4.6 β’ 1K Ratings
ποΈ 25 July 2025
β±οΈ 43 minutes
ποΈ Recording | iTunes | RSS
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If you could have a garden gnome what would it be doing? What tools should I have on my first allotment? Any tips on growing carrots on a sandy soil?
Peter Gibbs and a panel of green-fingered gurus head to the lush landscapes of Bracknell Forest, where a lively audience of passionate gardeners awaits answers to their most pressing plant problems.
Joining Peter are pest and disease specialist Pippa Greenwood, head gardener Matthew Pottage, and the ever-enthusiastic plantswoman Christine Walkden.
Later in the show, Pippa Greenwood takes us behind the scenes at Heathrow Airport, where she meets Kelvin Hughes from the Animal and Plant Health Agency. Together, they uncover the fascinating work being done to safeguard the UKβs biodiversity from invasive pests and diseases hidden in overseas plants and produce.
Senior Producer: Daniel Cocker Junior Producer: Rahnee Prescod
A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4
Plant List Questions and timecodes are below. Where applicable, plant names have been provided.
Q β If you were forced to have one garden gnome, what would that garden gnome be doing? (01β38β)
Q β Do the panel have any advice on growing carrots in sandy soil? (05β47β)
Q ββAre the panel opposed to the use of decorative wood chips in borders? (07β56β)
Q β Can they explain how buddleia can grow in church roofs and railway sidings and not come to much in my garden? (11β36β)
Matthew Pottage β Buddleja davidii 'Black Knight', butterfly bush 'Black Knight'
Feature β Pippa Greenwood meets with Kelvin Hughes with the Animal and Plant Health Agency to discover how Heathrow Airport protect the UK's biodiversity from overseas produce and plants. (18β31β)
Q β What could we grow in our south-west facing garden that will provide vibrant colours during the summer? (24β06β)
Matthew Pottage β Aesculus Aesculus parviflora, bottlebrush buckeye Eucryphia Eucryphia lucida, leatherwood Eucryphia lucida 'Pink Cloud', leatherwood βPink Cloudβ Hydrangea quercifolia, oak-leaved hydrangea Hydrangea quercifolia Snowflake ('Brido') (d), oak-leaved hydrangea [Snowflake] Hydrangea quercifolia Ice Crystal ('Hqopr010'PBR), oak-leaved hydrangea [Ice Crystal] Hydrangea quercifolia 'Harmony', oak-leaved hydrangea 'Harmony'
Christine Walkden β Desfontainia Osmanthus
Q β Iβve just taken on an allotment in the last year, and I'd like to know what are the top five low-cost items you'd recommend? (28β20β)
Q β Is there an aesthetically please alternative to steaks and pea netting that I could use whilst my plants establish? (31β14β)
Q β What plant would you like to be remembered by? (36β03β)
Christine Walkden β Soldanella hungarica
Matthew Pottage β Araucaria Araucana, monkey puzzle tree
Pippa Greenwood β Magnolia stellata, star magnolia
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0:15.6 | US industry. Like the first ever billionaire, John D. Rockefeller. The founder of the Ford |
0:20.3 | Motor Company, Henry Ford. |
0:21.9 | And the First Lady of Wall Street, Hetty Green. And Simon and I are asking you if they were good, bad or just another billionaire. |
0:28.4 | Good bad billionaire. Listen on BBC Sounds. |
0:33.3 | BBC Sounds, music, radio, podcasts. |
0:38.0 | Hello, I'm Cathy Clugston, and this is Gardner's Question Time from BBC Radio 4. |
0:43.5 | So grab those secretars or sit back and relax, however you like to listen, |
0:47.9 | and enjoy the next 45 minutes of great tips, advice and dubious horticultural humour. |
0:54.8 | Hello, and welcome to this week's GQT with me Peter Gibbs. |
0:58.9 | Today we're in Bracknell Forest in southern Berkshire, |
1:02.1 | and as its name suggests, this area is known for an abundance of trees. |
1:07.1 | Originally part of the vast royal hunting area of Windsor Forest, |
1:10.8 | much of it is still managed by the Crown Estate, including the conifer plantations of Swinley Forest, the largest piece of continuous woodland in the south-east of England. |
1:20.6 | If you go down to the woods these days, you'll also find plenty of wildlife on offer. Aside from the commercial plantations, |
1:28.3 | there are large areas of bog, |
1:30.1 | heath and native woodland |
1:31.7 | with nine designated sites |
1:33.8 | of special scientific interest. |
1:36.1 | We can find scarce summer visitors |
... |
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