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Bracknell Forest: Garden Gnomes, Carrots and Tools

Gnomes, tools and carrots! Peter Gibbs and the panel dig into dream gnomes, first allotment must-haves and tips for growing carrots in sandy soil.

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 UK鈥檚 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 蜜芽传媒 Radio 4

Plant List
Questions and timecodes are below. Where applicable, plant names have been provided.

Q 鈥 If you were forced to have one garden gnome, what would that garden gnome be doing? (01鈥38鈥)

Q 鈥 Do the panel have any advice on growing carrots in sandy soil? (05鈥47鈥)

Q 鈥撯夾re the panel opposed to the use of decorative wood chips in borders? (07鈥56鈥)

Q 鈥 Can they explain how buddleia can grow in church roofs and railway sidings and not come to much in my garden? (11鈥36鈥)

Matthew Pottage 鈥
Buddleja davidii 'Black Knight', butterfly bush 'Black Knight'

Feature 鈥 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. (18鈥31鈥)

Q 鈥 What could we grow in our south-west facing garden that will provide vibrant colours during the summer? (24鈥06鈥)

Matthew Pottage 鈥
Aesculus
Aesculus parviflora, bottlebrush buckeye
Eucryphia
Eucryphia lucida, leatherwood
Eucryphia lucida 'Pink Cloud', leatherwood 鈥楶ink Cloud鈥
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 鈥
Desfontainia
Osmanthus

Q 鈥 I鈥檝e 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? (28鈥20鈥)

Q 鈥 Is there an aesthetically please alternative to steaks and pea netting that I could use whilst my plants establish? (31鈥14鈥)

Q 鈥 What plant would you like to be remembered by? (36鈥03鈥)

Christine Walkden 鈥
Soldanella hungarica

Matthew Pottage 鈥
Araucaria Araucana, monkey puzzle tree

Pippa Greenwood 鈥
Magnolia stellata, star magnolia

Available now

42 minutes

Last on

Sun 27 Jul 2025 14:00

Featured

  • .

Plant List

Questions and timecodes are below. Where applicable, plant names have been provided.

Q 鈥 If you were forced to have one garden gnome, what would that garden gnome be doing? 听(01鈥38鈥)

Q 鈥 Do the panel have any advice on growing carrots in sandy soil? (05鈥47鈥)

Q 鈥撯夾re the panel opposed to the use of decorative wood chips in borders? (07鈥56鈥)

Q 鈥 Can they explain how buddleia can grow in church roofs and railway sidings and not come to much in my garden? (11鈥36鈥)

Matthew Pottage 鈥

Buddleja听davidii听'Black Knight', butterfly bush 'Black Knight'

Feature 鈥 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. (18鈥31鈥)

Q 鈥 What could we grow in our south-west facing garden that will provide vibrant colours during the summer? (24鈥06鈥)

Matthew Pottage 鈥

Aesculus

Aesculusparviflora, bottlebrush buckeye

Eucryphia

Eucryphialucida, leatherwood

Eucryphialucida听'Pink Cloud', leatherwood 鈥楶ink Cloud鈥

Hydrangeaquercifolia, oak-leaved hydrangea

Hydrangeaquercifolia听Snowflake听('Brido') (d), oak-leaved hydrangea [Snowflake]

Hydrangeaquercifolia听Ice Crystal听('Hqopr010'PBR), oak-leaved hydrangea [Ice Crystal]

Hydrangeaquercifolia听'Harmony', oak-leaved hydrangea 'Harmony'

Christine Walkden 鈥

Desfontainia

Osmanthus

Q 鈥 I鈥檝e 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? (28鈥20鈥)

Q 鈥 Is there an aesthetically please alternative to steaks and pea netting that I could use whilst my plants establish? (31鈥14鈥)

Q 鈥 What plant would you like to be remembered by? (36鈥03鈥)

Christine Walkden 鈥

Soldanella听hungarica

Matthew Pottage 鈥

AraucariaAraucana, monkey puzzle tree

Pippa Greenwood 鈥

Magnoliastellata, star magnolia

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  • Sun 27 Jul 2025 14:00

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