Not Just a Garden

It's Gardeners' World 2026 Episode 2 Recap time and with Sweetpea in the middle of 2 days of exams, she watches the show at double speed and is very impressed with just how sprightly Monty is.In this episode we give the low down on mammograms, the extraordinary powers of the Gympie Gympie plant, despite and on account of the extreme pain it causes, why you wouldn't want to confront a honey badger if you're a naked man, and Sweetpea's best cactus-based chat-up line.On Gardeners' World Joe Swift takes us around Mary Keen's garden in Gloucestershire, and Karim Habibi shows us his apples at Keepers Nursery in East Farleigh, Kent. James Baker and Noah from GreenBaker Gardening give us a tour of their garden in Weymouth before Carol Klein has a look at the potager at RHS Rosemoor. Finally Jim Stephens gives us some tips on camellias from his garden in Dobwalls, South East Cornwall.And don't forget this week, on Wednesday 25th March at 8pm, Martin Dohrn's wonderful award-winning film My Garden of a Thousand Bees will be available on BBC Four🐝🐝🎬🐝🐝Relevant links can be found on our website here: https://notjustagarden.co.uk/recaps/More Not Just a Gardenhttps://notjustagarden.co.uk/https://www.instagram.com/notjusta_garden/https://www.facebook.com/notjustagarden/https://www.youtube.com/@NotJustaGarden Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gardeners' World is back - hurrah - and so are a sleep-deprived Sweetpea and a bemused Bear with an Episode 1 Recap.In this episode we look at the continued success of seed snails, the chicken or egg of Sonic the Hedgehog and protein, gruesome bird-killing trees, beautiful brain healing cock's combs, and the goodest boy ever.On Gardeners' World we kick off with a title shake-up and Monty back at Longmeadow. We get to see a bit of Adam Frost's new garden before meeting alpine legends Bob and Rannveig Wallis in Carmarthenshire. Arit Anderson takes us to Kew to meet plant saviours Carlos Magdalena and Paul Rees before we have a look at the tropical garden of Cathy Smythe, Gary Cattermole, Bowie (as in oh not ow - sorry😔), Dota, Mel & Mojo.Lastly, we've had many animated conversations on a fair few of the pod episodes about wildlife filmmaker Martin Dohrn's fantastic and award-winning film, My Garden of a Thousand Bees. Martin was on Gardeners' World 2025 episode 11 and joined us for episode 39 of Chit-Chats last year where he shared a bit about the intricacies of filming his minuscule subjects. He also talked about the struggles of bringing the film to UK screens given that it was readily available in many other countries around the world but not in the motherland. The good news is Martin's lengthy battle has paid off and it will finally be available on BBC Four at 8pm on 25th March and BBC iPlayer thereafter! We couldn't recommend the film more - spoiler, you will need tissues!And as if that wasn't enough good news, Martin's latest award-winner The Birds, which he also talked about on our Chit-Chat is going to be available on UK screens on Wednesday 18th March on BBC Four at 8pm. It will also be available on BBC iPlayer after🕺🎬🥂Relevant links can be found on our website here: https://notjustagarden.co.uk/recaps/More Not Just a Gardenhttps://notjustagarden.co.uk/https://www.instagram.com/notjusta_garden/https://www.facebook.com/notjustagarden/https://www.youtube.com/@NotJustaGarden Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The final episode of Gardeners' World 2025 as we have a look at the last Winter Special Episode 4. This week we look at apple allergies, unnamed and undescribed plants, ingenious Swiss drive-over bridges, some Humber oyster news, fire amoebas, the incredible benefits of English ivy, the awesomeness of mangroves, and electric eels.On Gardeners' World we have two national collections to look at; Frances Tophill shows us the holly at RHS Rosemoor in Devon and Helen Barlow at Shortgrove Manor Farm shows us her citrus. Arit Anderson is at Old Park Barn having a look around James and Emily Chua’s garden in Buckinghamshire, and Toby Buckland is at Will Young's new garden in Wiltshire. Finally Rachel de Thame shows us a thing or two about containers for Christmas.Relevant links can be found on our website here: https://notjustagarden.co.uk/recaps/To help make this podcast happen, please visit our Patreonhttps://www.patreon.com/notjustagardenMore Not Just a Gardenhttps://notjustagarden.co.uk/https://www.instagram.com/notjusta_garden/https://www.facebook.com/notjustagarden/https://www.youtube.com/@NotJustaGarden Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Gardeners' World 2025 Winter Special Episode 3 Recap we talk about the wonders and perils of garlic, how Finland is utilising datacentre heat, the sad demise of the world's loneliest tree, how AI is saving rhinos, the marvel of resurrection spikemoss, and the rare Crikey steveirwini.On Gardeners' World Adam Frost introduces Andrew and Janet Rowe in Leicestershire and their incredible collection of snowdrops, and Carol Klein and David Glass show us around Bowood House Walled Garden. Jamie Butterworth and Alice Ward-Thomas have a look at her stunning garden in Bury St Edmonds, and Tom Cranham shares his beautiful terraria and iridescent begonias. Finally Rekha Mistry meets Chris, Emily, Pat, Farid and Sarah at the inspiring Woodseats Allotments in Sheffield.Relevant links can be found on our website here: https://notjustagarden.co.uk/recaps/To help make this podcast happen, please visit our Patreonhttps://www.patreon.com/notjustagardenMore Not Just a Gardenhttps://notjustagarden.co.uk/https://www.instagram.com/notjusta_garden/https://www.facebook.com/notjustagarden/https://www.youtube.com/@NotJustaGarden Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We have the second of the four Gardeners' World winter specials and we talk watching Gardeners' World on Britbox, endangered lemurs, turning old wind turbines into benches, clams saving the health of Warsaw citizens, moss replacing solar power, and an escape artist orangutan.On Gardeners' World this week Adam Frost talks with Chris Howell and Nigel Hopes at John Massey's stunning garden at Ashwood Nurseries, and Paul and Pauline McBride show us around their beautiful Sussex Prairies Wild in Henfield, West Sussex. Ashley Edwards meets with Emma Restorick at Prideaux Walled Garden in Padstow and Ben Newell talks terrariums. Finally Joe Swift is at Philip Nieuwoudt’s New Wood Trees nursery near Totnes in Devon to talk multi-stems.Relevant links can be found on our website here: https://notjustagarden.co.uk/recaps/To help make this podcast happen, please visit our Patreonhttps://www.patreon.com/notjustagardenMore Not Just a Gardenhttps://notjustagarden.co.uk/https://www.instagram.com/notjusta_garden/https://www.facebook.com/notjustagarden/https://www.youtube.com/@NotJustaGarden Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

First of the Gardeners' World Winter Specials and we talk revising for uni exams, useful study apps, getting a second opinion on skin anomalies, very scary tyre blowouts, uk based Wollemi pines, megafauna paleoburrows, giant armadillos the size of cars, some good news for ash dieback, and a legendary albatross called Wisdom.On Gardeners' World Winter Special Episode 1, Advolly Richmond gives us a talk on the stunning gardens at Kelmarsh Hall in Northampton, and Harriet Thompson tells us about houseplants from her nursery in Cornwall. Nick Bailey shows us around Nigel Tooze and Chris Shaw's beautiful Alistair Baldwin designed garden in Richmond, North Yorkshire, before Marylyn Abbott and Dominic Rendell talk to us about her spectacular place at West Green House garden in Hook. Finally Sue Kent takes us to Darley Abbey Park where Peter Smith gives some hydrangea top tips.Relevant links can be found on our website here: https://notjustagarden.co.uk/recaps/To help make this podcast happen, please visit our Patreonhttps://www.patreon.com/notjustagardenMore Not Just a Gardenhttps://notjustagarden.co.uk/https://www.instagram.com/notjusta_garden/https://www.facebook.com/notjustagarden/https://www.youtube.com/@NotJustaGarden Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Horticulturist and horticultural therapist Ashley needs little introduction as one of the presenters on Gardeners' World. But not just that, he’s also a member of the DIY SOS team, appears on ITV’s Love your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh, is a regular on the BBC Gardeners' Question Time panel, is one of the Ask the Experts team in Gardeners' World Magazine, and is head gardener at Crocus at Dorney Court. *draws breath😮‍💨Not surprisingly, Ashley's been called the busiest man in horticulture and so we were really grateful he could find a moment to join us. In fact Ashley had to fly off for some filming straight after so we do fairly steam through his dream garden, but we still found time for A Good Ol’ Chit-Chat!On this final episode of Chit-Chats for Series 4, Ashley tells us about his varied and exciting route into horticulture and how it took him from the UK to abroad - from US Pennsylvania where summers were so humid, the dahlias would produce aerial roots, to Sicily where he could pluck and eat sweet blood oranges straight from the tree.We also find out about tackling imposter syndrome, manifesting a place in St Lucia, the significance of Japan's cherry blossom festivals, green furry monsters, sunflower borders, mossy mounds, air-frying kale, dance floors in the greenhouse, and Sweetpea and Ashley's shared love for Missy Elliott and Mary J Blige🕺And if you want to get some time with Ashley, then he’s taking tours and having a chat at Crocus at Dorney Court on 28th March (there will be cake), or you can meet and natter with him at both Gardeners' World Spring Fair on 3rd May and Gardeners' World Live on 18th June.Some mentions from our guest, links can be found here: https://notjustagarden.co.uk/gardens/Crocus at Dorney CourtHoratio's GardenLongwood GardensAnna Tasca Lanza Cooking SchoolSyon ParkMore Not Just a GardenWebsite: https://notjustagarden.co.uk/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notjusta_garden/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/notjustagarden/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotJustaGarden Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chris was on Gardeners' World 2025 Winter Special Episode 2 when Adam Frost joined him at John Massey's stunning gardens at Ashwood Nurseries near Kingswinford in the West Midlands.On this episode of Chit-Chats, Chris shares his passion for the winter garden and the important part scented witch-hazels play, and we learn about the enormous numbers in John's Garden as well as some of Chris' favourites.We also find out about mosaicing your meadows, using aspirin on the tomatoes, walking trees, what to look out for when buying Wollemi pine seeds, The fantastic Adam Greathead Award, grandma's elderflower champagne, and Chris' penchant for half-mooning.Some mentions from our guest, links can be found here: https://notjustagarden.co.uk/gardens/Ashwood NurseriesBirmingham Botanical GardensWinterbourne GardenGreat DixterJardin Le VasterivalWitch Hazel NurseryPan Global PlantsWest Dean GardensBluebell ArboretumMore Not Just a GardenPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/NotJustaGarden/homeWebsite: https://notjustagarden.co.uk/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notjusta_garden/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/notjustagarden/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotJustaGarden Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tom Cranham from Tom's Terraria Design was on Gardeners' World 2025, Winter Special episode 3 showing his stunning (and huge!) terraria as well as his exquisite collection of iridescent begonias.On this episode of Chit-Chats, we get an idea of what it must feel like to be walking through the world of Avatar, thanks to the incredible variety and beauty of begonias, and we learn some handy tips on where to start with terraria, from those as small as Sweetpea's teapot terrarium, to glass cabinets to fill a wall.We also hear about the unusual animals Tom has started introducing into the bedroom, the plants he donates to botanical gardens around the country, the advantages and disadvantages of horses, the once in a lifetime trip to Nosy Mangabe, and we find out which jam is the king of jams, especially if you have grandma’s old jam-pan.Some mentions from our guest, links can be found here: https://notjustagarden.co.uk/gardens/Lyon Botanic garden Masoala National Park Trebah Garden Glasgow Botanic Garden  Saihoji Moss Temple ChatsworthMore Not Just a GardenPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/NotJustaGarden/homeWebsite: https://notjustagarden.co.uk/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notjusta_garden/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/notjustagarden/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotJustaGarden Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eleanor Cochrane was on Gardeners' World 2025, ep28 when she showed us her beautiful late summer jewel borders at The Copper House Garden on the Kent/Sussex border.On this episode of Chit-Chats, not only do we set the record straight on Eleanor's feelings towards yellow flowers, but we also find out about her incredible experiences volunteering at Great Dixter, how she manages her sizeable garden without a greenhouse in sight, how to create a perennial meadow, the fortuitous discovery of their beautiful woodland ponds, and the importance of succession planting.We also hear about Eleanor's hidden stash behind the sofas, her husband's similarities to Aiden Turner, a grave warning if importing topsoil, hoeing in a good way, and what to do if you have bad legs. Some mentions from our guest, links can be found here: https://notjustagarden.co.uk/gardens/Great Dixter Sissinghurst Beth Chatto The Bumblebee Trust Sarah Raven Dahlias Halls of Heddon Parkers CatalogueMore Not Just a GardenPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/NotJustaGarden/homeWebsite: https://notjustagarden.co.uk/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notjusta_garden/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/notjustagarden/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotJustaGarden Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sharon Darlington was on Gardeners’ World 2025 episode 19 when Sue Kent visited her magical millpool. In this Good Ol’ Chit-Chat we learn how Sharon first came across Millpool-by-The-Sea and how she developed it to become the stunning space it is today. We also find out what took Sharon all the way to Anglesey, her natural ability to grow meconopsis with minimal effort, the big plans for her Darlings Buds floristry, and Sharon’s very handy husband who can build anything from planters to jetties, but will always be “The Sower of Cosmos”.Some mentions from our guest, links can be found here: https://notjustagarden.co.uk/gardens/The Laundry GardenJoseph MassieBodnant GardenHimalayan GardensMore Not Just a GardenPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/NotJustaGarden/homeWebsite: https://notjustagarden.co.uk/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notjusta_garden/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/notjustagarden/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotJustaGarden Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pat Havers was on Gardeners’ World 2025 episode 32 when she showed Carol Klein around the beautiful borders at Waterperry Gardens. Pat joins us for a Chit-Chat and we learn about managing troublesome badgers, the importance of Silent Spaces, clever rose hacks, Pat’s fortuitous route into horticulture, her daughter’s determination in finding the perfect garden gift, and a disembodied voice shares Pat’s prosecco and passion fruit inspired beverage🍸Some mentions from our guest, links can be found here: https://notjustagarden.co.uk/gardens/Beatrix HavergalSilent SpaceMore Not Just a GardenPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/NotJustaGarden/homeWebsite: https://notjustagarden.co.uk/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notjusta_garden/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/notjustagarden/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotJustaGarden Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Houseplant legend Claire Lowrie was on Gardeners’ World 2024 episode 3 when she showed her magnificent Jungle Haven of stunning indoor plants, so we were thrilled that she could join us for a Good Ol’ Chit-Chat about her magical dream “garden”. We learned a top tip for looking after monstera (given Bear’s propensity for laziness), about using semi-hydroponics to make usually hard-to-grow plants much easier, the art of air-layering, how to manage fungus gnats, and which plant provides so much edible nectar that it drips from the flower. We also find out what was involved in making the first ever gold medal winning RHS-judged Indoor Plant Garden.Some mentions from our guest, links can be found here: https://notjustagarden.co.uk/gardens/Video of the making of Claire's RHS Malvern gardenAlan Titchmarsh’s Gardening Club Series 2, episode 15Ladybird Plant CareGrow TropicalsWorcester TerrariumsRare Palm SeedsMore Not Just a GardenPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/NotJustaGarden/homeWebsite: https://notjustagarden.co.uk/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notjusta_garden/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/notjustagarden/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotJustaGarden Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We were delighted to be joined by plant, garden & social historian, author, and TV & Radio presenter Advolly Richmond OBE, FLS for a Good Ol’ Chit-Chat. We talked all sorts from OBEs and blue plaque high jinks, to making pivotal career changes and writing books. We also learned about Advolly’s dream garden with sentimental Edgeworthia chrysanthas, self-cleaning greenhouses, private pebble beaches, gossip under ancient trees, and ungainly hammock entries, - all of course being powered by prosecco and snacks🥂Some mentions from our guest, links can be found here: https://notjustagarden.co.uk/gardens/Village WaterReaseheath CollegePainswick Rococo GardensLong barn GardensSissinghurstKewKelmarshSilent SpaceBenmore Botanic GardensWaterperry GardensLloyd Loom ChairsDavid Austin rosesPeter Beale rosesTrevor White rosesMorlas PlantsThe Accidental Seed Heroes, by Adam AlexanderMore Not Just a GardenPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/NotJustaGarden/homeWebsite: https://notjustagarden.co.uk/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notjusta_garden/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/notjustagarden/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotJustaGarden Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Farida Sober was on our screens for far too short a time back on Gardeners’ World 2024 episode 11, where she showed us her revolutionary and hugely successful seed snails. So we were delighted when she joined us for a Good Ol’ Chit-Chat and we found out all about Vitaly Gennadievich Alifirov tomatoes, the importance of soil health in Farida’s incredibly productive allotment, the great success she’s having with fermented grass for mulching, simplifying gardening when advice can be so over-complicated, and the covert underworld of tomato seed trading🕵🏼‍♂️👀🔎Some mentions from our guest, links can be found here: https://notjustagarden.co.uk/gardens/Farida's seed shopFarida's eBooksMore Not Just a GardenPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/NotJustaGarden/homeWebsite: https://notjustagarden.co.uk/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notjusta_garden/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/notjustagarden/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotJustaGarden Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Helleentje and Peter Walker from Wack’s Wicked Plants showed us their beautiful collection of carnivorous plants on Gardeners’ World 2025 episode 28. They join us for a Good Ol’ Chit-Chat and take us on a stroll down memory lane from the UK, to The Netherlands, to Azerbaijan, before settling in Scampston. We also find out about the science of growing melons and chrysanthemums, Capability Brown’s lime tree that sounds like a plane, their national collection of Mexican butterworts, and Uncle Charlie’s oranges.Some mentions from our guest, links can be found here: https://notjustagarden.co.uk/gardens/ScampstonNational Collection of Mexican ButterwortsCites More Not Just a GardenPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/NotJustaGarden/homeWebsite: https://notjustagarden.co.uk/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notjusta_garden/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/notjustagarden/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotJustaGarden Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dwayne Black was on Gardeners’ World 2025 episode 27 showing us his stunning garden packed with lavender paths, grasses and immaculate dahlias. He joins us for A Good Ol’ Chit-Chat and we talk about how Dwayne prep’d for the big day, how the decision was made to add a fountain to the garden, the experience Dwayne has had with social media when it comes to the gardening community, what impact the seasons have on mental health, and a slightly violent technique for opening peonies!Some mentions from our guest, links can be found here: https://notjustagarden.co.uk/gardens/All Sorts Youth CharityFountainsPorter HardyArundel CastleAlitex GreenhousesMore Not Just a GardenPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/NotJustaGarden/homeWebsite: https://notjustagarden.co.uk/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notjusta_garden/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/notjustagarden/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotJustaGarden Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Curator of Entomology Ashleigh Whiffin from National Museums Collection Centre in Edinburgh was on Gardeners' World 2025 episode 26 where she showed us the transformation of surrounding land from lawn to floral diversity. She joins us for a Good Ol' Chit-Chat and we find out about how Ash became curator, the intriguing world of forensic entomology (not necessarily for the faint-hearted☠️), the ingenuity of leafing mining insects, the lesser known migratory habits of marmalade hoverflies, and how bee-flies aren't quite as cute and cuddly as we first thought.Some mentions from our guest, links can be found here: https://notjustagarden.co.uk/gardens/National Museums Collection CentreButterfly Conservation websiteAsh's butterfly Get Ready With MeIllustrator Ed HarrisonNational Museum of Rural LifeNational Museum of Flight, East LothianMore Not Just a GardenPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/NotJustaGarden/homeWebsite: https://notjustagarden.co.uk/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notjusta_garden/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/notjustagarden/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotJustaGarden Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jamie Quince-Starkey from Down to Earth Derby was on Gardeners’ World 2025 episode 19 sharing a glimpse of Electric Daisy, and he joins us for a very inspiring Good Ol’ Chit-Chat. We find out about Jamie’s Ready-Fire-Aim philosophy, working with Tim Smit from The Eden Project, nature-based regeneration, how Nev helped shape Electric Daisy, and Jamie’s future plans including fungus inspired tattoos.Some mentions from our guest, links can be found here: https://notjustagarden.co.uk/gardens/Down to Earth DerbyElectric DaisyEden ProjectNev’s Native Biota More Not Just a GardenPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/NotJustaGarden/homeWebsite: https://notjustagarden.co.uk/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notjusta_garden/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/notjustagarden/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotJustaGarden Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Harriet Rycroft was on episode 6 of Gardeners' World 2023 sharing her extensive collection of beautiful pots. She joins us for A Good Ol' Chit-Chat and we learn not just about the wide array of containers one can use in the garden and how to maintain them, but also what would make it into Harriet's fantastical dream garden. We hear about childhood memories of treehouses and rope ladders, imaginary parrots, hedgerows that can be retracted at whim, rotating summerhouses, and the famous pink sheep of Somerset.Some mentions from our guest, links can be found here: https://notjustagarden.co.uk/gardens/Pots, by Harriet RycroftWhichford PotteryCotswold Wildlife Park & GardensThe Cotswold Wildlife Park, A Celebration of the Gardens, by Harriet Rycroft with Tim MilesDiarmuid Gavin’s Heath Robinson GardenKeder GreenhousesGarden Media GuildMore Not Just a GardenPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/NotJustaGarden/homeWebsite: https://notjustagarden.co.uk/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notjusta_garden/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/notjustagarden/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotJustaGarden Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.