At the Turning of the Year: From Great Dixter to Tomorrow’s Gardens

Gardening with the RHS

Royal Horticultural Society

Hobbies, Leisure, Home & Garden

4.3 • 692 Ratings

🗓️ 18 December 2025

⏱️ 26 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

This week, we honour the stillness of winter and the returning promise of light as we mark the winter solstice. At this turning of the year, we reflect on the people, plants and initiatives that this new light brings into focus. We begin by stepping into the richly curious world of Christopher Lloyd, the influential gardener and visionary behind Great Dixter House and Gardens. His legacy is recalled by his former student and now Head Gardener at Great Dixter, Fergus Garrett. Nick Turrell then returns with his top 10 countdown of plants that changed human history. This time, Nick delves into one species that helped ignite a vast global industry, asking whether its influence has ultimately made our lives better or worse. Finally, a look to the future with Sara Redstone who shines a light on a pioneering initiative taken up by theRHS, focused on strengthening plant biosecurity, highlighting the vital work being done to protect our plants and ecosystems for generations to come. Host: Gareth Richards Contributors: Fergus Garrett, Nick Turrell, Sara Redstone Links: Great Dixter Protect your garden health Biosecurity at the RHS Defra list of authorised distance plant sellers

Transcript

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0:00.0	Looking for the perfect gift for the garden lover in your life?
0:04.0	This Christmas, save £15 on an NHS gift membership
0:07.8	and give them unlimited visits to NHS gardens
0:10.8	and over 230 partner gardens all year round.
0:15.2	They'll enjoy reduced rate tickets and priority access to NHS shows
0:18.8	plus so much more.
0:20.9	Save £15.org RHS.org.uk.
0:24.7	Our friends soon, terms and conditions apply.
0:31.7	The winter solstice takes place this Sunday at 303pm and with it it brings a celebration of light,
0:40.3	renewal and rebirth.
0:42.3	Marking the beginning of astronomical winter, the winter solstice brings hope with its promise of lighter, longer days ahead.
0:52.3	The word solstice originates from the Latin soul, meaning sun, and cisteri meaning to stand,
0:59.0	referring to the sun appearing to sand still above the tropic of cancer.
1:05.0	Many people gather to watch the majestic sunset at Stonehenge, which is angled perfectly
1:10.0	so the rays shine into the heart of the stone circle.
1:13.6	At this spectacular time of year, plants and wildlife across the country wait in silent anticipation,
1:19.6	gathering strength in preparation to burst into bloom with the coming of spring.
1:24.6	The deep spiritual significance of the winter solstice is prevalent across
1:30.2	cultures and generations. In Nordic culture, for example, it was believed that the winter
1:34.7	solstice signified a goddess giving birth. And with that birth, new light was brought into the
1:40.6	world and it was named Mother's Night.
1:50.2	And in today's episode, we're going to shed this light on some great figures, species and initiatives important to our natural world.
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