Chelsea Flower Show 2026 - Postbag
Gardeners' Question Time
BBC
4.5 • 1.1K Ratings
🗓️ 22 May 2026
⏱️ 43 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Kathy Clugston and Peter Gibbs are at the Chelsea Flower Show for a special postbag episode of Gardeners' Question Time.
From the showground of the world’s most celebrated horticultural event, they're joined by a stellar panel - former Chelsea exhibitor and medal-winning designer Matthew Wilson, one of the world's leading authorities on plant pests and diseases, Pippa Greenwood, and making her press-day debut at Chelsea with GQT, Head Gardener at Birmingham Botanical Gardens, Bethan Collerton.
As Kathy and the panel roam the show gardens answering questions submitted by listeners, they catch up with several garden designers behind this year’s show, including Frances Tophill (The RHS and The King’s Foundation Curious Garden), Sarah Fisher and Janice Molyneux (The Sightsavers Garden) and Patrick Clarke (The Children’s Society Garden). They explore the ideas, craftsmanship and planting inspiration behind their Chelsea creations, from sensory container gardens to spaces designed for well-being and connection.
Meanwhile, Peter takes the roving reporter mic inside the Great Pavilion, discovering the science behind our gardens, speaking to exhibitors, and uncovering the latest innovations in horticulture and biodiversity research.
The panel tackles everything from gardening in challenging coastal conditions, to choosing the right trees for privacy and produce, as well as tips on drying flowers for wedding confetti, and solving the mysteries of struggling container plants and stubborn succulents.
Producers: Dan Cocker, Matt Smith and Rahnee Prescod Assistant Producer: William Norton
A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4
* If listening on BBC Sounds and you wish to view the plant list, please go to the Gardeners' Question Time website and open this week's episode page.
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | BBC Sounds, music, radio, podcasts. |
| 0:07.3 | On BBC Sounds, there are podcasts to help you look after your body and your mind. |
| 0:12.7 | From increasing your immunity to feeling more confident. |
| 0:16.6 | Or tips on how to focus. |
| 0:18.5 | Sorry, what will you say? |
| 0:19.7 | If it matters to you, it matters to us. |
| 0:22.6 | Feel good inside of them. |
| 0:24.3 | With What's Up Docs. |
| 0:25.9 | And Complex with Kimberly Wilson. |
| 0:27.9 | Listen on BBC Sounds. |
| 0:32.2 | Hello and welcome to Gardner's Question Time. |
| 0:34.9 | We are back at the RHS Chelsea Flores Show, |
| 0:56.3 | celebrating a week of horticultural heaven at the greatest floral display on earth. For three weeks, designers and their teams have been on site in the grounds of the Royal Hospital, transforming a quiet stretch of loan into a vibrant hub of horticultural activity and excellence for just six days before it's all dismantled and taken away again. But what an incredible six days it will be. Exhibiting a show garden here is a |
| 1:02.7 | career high for any horticulturalist. And over the next 40 minutes or so, we are going to bring you a |
| 1:07.9 | taste of Chelsea, 2026. I'll be speaking to some of the designers and exhibitors wowing the crowds here. While my fellow host, Peter Gibbs, will be hard at work as well. Hello, Peter. Hello, Cathy. Yes, I certainly will. And as soon as the rain clouds are gathering outside, I thought I'd take a really, really good, long look at everything that's going on here in the Great Pavilion. |
| 1:29.5 | Right, well, we'll catch up with you a little bit later in the programme. |
| 1:31.8 | And of course, we have a load of your questions to get answered. |
| 1:34.8 | Joining me are three GQT experts with the Wow Factor, |
| 1:38.4 | former Chelsea exhibitor and medalist, Matthew Wilson, |
| 1:41.4 | one of the world's leading authorities on plant pests and diseases, |
| 1:44.4 | Pippa Greenwood, and making her GQT Chelsea Flower Show debut Bethan Collerton. Hello, panel. Hello. |
| 1:51.0 | Hello. Here we are again, Matthew. What are you looking forward to this year? Here we are again. |
... |
Transcript will be available on the free plan in 16 days. Upgrade to see the full transcript now.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from BBC, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of BBC and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.