Pennod 17 Garddio a Mwy

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-Welcome to Garddio A Mwy.

-On a dry and bright autumn day,

-where better to be than the garden?

-Even at this time,

-there's work to do there.

-Here's what's coming up.

-Sioned is in Flintshire,

-in a field full of pumpkins.

-Iwan gets advice

-from an expert hazel grower.

-And I plant a substantial row

-of shrubs in the garden.

-This perennial bed has been

-working hard throughout the season.

-It may be the easiest bed

-to handle in the whole garden...

-..some maintenance is important

-at this time.

-I have rhubarb and artichokes

-growing in this border.

-Next year's artichoke leaves

-are out of the soil already.

-We'll see if it survives the winter.

-It's crucial

-in a perennial bed...

-..that plants

-don't have to compete with weeds.

-While adding some compost,

-I can get rid of any weeds.

-I'm also adding nutrients

-to the soil.

-The artichokes and the rhubarb

-are ready for next year.

-But there's another perennial plant

-that requires some attention.

-That plant is asparagus.

-This is what it looks like

-if you don't harvest it.

-It grows like a fern.

-Asparagus gets special treatment

-because it's a rather fussy plant.

-They're rapacious

-and need their own space.

-I created this straight bed

-in order to make weeding easier.

-Asparagus hates

-competing with weeds.

-It's important to be thorough

-when weeding the bed.

-Another trick to repel weeds

-throughout the winter...

-..is to cover the soil.

-Rather than using garden compost,

-I'm using organic manure this year.

-Although garden compost

-would do the job just fine...

-..as it's such a special plant,

-I'm going to spoil the asparagus...

-..with the best fertilizer

-that money can buy.

-There we are.

-That's the perennial plants

-dealt with for this year.

-I can't wait to finally taste

-some Pont y Twr rhubarb.

-Over in Meinir's garden,

-the focus is all on hedging.

-What is a hedge to you?

-It can mean shelter.

-It can create structure

-in a larger garden.

-It's also a way to ease winds.

-But more often than not,

-a hedge is a boundary.

-When we created a garden here

-in what was an ordinary field...

-..the first thing we did was

-to plant hedges along the boundary.

-They were mixed hedges

-that would grow quickly...

-..and provide privacy for us

-and food and shelter for wildlife.

-These have taken seven years

-to get to this stage.

-This partially evergreen privet

-provides that privacy.

-There's also a mix of blackthorn,

-hawthorn, Rosa rugosa...

-..fuchsia and birch.

-A blend of native

-and non-native plants...

-..that bear fruit and flowers

-at different times of the year.

-But I want something different

-along this unplanted boundary.

-I want a hedge that will hide

-this fence almost immediately.

-But I don't want it

-to grow as big as the others.

-Only as high as the fence...

-..because the view and the livestock

-make this garden special.

-I want the hedge

-to be evergreen on the whole...

-..using native plants if I can.

-I also want it

-to ease the sea breeze...

-..and ideally, it'll also provide

-shelter for birds and wildlife.

-But I have no idea which plants

-will do all those things.

-Earlier, I sought the advice

-of a horticulturalist...

-..who knows a lot more

-about these matters than I do.

-Robin, you know what I want,

-but am I asking a lot?

-No, the important point

-is to choose the right plants.

-I'd suggest holly,

-which provides berries in winter.

-Prepare well, lots of water

-and it'll fill in very quickly.

-How long have you lived there?

-For about eight years.

-It's a pity you didn't think

-about this eight years ago.

-It's the first thing to do

-when you move house.

-Not the kitchen, the garden.

-I did with the other hedges

-but not this one.

-It's a shame

-because it would be look great now.

-A holly bush about this height

-will be fairly...

-Good preparation

-will lead to good growth.

-You can see this year's growth.

-There's no reason not to get

-a foot to 18 inches every year.

-Then use other plants

-in blocks between the holly.

-You can use so many plants

-that are more colourful than holly.

-Try this Viburnum tinus.

-Try this Viburnum tinus.

-

-I'm not familiar with that one.

-It flowers at this time.

-Right.

-It handles any weather, it's great.

-I'd also suggest this one.

-I'd also suggest this one.

-

-What's that? Pyracantha?

-Yes.

-They fill out very quickly

-and also provide winter berries.

-This Cotoneaster is another one.

-Very easy to grow,

-lots of varieties.

-They're straightforward to grow.

-They grow very quickly...

-..and have berries in winter.

-And bees love them.

-Exactly.

-For a bit of winter colour,

-this Cornus has red stems.

-Pretty.

-And never forget Rosa rugosa.

-I like that because of the purple

-flowers almost all summer long.

-And the autumn growth

-is very pretty.

-I've got a lot of thinking to do!

-But I like the idea of the holly...

-..as a foundation for the hedge.

-Do the job properly at the start

-and look after them.

-It's just a shame

-you didn't do it eight years ago!

-I did my best, Robin!

-Better late than never.

-After I eventually choose my shrubs,

-I'll be planting them later.

-As Halloween approaches...

-..I've come to the Hawarden Estate

-farm shop in Flintshire...

-..which encourages

-sustainable celebrating.

-Most of the fruit and vegetables

-sold at the shop are home grown.

-Cafe cook Emma also uses them

-to cook all sorts of treats.

-I'll sample some of them later.

-First, I meet Amy Swann, who holds

-pumpkin-carving workshops here.

-Not the usual scary faces, mind you.

-..but decorative seasonal designs

-that will last through the autumn.

-It's nice to be out in the sunshine.

-It's shining right on us!

-You're the teacher, I'm the pupil.

-Where do we start?

-Make sure that the pumpkin

-is fairly stable on your lap.

-Get a good grip

-with your knees and your hands.

-You need a biro.

-Start with an easy pattern

-but nothing too small.

-I've never drawn

-on a pumpkin before.

-You haven't carved

-the inside out first.

-No, because if you do that...

-..it'll rot

-more or less within a week.

-It's best to leave it as it is,

-then it'll last until Christmas.

-You don't have to use it

-as a lantern with a candle inside.

-This is very therapeutic.

-This is very therapeutic.

-

-It has a lot of different elements.

-You draw the pattern first,

-then you cut it out.

-If you want to make it

-into a lantern...

-..all you do is cut the top off,

-remove the flesh...

-..then light it.

-That's enough to start,

-to show you the process.

-I use lino cutters.

-These make a big difference

-to the way it turns out.

-This is the secret, really.

-Where do you get these?

-At any art shop, usually.

-Or on the Web.

-All we do is remove the skin

-to reveal the colour of the flesh.

-We don't go right through

-as you would with a knife.

-Use your left hand

-to hold the pumpkin steady.

-Move slowly and smoothly

-around the pattern.

-The circle is the best place

-to start cutting this pattern.

-The pattern can be fairly simple.

-There are lines on the pumpkin too.

-If you wanted to make a leaf,

-you'd follow the line up.

-Even small incisions

-can be very effective.

-When I taught Art,

-I did this with the schoolchildren.

-It is a skill.

-We're carving now

-as we would in wood or lino.

-I could go

-into my own little world doing this.

-That's why I like it.

-You're doing well.

-Your control is brilliant.

-It's not an easy thing to do.

-But it's nice and relaxing

-once you get the technique.

-I'm sure that you could

-take hours doing this.

-How much time do you spend on them?

-Shall I show you what happens

-if you spend hours on them?

-I've been hiding this.

-There we are.

-Oh, wow, Amy!

-That's amazing.

-I did this last night

-to show you today.

-I've taken our surroundings

-as my inspiration.

-Mushrooms, acorns, trees and leaves.

-And berries.

-Oh, that's lovely.

-We deserve a cuppa after this.

-We deserve a cuppa after this.

-

-We do.

-Let's see what Emma has prepared.

-Over at the cafe, Emma has made

-some autumnal flapjacks for us...

-..that contain home-grown pumpkins.

-If you'd like to try them out...

-..this unusual recipe

-is available on our website.

-Enjoy!

-Enjoy!

-

-Thank you!

-This looks nice.

-You can see the pumpkin in it.

-You can see the pumpkin in it.

-

-I'm not wasting any time here!

-Mmm! It's lovely!

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-When you think about autumn,

-you think of withering leaves...

-..evenings drawing in,

-mushrooms and apples.

-But what about nuts?

-They're also in season, of course.

-I'm at the Golden Grove Estate

-in Llanasa near Holywell...

-..to meet a man who may be able

-to help me realize a dream.

-I want to create

-a nut orchard at Pont y Twr.

-The man whose advice I seek

-is Alexander Hunt...

-..who owns 400 acres

-of nut trees in Kent.

-He's an expert in his field...

-..and we met in Golden Grove's

-30-year-old nut orchard...

-..to get an idea of the nut trees

-that will grow here in North Wales.

-My first reaction is...

-..you're very much in a farming area

-rather than a horticultural one.

-Obviously, you have much greater

-rainfall than in southeast England.

-But what a lovely example of one.

-But what a lovely example of one.

-

-It's absolutely beautiful.

-This is a lovely mature Kent cob

-with a multi-branched structure.

-It's by far the best variety

-for growing in a garden.

-A very good-flavoured nut,

-a very good size of nut...

-..and it grows

-on a whole variety of soils.

-Fantastic, OK.

-It might be a winner for my garden.

-It might be a winner for my garden.

-

-There's another lovely example.

-These walnut trees may be

-a few more years coming into crop.

-But they're fairly low-maintenance

-in a garden environment as well.

-Fantastic. Wonderful.

-It's very sheltered at Golden Grove,

-so wind isn't a problem.

-But squirrels are a pest.

-That'll be something

-for me to consider.

-However, Kentish cobs can be

-harvested before they ripen...

-..and before the squirrels get them.

-My main reason for growing nuts

-is that they're a healthy food...

-..and expensive to buy.

-I'm showing Alexander

-the nut orchard's potential site.

-A small field

-next to the polytunnel.

-Looking out, you've got

-quite a lot of nettle and thistle.

-Scything, tidying the whole area...

-..then marking out

-with canes and string...

-..how you're going to plant it

-would be my initial advice.

-My biggest job is clearing.

-Alexander is confident

-that our light soil...

-..will be fine

-for several varieties of nut.

-Ordinary hazelnuts...

-..especially Kent cobs.

-New varieties of walnut

-that bear fruit quickly...

-..and sweet chestnuts.

-But I won't be able

-to grow my favourites, almonds.

-With the stream

-and likelihood of frost...

-..an almond tree

-wouldn't be happy here.

-But we should get plenty

-of the other nuts.

-I think with cob nuts

-and hazel trees here...

-..four metres square, something like

-that, would be a reasonable spacing.

-You might want to undersow it

-with bulbs or miniature daffodils...

-..to make a really attractive

-part of the holding.

-That sounds lovely.

-You're painting a wonderful picture!

-I can already imagine

-how the place will look!

-But I've got a lot of thistles

-to scythe first!

-Alexander very kindly

-left me two cobnut trees.

-I'm certain now that I'll press on

-with creating a nut orchard.

-I'll plant these on the special

-Christmas edition of Garddio A Mwy.

-Now, let's rejoin Twm Elias

-at the National Botanic Garden.

-There are several parts of the site

-turned over to different plants.

-Today, I'm going off the paths

-to wander among the native flowers.

-In this area, between the lake

-and the Great Glasshouse...

-..the land has been cleared

-to create a wildflower garden.

-By clearing the topsoil

-and removing the nutrients...

-..the wild plants are free from

-having to compete with grasses.

-This is one of my favourite

-wild flowers, the meadowsweet...

-..or the queen of the meadows.

-It was one of the three flowers...

-..that were used to create

-Blodeuwedd in the Mabinogi.

-It has a wonderful aroma,

-and is actually an aphrodisiac.

-This was used by women

-as an aphrodisiac.

-This is the royal fern,

-Osmunda regalis.

-Wow!

-This was once a medicinal plant...

-..used in the treatment

-of broken bones, bruises and so on.

-But they're fairly rare now

-because of loss of habitat...

-..and because so many

-were taken from the wild...

-..to be planted in formal gardens.

-This is purple loosestrife.

-It's lovely, extremely colourful...

-..and attracts

-many insects and bees.

-By the way, this will grow well

-in garden ponds.

-There are many other plants here

-that you could grow at home.

-Over 500 species here

-are native to Wales.

-It's a great place

-to find inspiration.

-Earlier, I sought horticulturalist

-Robin Williams' advice...

-..about planting

-a new evergreen hedge.

-He had wise words about planting

-and a range of potential plants.

-They all had their plus points...

-..for planting along the boundary

-and to hide the garden fence.

-I did eventually choose plants...

-..and took Robin's advice on board

-when selecting them.

-The trench is ready,

-about 60cm from the fence...

-..to leave room

-for the plants to grow.

-Autumn is the best time

-to plant an evergreen hedge.

-You'd plant

-any other hedge in winter.

-I've laid the plants out

-and they're ready to be planted.

-I'll start with this Viburnum tinus.

-It's much smaller

-than the holly at the moment...

-..this will grow much faster

-than the holly, so it will catch up.

-The roots are in good shape.

-Like the holly,

-Viburnum tinus is evergreen...

-..so it will give the hedge

-a healthy evergreen foundation.

-The Viburnum flowers in winter,

-then produces berries.

-I'm also planting

-floral currants for spring...

-..guelder rose...

-..hornbeam, which retains its leaves

-after they change colour...

-..and a few Forsythias.

-This will hopefully ensure

-spring and summer flowers...

-..and berries and striking colours

-in the autumn.

-To give the plants the best start...

-..I've added bonemeal

-to each hole...

-..and mixed the soil from the holes

-with manure and compost.

-I'm planting

-four plants per metre...

-..and ensuring they're firmly

-planted in case of further storms.

-That's it.

-The plants are all in the soil.

-You can see the difference already.

-It really does look so much better.

-I'll put some kind of sheeting

-by the fence...

-..to protect the plants

-from the wind for now.

-By next summer,

-they should have filled in a bit...

-..and reached the top of the fence.

-That's all from Pont y Twr

-and from Meinir's garden...

-..for this week,

-and for this series.

-But we'll be back

-with a new series next spring.

-We'll be back before then

-with a special Christmas edition.

-Winter is approaching, but we still

-have plenty to do in the garden.

-Until December, enjoy the gardening.

-S4C Subtitles by Testun Cyf.

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