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Oh, hello. You have chosen a BBC podcast, but before you listen to it, we thought you might like our podcast too.

You might. You might. It is called Sightraught with me, Nick Grimshaw.

And me, Annie Mack. And we talk about the week in music.

All the news, all the cultural happenings in the UK and beyond,

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But obviously start with our podcast, sidetrack. Obviously. Obviously.

So if you like music, listen on BBC Sounds.

Hello and welcome to this week's Gardner's Question Time with me, Kathy Clugston.

Today, we're in the Tyn Valley, about nine miles west of Newcastle City Centre.

The valley follows the river Tine as it runs from the uplands of Northumberland towards Newcastle and is known for its mix of dramatic countryside, Roman history and pretty market towns.

It's also the birthplace of one of the world's most influential engineers.

George Stevenson, inventor of the famous rocket, was born about half an hour's walk from

today's venue,

Clara Vale Village Hall. He's famous for his pioneering railway work, of course, but did you know

that George was also a very keen gardener? After making his fortune with steam trains, George began

cultivating exotic plants at his new home near Chesterfield. He grew varieties that were rare and highly

coveted at the time, things like pineapples, melons, cucumbers and grapes. He'd spent endless hours

in his greenhouses and used his engineering brain to experiment with heating methods, pushing the

boundaries of what could be grown in a British climate. Well, rocketing into the town valley today are three pioneering specimens.

From Oxford Botanic Garden, it's Dr Chris Thorogood.

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