session, visitors discovered space requirements, essential equipment, and the daily and weekly routines needed to keep hens happy and healthy.
Come On You Bees! — Honey from the hive
In her first year of beekeeping, Sara’s honey won ‘Best in London’ at the National Honey Show. Today she manages ten hives across three apiaries and is a registered swarm collector with the British Beekeepers Association.
Visitors discovered the lifecycle of honeybees, explored how a hive works, and learned how beekeepers care for their colonies throughout the seasons.
Growing the Good Life — Planning the plot
Drawing on over 20 years of experience, her book Living the Good Life in the City, and her work with Gardeners’ World Magazine, Sara shared how she harvests around £5,000 worth of food each year from her London garden and nearby riverside allotment.
Visitors explored what to grow, where to plant it, when to sow, and how to harvest, and Sara offered practical advice on planning their space and working with the seasons.
Discover an Edible Garden with real impact
Many of the plants featured at The Edible Garden were grown from seed by local volunteers at Cultivate London's community gardens in West London, where they were carefully nurtured throughout the winter and spring.
After the show, the plants were replanted in local spaces, with fresh produce shared among communities and food banks.
Growing Communities, Cultivating Connection
Cultivate London brings people together through growing – from hands-on volunteer days to creating vibrant public gardens, supporting residents to grow their own food and inspiring children to connect with nature.
Their work turns green spaces into thriving hubs of community, wellbeing, and shared purpose – something visitors experienced first hand at the show.
Because Life's Better with Chickens
Omlet brought charm, sustainability and a touch of countryside magic to the show with the beautifully designed Eglu Cube – a stylish and practical way to keep chickens happy, safe and part of the family.
Visitors to The Edible Garden discovered just how simple and rewarding chicken keeping could be.
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