the happy garden podcast

If you've never been to Gardeners World Live, let Mollie and Darren bring the show to you! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mollie chats to Simon Akeroyd, author of 30 gardening books and previously a garden manager for the National Trust. Simon is sharing tips on how to increase your house's value by up to 20%, simply by making your garden space look attractive to buyers, and it doesn't have to costa fortune to do so! Loads of advice on the subject from Darren too who has spent over 30 years making gardens look beautiful for homeowners. Lots of gardening chat and giggles along the way too. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Meet Lorraine from Caley Bros mushrooms. They won gold at Chelsea and are running workshops at Gardener's World Live at the NEC in June. Why are they called brothers when they are two sisters? Find out! We hear from Adam Frost too as Mollie nabs 5 minutes with him at Chelsea and we also announce the lucky winner of the GWL tickets. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Find out how to win 2 tickets to GWL for free! Mollie meets the designer of the gold medal winning Seawilding garden at the Chelsea flower show. Lots of chat with Darren about how to look after your hanging baskets in June, how to grow strawberries from scratch and we also find out about this year's Bugs matter survey, run by the charity Buglife. It involves a splat-o-meter - find out more! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After a month apart, Mollie and Darren are reunited to bring you this week's episode! After a 4 hour delay while Mollie tried to sort the technicalities of the podcast equipment out, they are back in the swing of things. Mollie chats to David Austin on the gold award winning stand at the Chelsea Flower Show. Hear his reaction when she confesses to him that it was her who fell in to the rose display at Chelsea last year! Hear a chat with Chris Baines at Chelsea too as he was the special guest of the RHS this year honouring his wildlife garden in 1985. Lots of laughter as always. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mollie sits down for a chat with Nick Bailey, designer of this year's headline show garden at Gardener's World Live at the NEC in Birmingham in June. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Meet Paul Walton, the head gardener at the fabulous Biddulph Grange Stumpery. Mollie spends an hour with Paul finding out about the history and concept of the garden. We also find out what it takes to keep this garden going, both physically and financially. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The first in a trilogy of specials on the podcast. Mollie catches up with Chris Baines, one of the leading environmentalists in the UK. A trailblazer. Decades ahead of his time when it came to protecting wildlife and caring for the natural world. 2025 is a huge year for Chris, find out why... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mollie has a special announcement to make. We have to congratulate Darren on quite an achievement... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mollie chats to Bob Hendrikx, CEO of Loop-Biotech, a company who produce living coffins made from mushrooms. A product that becomes one with nature in 45 days, enriching the earth and not polluting it. As the funeral industry becomes more environmentally conscious, could this be the way forward? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mollie gives Chesney a bell to see how his new garden is growing. Darren announces the winner of the £100 voucher, thank you if you entered! A few gardening questions answered and as always, lots of laughter along the way. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lots to get through on the pod today! The gang is back together. Gok Wan reviews Darrens poetry, Andy Lound has the horticultural history of the swede, Buglife Paul rounds up the insects you'll see in the garden (not literally) and Mollie and Darren have their usual giggles. Not forgetting a bit of gardening too. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mollie talks to Catrina Fenton from The Heritage Seed Library. They have a new project underway looking for seeds from across the UK which may be long lost family varieties. We get an update from Darren as his pocket parks for the National Trust near completion. There's a bit of health and safety talk which will no doubt surprise you! Historian Andy Lound also has a look at technology used in the garden. Come and join in some happy garden talk... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mollie has a natter with good friend of the podcast Adam Frost. Find out all about Adam's UK tour and about his new book entitled 'For the love of plants'. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to another happisode! Mollie chats to Thrive to find out how they help both mental and physical health through gardening. Also hearing about their new app "Cultivating Wellbeing". Darren answers some of your gardening questions on organic fertilisers and a frankincense tree! We get an update on Darren's pocket parks for the National Trust too, all this whilst he's developed a nasal drip... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mollie recently visited Gibraltar and had the pleasure of a tour of the Botanic Gardens with the lovely Keith Bensusan who is the director of this spectacular space. The beautiful Alameda Botanic Gardens are on the Upper South-West side of the rock. A haven for flora and fauna and as you'll hear, THE garden for the residents of Gibraltar. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Press play if you need a pick me up, this episode is full of smiles. There is a bit of gardening too - Andy has the fascinating history of the bridal bouquet, you'll hear a sneak preview of Mollie's Gibraltar special and Darren answers lots of your questions including how to take rose cuttings and the best way to grow swedes. Be warned - there is laughter from the outset... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We explore lunar gardening with Andy Lound. Mollie chats to Gwen Hines, the CEO of Plant Heritage to find out how we could all potentially have an award winning plant in our garden. Lots of gardening questions answered with Darren along side a bit of snowdrop poetry too. Join us for a giggle... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Possibly the sexiest episode to date! We profile vegetables with allure and delve in to the horticultural history cupid's garden. Dan has an update on the allotment he has taken on. Does he regret taking it on now it's cold and wet? Find out how he is getting on... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mollie is back from Gibraltar with exciting tales to tell and a podcast about their beautiful Botanical Gardens now in the bag. Darren has lots of your gardening questions to answer and some great advice on how the potential snow on the forecast might affect your garden. Andy Lound has the history of decking in this week's episode and we'll also hear from Buglife Paul about which insects we might see in the garden this month. Lots to pack in to this episode! Come and join us... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mollie chats to Andy Lound. Settle in for an hour to find out about the history of the man behind the horticultural histories... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Not everyone has their own garden space. Mollie chats to Suze Carter from Dawberry Corner Community Garden, a space which was derelict, overgrown and unloved. Hear how it was secured and transformed in to a wonderful community area. Darren answered lots of your gardening questions including what to do with hyacinths after they have flowered, poinsettias dropping leaves and tips on how to stop slippy algae on paths with pasta water. Andy Lound also has the history of gardening gloves! Come and join us... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mollie chats to Dan Asaw from the Field Studies Council. They are conducting a UK wide citizen science survey looking for early signs of Spring. Find out why and how you can get involved. Andy has the history of Wassailing and Darren answered lots of your gardening questions including which types of household waste water you can use on your plants and what to do with hyacinths after they have flowered. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A very cold week in the garden! Darren has some advice on outside taps and pipes as well as a rather beautiful poem to read us, entitled "The gardening year ahead" written by his own fair hand. Mollie chats to Buglife about how the charity has grown in 2024 and what they hope to achieve in 2025. Andy Lound brings us the history of some inspirational gardeners and as always, there is a chuckle or two to be had here and there. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mollie chats with the National Trust about the measures they are putting in place in order to cope with the frequent floods, drought and gales that the UK is now getting. Their gardens and gardeners are having to adapt to the ever changing weather patterns. We reveal the winner of the Winterbourne Gardens competition, one lucky podcast listener wins an experience with Darren! Andy Lound has the potted history of the snowdrop and you'll hear the usual laughter as we enter 2025 together... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After the podcast Christmas lunch last week at The Pod in Coventry, Mollie headed to the allotment that grows the food for the cafe. There was a beautiful winter solstice celebration. A gathering with food, fire and singing. Andy Lound has the history of the sprout, broadcast from the pub! Darren has lots of jobs for you to be getting on with if you need a festive escape to the garden. Can we also take this moment to thank you all for supporting this podcast in its first full year. We still don't know exactly what we're doing but we have great fun every week doing it! Happy New Year x Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Come along with us to the podcast Christmas party! We begin in the most beautiful medieval vegan cafe in Coventry. Then move on to a visit to the Sgt. Bilko Museum. We do a bit of singing in the cathedral, and then go and get bladdered. There is still a bit of gardening. Merry Christmas x Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Yes, you read it correctly! Listen in for a chance to win a tour of Winterbourne Gardens in Birmingham with Darren. He'll also get you lunch! The prize is for two people, details in the pod. Mollie chats to Andrew Poad, the general manager of the National Trust about the distribution of the 49 Sycamore Gap tree saplings. Andy Lound has the history of several Christmas spices. We find out about the insects in the garden in December. There's singing, a LOT of laughing and a bit of gardening along the way :0) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We meet The Birmingham tree People. A fantastic group of nature-loving urban forest volunteers with the aim to plant, protect and promote trees and the urban forest. Darren also has a slot on choosing and caring for your real Christmas tree. Andy has the history of holly and ivy and it's time for a December forage too!. Lots of festive giggles in this week's pod. Grab a mince pies and settle in... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's beginning to feel like Christmas! Mollie chats to loveachristmastree.co.uk about the ins and outs of hiring a tree for the festive season and Andy Lound brings you the fascinating history of the Christmas tree. Darren has a shed load of gift ideas for Christmas, from experiences and memberships to subscriptions and allotment rental. We also hear from listener Karen who puts up a memory tree at the bottom of her drive so the community can claim a bauble to remember someone who will be missing this Christmas, both human and animal x Loads of your gardening questions answered too. Pour yourself a hot toddy, settle in and press play... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We meet a family who manufacture candles that smell of local landmarks - Cannock Chase being one example, along with local apples and bluebells. Andy Lound brings us the history of Cannock Chase too. Lots of gardening, laughing and singing. An hour of smiles with Mollie and Darren.. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Get cosy with us for an autumnal show. Mollie chats to Jim from the National Vegetable society and we hear how newby Dan is getting on having had his new allotment for a month now. Andy Lound has the history of the potato and Darren has lots of gardening advice as the cold weather sets in. All that mixed with poetry from listener Paul, Mollie's singing attempt and a huge amount of laughter. It's gardening, but not as you know it... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The nicest guy in showbiz joins Mollie for a chat. The one and only Chesney Hawkes. Hear about how his Dad and Grandad inspired his love of horticulture and the beautiful reason for his favourite flower. Darren has his foraging slot for the month of November. Horticultural histories with Andy Lound and a few of your gardening questions answered to boot. Settle in and press play... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My goodness we cover a lot in this episode! Mollie has a fascinating conversation with Joe from the Bat Conservation Trust, finding out why it is so important to help and protect these beautiful creatures. Pumpkins are still on the agenda this week and feature in Darren's money saving tips and we go down the larder to get a recipe for pumpkin dog biscuits. Andy Lound brings us the history of All Hallows day, and we hear from a lady who has married a ghost. Oh, and almost forgot to mention that we get a few of your gardening questions answered too! Defiantly something for everyone on this episode... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the run up to Halloween there's a slightly spooky feel to this week's episode! Andy Lound has a fascinating history of the pumpkin, we talk alternative uses for a pumpkin and Darren has even penned an original poem about the humble fruit. Yes, it's a fruit! Mollie brings us the latest news on the cheating saga in the world conker championships. Was King Conker cleared of cheating having been found with a steel conker in his trousers? Also news this week that some pick your own pumpkin patches actually buy in their pumpkins! Lots of your gardening questions answered and a giggle or two along the way. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An episode full of spikes and scandal! Mollie finds out about a new national strategy to save our beautiful hedgehog and the fabulous Andy Lound brings us the history of the hedgehog, did you know they originated from shrews? Darren brings you a guide to taking semi hardwood cutting this time of year and would you believe there has been an enormous scandal that has rocked the world of conkers? One of the winners of the world championships has been accused of harbouring a steel conker in his kegs...we speak to a man who took part to see how he is feeling amid all this scandal... An awful lot of laughter too :-) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A celebration of conkers! Mollie finds out all about the World Conker Championships. Do you know they have a section for the blind? We find out if it's been a good year for conkers too and share some of your memories of playing as a youngster - before health and safety! Andy Lound has a fascinating history of conker playing, did you know the Spanish used to play with snail shells?Darren also brings us a wholly inadequate solitary conker joke, for which we must apologise...but redeems himself by bringing us "10 things to do with a conker"Listen in for a cosy autumn hour. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Meet 2 amazing giant vegetable growers at the Malvern Autumn Show! Dave had the 2nd biggest cucumber and he was very proud of it. Is there a knack to growing huge veg? Find out. Darren answers a great question on when and how to plant bare root roses and why they might be a better purchase than buying a rose in a pot. He also brings you his October foraging slot. Mollie talks to Buglife to find out which insects you might find in the garden this month. Gather round... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Another bumper episode this week. From making chilli jam to finding out about this year's Malvern Autumn Show, there's lots to discuss! Darren profiles how to make pots and baskets full of Autumn colour and we have our first chat with Dan who has just taken on an allotment for the first time and needs to know where to start. Loads of your questions answered too. Get the kettle on and join us... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Released on the Autumn equinox! We meet Martin Fish, an RHS judge who will be judging at this year's Malvern Autumn show and also hosting the Potting Shed stage too. Darren answers lots of your autumn gardening questions including how to prepare your olive trees for winter and how to stop the squirrel nicking your plums! There's something a little different from Andy Lound this week too. Go on, press play... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Another bumper episode. This week Mollie chats to BHWT. The British hen welfare Trust have just re-homed their one millionth hen! She's gone to live in one of the most famous gardens in the UK. Darren has a regal announcement his teabags, bras and tights talk and he also answers lots of your gardening questions. Horticultural histories focus on the wheelbarrow, courtesy of Andy Lound. We also meet Carolla Puddy-Henry who runs a sunflower farm, a very happy job indeed! So lots of smiles to be had, come and join us... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mollie here. I was going to put together some bits from our first year of podcasting but I only got as far as Christmas! So many giggles had. Thank you for all of your support over the last year, all of your encouragement and interaction. We do do lots of gardening, but we also have a laugh along the way, which we consider VERY important in life. Let's celebrate some silliness and look forward to another year of horticultural happiness x Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Where are the wasps? Mollie asks Seirian Sumner, (AKA The Wasp Woman) a British entomologist and behavioural ecologist. She is a professor at University College London and is an expert in social wasps, she's also written a book on wasps, so she's quite the expert on the subject! Find out why there are so few to be seen and how that will impact future generations of wasps.As it is our first birthday next week, Andy Lound has the history of paper, a traditional first birthday gift. Darren answers another bumper crop of your gardening questions too. We find out what insects to look out for in September and Darren also has his September foraging slot. It's a busy one! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're joined in conversation by Professor Rob Mckenzie, director of the Birmingham institute of forest research at Birmingham University. Research has found that mature trees are able to increase their storage of greenhouse gases as levels rise, offering hope to the world. We get a fascinating insight in to the project. Historian Andy Lound also talks us through the history of ancient trees. It's a one week only return for Darren's joke slot, and a huge crop of your gardening questions get answered too. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

So much gardening in one podcast episode! We meet Lizzy from Gloucester Cathedral and she tells us about some of the amazing work the cathedral and community are doing to re-wild the city. Andy Lound has a brilliant horticultural history this week - he takes a look at the humble hoe. We profile free stuff to do with the children in the garden during the summer holidays, plus lots of NGS gardens you can visit. A bumper crop of your gardening questions answered too. Come and join us... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Andy Load, the general manager of The National Trust joins us with great news. The felled Sycamore Gap tree has started to regrow! After a nail biting 10 months, it seems nature will out. Darren answers a bumper crop of your gardening questions. Find out the best position for a greenhouse, how best to grow potatoes and why you get different coloured heads on a hydrangea. Andy Lound brings you the history of the gardens of Pompeii too. Lots of laughs along the way, come and join us... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

August is one of the most beautiful times in the garden. So full of colour and produce. We take a look at some of the insects that you may see in your garden during August and Darren profiles what you can forage this month - food for free! Andy Lound brings us the history of the humble cherry and a few of your gardening questions answered too. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A fascinating episode! We talk flying ants. How do they all know when to fly? Why do they mate on the wing? We find out the answers. Darren talks about his huge landscape project which is nearly at the end - three show gardens in one, amazing work. Mollie chats with Butterfly conservation about this year's Big Butterfly Count, why it is important and how to get involved. Andy Lound has his horticultural histories, this week he looks at the pear. Darren answers lots of your gardening questions. Oh, and there is an inordinate amount of laughing towards the end of the podcast... :-) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat to Matthew Ingram, a wonderful beekeeper who passion for bees has turned in to his business. Matthew started and runs Holt Hall Apiary in Staffordshire. We find out what beekeeping entails and ask if it is easy to start. We also talk to Plant Heritage who are seeking gardeners to become the custodians of national plant collections. You may be surprised that we are all eligible! Andy Lound has the history of the first ever TV gardener Cecil Henry Middleton. Also, a few gardening questions answered and a good catch up to boot, just press play! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mollie chats with the lovely Roger Parsons who is President of the Sweet Pea Society and also keeper of the national collection of sweet peas and other lazaruth. Roger has a Seed bank of around 1400 varieties from around the world and has been growing and conserving sweet peas for 40 years. Andy Lound also brings us the history of the sweet pea. Darren will be answering some interesting questions on withering courgettes and planting in pots. Lots of laughs along the way too, come and join us! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Meet James Carnell. He is the head gardener at Wightwick Manor which is a National Trust property near Wolverhampton. Hear about his passion and vision for the magnificent gardens and find out about his team and how the gardens help so many people in so many different ways. Andy Lound brings us the history of the National Trust too. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.