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Not Just a Garden

Author: Sweetpea and Bear

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Welcome to Not Just a Garden!


A name that came about after we laboriously tackled a weed-infested, overgrown, black-run-steep patch of field into something vaguely resembling a garden. Literal blood, sweat and tears were spent in the process but once the beds were built, the plants began to grow and the wildlife took over, we agreed it was not just a garden, but something so much more; a shared achievement, a bonding experience, an escape from screens, a hideaway for tranquil moments, a safe space to sit and put the mad and confusing world to rights.


Our continued shared love of gardening has had us avidly watching Gardeners’ World each week, taking notes here, animatedly discussing there, which has in turn lead us to giving a Sweetpea & Bear style recap on our podcast! Just a mother and daughter chewing the fat over Nick, Frances and Adam’s big garden moves, enjoying Monty and Toby’s poetic presenting, learning intriguing garden history from Advolly and hanging off Carol’s every propagating word.


The programme has also brought into our living rooms each week a novice, professional, serious, hilarious, quirky, eccentric, inspiring world of guests, all of whom we want to know so much more about. So our Good Ol' Chit-Chats series was born; each episode we chat with a previous guest on Gardeners’ World and find out more about what would make their dream garden.


So grab a cup of tea and flask of coffee, a glass of wine, a whisky, a Pimms, an Apple and Pear juice or anything in between, and join us for a Good Ol’ Chit-Chat about Not Just a Garden!


Sweetpea & Bear


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133 Episodes
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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.
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 Harriet, 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.
Pippa Chapman from Pippa Chapman Permaculture was on Gardeners' World 2025 episode 21 where she showed us her productive permaculture garden packed with insect life. She joins us for A Good Ol' Chit-Chat and we hear all about what would make it into Pippa's beautifully appointed dream garden with Wales-inspired views. We also find out about how to quickly disguise a neighbour's ugly fence, breeding tomatoes, making moisturiser from lard, food forests and Pippa's growing collection of half-whittled spoons.Some mentions from Pippa, links can be found here: https://notjustagarden.co.uk/gardens/Pippa's bookThe Forager's GardenJohn Little’s GardenHarlow CarrThe Soap CalculatorMaking shampoo barsMore 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.
Head Gardener Tim Marshall was on Gardeners' World 2025 Episode 25 showing Adam Frost his office - the exquisite and expansive gardens of Mount St John. He joins us for a Chit-Chat and we learn what ignited a little Tim's passion for cacti from a young age, becoming the youngest member of the British Cactus and Succulents Society and setting him off on a successful and varied career in horticulture. Despite a thunderstorm raging in the background of this episode, we hear about Tim's plant hunting expeditions around the world and how he organises them, the many celebrated garden designers he's worked with in both the UK and abroad, and what his dream garden would look like having been involved in some of the most beautiful in the country.Some mentions from Tim, links can be found here: https://notjustagarden.co.uk/gardens/Askham Bryan CollegeScampston HallHolkham HallDaylesford EstateRaby CastleBritish Cactus and Succulents SocietyThe Merlin TrustTop Buxus productsMore 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.
Sophia Gray from Sophia Grows was on Gardeners’ World 2025 episode 24 where we saw her stunning cut flower allotment. She joins us for A Good Ol’ Chit-Chat and we find out what her dream garden would look like, SPOILER - it’s gorgeous! Sophia dreams of sociable summer evenings in the garden, opulent greenhouses, acres of woodlands, natural swimming ponds, and this is all despite her previous dislike of being outside!Some mentions from Sophia, links can be found here: https://notjustagarden.co.uk/gardens/Flowers from the FarmChiltern SeedsBurford Garden CentrePlants of DistinctionMole SeedsOxney EucalyptusDavid Austin RosesHarkness RosesKordes RosesMore 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.
The final recap episode of Gardeners' World 2025 and we witness Sweetpea winning £100. We also find out about Adam Frost's pet garden hate, Chit-Chat guest Delia May West's gorgeous new member of the family, more tips on identifying AI on social media, how New Zealand flatworms are managed in New Zealand, the discovery of the first new plant genus found in a US national park since 1976, a robot that can identify different plant species by touch, glow in the dark fungi, fag-butt hunting crows, and a Cornwall flamingo escapee living the high life in France.On Gardeners' World, Carol Klein and Pat Havers show us the beautiful borders at Waterperry Gardens near Wheatley and Janet McGowan and Daten Ji (or Dawa) share their magical gardens at Craigieburn Garden and Nursery in Moffat. Arit Anderson spends time with Asa Gregers-Warg, Julia Boulton, Donna Cousins, Andrew Duffield and Dr Chris Gibson at Chattowood in Elmstead Market in Essex, and Tom Coward and Helena Whibley share some gardening tips at Gravetye Manor in East Grinstead in Sussex.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.
Tanya Anderson from Lovely Greens was on Gardeners' World in 2019 and joins us for A Good Ol' Chit-Chat. We learn about the benefits of Polycrubs, the issues the Isle of Man has with New Zealand flatworms, using your garden to make skincare products, managing a successful website and YouTube channel, and could Tanya's imminent house move see her dream garden becoming a reality?Some mentions from Tanya, links can be found here: https://notjustagarden.co.uk/gardens/Lovely GreensTanya's bookHope Grove NurseriesPolyCrubChailey Iris NurseryMore 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.
The penultimate episode of Gardeners' World 2025 and we talk identifying AI videos, the return of Vine, radiation eating fungi, lichen and blue-green algae surviving Mars, wool pots, and potty-mouthed parrots. We also have an update on Alla Olkhovska and her family in Kharkiv and how we can help.On Gardeners' World this week we join Ashley Edwards and Ian Ball at Hyde Hall, and Jānis Raubiška shows us around his colourful garden in Woking. Adam Frost shares his love for grasses at Judy and Malcolm Pearce’s Lady Farm Gardens in Chelwood, and Jo Naiman shows us her magnificent acers at Acer Corner in Wendover.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.
Chris D'Agorne was on Gardeners' World 2025, episode 24 where he showed us his bog garden in his pocket wilderness. On this Chit-Chat, Chris tells us about planting over 600 trees, his 7 ponds, mapping hedgerow from RAF aerial survey images, growing sphagnum moss, childhood memories of Skomer Island, his dream garden full of native plants, surprising and shocking facts about teasel, and how he was able to buy his very own nature reserve.Some mentions from Chris, links can be found here: https://notjustagarden.co.uk/gardens/TreecleBuy NativeRegenerataHow to RewildBird traffic light systemHooper Formula for hedgesMoss ClerksCeltic WildflowersMore 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.
This week we graduate from Riverdance to Death Valley as we enter phase 2 of Operation Ratatouille. In the meantime, we hear about another troublesome African Grey parrot, the UK honey fungus pandemic, plastic eating mushrooms, another planet-saving use for bamboo, what's special about Scotland's national flower, the cunning of lotus flowers, and the hero homing pigeon.On Gardeners' World we're with Frances & Rua Tophill, and Alison & Twiggy Jenkins at Damson Farm again, whilst Arit Anderson shows us around the Oxfordshire garden of Ken and Jan. Tim Foster shows us his apples in Bristol, we see the light with Nick Bailey, Professor Heather Whitney and Professor Keara/Kerry Franklin at The University of Bristol Botanic Gardens, and we visit Sue Kent's garden in Wales.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.
It's our half century episode and to celebrate we have our very first Gardeners' World presenter!🎉🕺 Nick Macer from Pan Global Plants presented a series of episodes in 2016 and he joins us as we travel back in time to a little schoolboy Nick still finding his feet, through to a big adult Nick owning one of the most celebrated specialist plant nurseries in the UK. We also hear about plant hunting, why Mexico and south west China have such rich flora, poison dart frogs, forest bathing, Nick's until now unrealised love of fairy-lights, and some very good news for bamboo.Some mentions from Nick, links can be found here: https://notjustagarden.co.uk/gardens/George’s Jungle Garden Video with Dr Simon Olpin, SheffieldKells BayAlan Mitchell Trees of Britain and Northern EuropeWestonbirt ArboretumHillier ArboretumThe Hillier Manual of Trees and ShrubsCowley ManorPainswick Rococo GardensEdulis Nursery Paul BarneySlimbridge Wildlife and Wetland CentreMore 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.
In this podcast episode we find out who's been stealing all the walnuts. We also learn about the use of dandelion root extract in medicine, plastic stuffed birds, bluebell glue, cheeky parrots, Advolly's yellow dress, and butt-breathing.And on Gardeners' World, we see a very speedy Monty Don, Carol Klein shows us around RHS Rosemoor in Devon and we meet Andy Farrington and Liz Dalby-Webb at The Plant Co-operative in Manchester. Advolly Richmond tells us all about Gertrude Jekyll at Hartland Abbey in North Devon before John Grimshaw shows us around his autumn garden in North Yorkshire.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.
Liz Zorab was on Gardeners' World last year and joins us for a Chit-Chat about her autumn inspired dream garden. We find out how Liz's dad instilled her initial happy curiosity in nature from a young age, which has taken her from reading books on gardening before she even had a garden, to her incredibly beautiful and productive space at Byther Farm. We also find out about "Horsefly Alley", how to install hedgehog friendly fencing, the importance of perennial vegetables, the virtues of seed and plant swaps, and her packed deep-freezer full of fruit and veg from the garden, which she probably needs to bolt to the floor before we visit.Some mentions from Liz, links can be found here: https://notjustagarden.co.uk/gardens/RHS The Vegetable Garden DisplayedDoctor Hessayon BooksLiz's before and after videoAberglasney GardensThe Copper dragon Llysdinam 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.
This week we find out some good news about Martin Dohrn and some potentially even better news about the availability of his film, My Garden of a Thousand Bees. We also hear about what exists under the Antarctic, cancer-curing honeybees, fig trees turning carbon dioxide into stone, the lesser known yet intrepid plant hunter and botanist Dora B Stafford, and how seagulls are even more evil that we first thought.On Gardeners' World, Frances Tophill gives an update on her pretty garden in Devon, Peter & Helleentje Walker show us some stunning carnivorous plants from their nursery in Scampston, Nick Bailey meets with Professor Craig Sturrock and Professor Malcolm Bennett to talk plant roots at the University of Nottingham, and Eleanor Cochrane shows us her beautiful modern garden in Cranbrook.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.
Gokul Asokan was on Gardeners' World 2025 episode 21 - a landscape architect without his own garden but that hasn't stopped him gardening! He joins us for A Good Ol' Chit-Chat where we hear how a classmate first inspired him to venture into the world of plants, battling home sickness, the power of perseverance, how helpful pet bunnies are (on many levels), Gokul's VERY sociable dream greenhouse, and the magic of manifesting.Some mentions from Gokul, links can be found here: https://notjustagarden.co.uk/gardens/WentworthHarlow CarrWisleyChatsworthWisteria 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/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on our recap we hear how as a result of her appearance on Gardeners' World, Violet Croll is now involved in an exhibition in Paris! We talk about Dan from Dan's Plants' online shop, trees growing gold, the deadly chemical found in our water pipes, what it means if you have an impressive rosemary bush, and the empathy of humpbacks. We also ponder, if we could put all the angry world leaders on a plug-plant growing trainee course in Bristol, would the world be a happier place.On Gardeners' World this week, Carol Klein is in her stunning garden at Glebe Cottage, Sally Morgan shows us her resilient garden in Somerset, Dwayne Black gives us a tour of his gorgeous garden in Isfield, East Sussex, and Joe Swift takes us to St Werburgh's allotments in Bristol.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/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Clematis Queen Alla Olkhovska was on Gardeners' World 2025 episode 20 showing us her stunning collection of 140 different clematis which she grows in her garden, despite being at the centre of a war zone in Kharkiv, Ukraine. During this Chit-Chat we hear how Alla is handling relentless drone strikes and blackouts, her incredible family history through world wars, the October Revolution, exile to Siberia, the important role Linden Grove Gardens has played in their lives, especially when it comes to apples, and Alla's secret ingredient for successfully growing garden orchids.Some mentions from Alla, links can be found here: https://notjustagarden.co.uk/gardens/Alla's documentary, Gardening in a War ZoneAlla's eBooks Clematis and Clematis PassportsAlla's PatreonAlla's Go Fund MeV.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University Botanical GardenFrosch Garden OrchidsSoaked apple recipeMore 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/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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