Sully & District: Blooming Cacti, Shallow Depth and Signs of Spring
Gardeners' Question Time
BBC
4.5 • 1.1K Ratings
🗓️ 13 March 2026
⏱️ 43 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
What climbing plants thrive in shallow soil? How can you coax your Christmas cacti into a dazzling display? What’s your favourite first sign of spring?
Kathy Clugston brings a hand‑picked panel of horticultural experts to Sully, Wales, where they tackle a lively audience’s gardening questions with insight, warmth and plenty of good humour.
Joining Kathy are garden designer Chris Beardshaw, houseplant specialist Anne Swithinbank, and Bethan Collerton, head gardener at Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Together, they share their practical know‑how, creative ideas, and passion for all things green.
Pippa Greenwood meets Samantha Smith from the Horticultural Trades Association to explore the new Simpler Recycling initiative, and what it means for clearing out old pots, containers, and other garden clutter.
Producer: Rahnee Prescod Junior Producer: William Norton
A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4
Transcript
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| 0:39.3 | Hello and a warm welcome to Gardner's Question Time with me, Cathy Clugston. Today we're in the Vale of Glamorgan in Wales, visiting the Sully and District Gardening Club. |
| 0:49.7 | Sully is a coastal village, tucked between Pannarth and Barry, about eight miles from Cardiff. |
| 0:55.1 | It was built in the Norman period around Sully Castle, a small fragment of which remains |
| 0:59.7 | in a garden near the church. There are colourful legends of smugglers, pirates and secret tunnels |
| 1:05.7 | in this area. At one point in the mid-16th century, a massive hole of 28,000 pounds of cheese and 80 barrels |
| 1:13.7 | of butter was intercepted at nearby Swanbridge. |
| 1:17.3 | That's a lot of cheese. |
| 1:18.8 | Sully is also notable for Hayes Farm, established in 1812 as one of two pioneering model farms. |
| 1:25.2 | It showcased modern agricultural methods, including a stone windmill |
| 1:29.5 | used for grinding locally harvested corn, a testament to Sully's forward-thinking spirit. |
| 1:35.6 | And in that same spirit of innovation and curiosity, we're joined by an audience of keen gardeners |
| 1:40.4 | at the old school here in Sully, and of an expert panel from gloucestershire plantsman |
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