Ardingly 17

A stone’s throw from today’s antiques fair in West Sussex is a 500-acre wild botanic garden with an exquisite Elizabethan mansion at its centre. Natasha Raskin Sharp takes a break from the hustle and bustle of the fair to visit Kew Wakehurst and learn of its long history. The mansion’s roof has just been restored, and inside Natasha meets one of the curators to find out about several objects recently uncovered that tell of this grand house’s story.

Over the fence, niece and aunt Abby and Della take on dad and daughter Sonal and Ruhi on a sweep of the antiques stalls, with experts Caroline Hawley and Thomas Forrester in tow. With a few buys under their belts, the reds recline on a pair of furry blue armchairs, but the punchy price tag means they don’t stop for long. The blues also have furniture on their minds when Ruhi spots an occasional table – made from a tree trunk.

In Chichester, the teams plan to grow a profit when Nick Hall takes to the rostrum. Caroline hopes her bonus buy will bring Abby and Della good luck, while Thomas aims to spread the love with his.