Pennod 1 Garddio a Mwy

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-Spring has arrived, thank goodness!

-The children can play in the garden

-while I think what to plant.

-Flowers are my passion.

-It looks bare now.

-But the borders will fill with

-flowers as the weather improves.

-I look forward to having

-your company over the coming months.

-While Sioned colours our lives,

-I'll be feeding us.

-I grew a few things here last year.

-This is the first time

-I've taken it seriously.

-The soil has been covered

-for months.

-By now, it's perfect,

-and ready to start growing.

-Whatever the size of your patch,

-I hope you'll be growing with me.

-However, the series is about more

-than just gardening.

-Meinir Gwilym will travel

-the country...

-..learning about wildlife

-and the efforts made to protect it.

-Today...

-..she's visiting the Lake Vyrnwy

-RSPB Nature Reserve in Powys.

-We'll also have the company

-of well-known naturalists.

-Today, Twm Elias searches

-for the signs of early spring.

-I planted this apple tree

-three or four years ago.

-If you're planting a fruit tree...

-..prune it well

-to get it off to a good start.

-We want a goblet shape.

-This tree is a perfect example.

-The branches open out.

-We have a nice space

-in the middle.

-Plenty of light will reach

-the leaves and fruit.

-The circulating air

-will ward off disease.

-This branch...

-..is growing in the space.

-I don't want that,

-so I'll remove it.

-I'm considering cutting this branch,

-too.

-Three branches

-are growing in the same direction.

-They'll achieve the same goal.

-This is another apple tree.

-It's quite a nice shape.

-Stand back and look at the tree.

-The goblet shape is there.

-But one branch is out of place.

-It's growing into the centre.

-It'll cause problems in the future.

-Rather than cut it here...

-..and lose three years of growth...

-..I'll cut it at the branch.

-When you cut at a branch...

-..make sure the branch itself

-is big enough.

-This one is a third, if not half

-the size of the branch I'm cutting.

-If I cut here,

-the sap will rise in spring...

-..and be redirected

-into this branch.

-In a couple of years,

-the branch will grow this way.

-It won't block the light.

-Look at the roots.

-The rootstock is growing through.

-Some trees grow in two parts.

-The scion produces the fruit.

-The rootstock determines the speed

-of growth and height of the tree.

-Here...

-..the rootstock is taking over.

-If I don't remove it,

-it'll become stronger than the tree.

-I'll prune it at the base...

-..as close as I can get.

-And finally, the pole.

-It isn't doing anything

-and is broken at the bottom.

-It's unnecessary.

-If the pole isn't there,

-I don't need the tie either.

-The tree can stand on its own.

-Pruning fruit trees is quite simple.

-Let's join Meinir Gwilym, who

-is visiting a lovely part of Powys.

-This is Lake Vyrnwy.

-No-one can deny

-its serene beauty.

-It isn't a natural lake.

-It's a huge reservoir.

-It's more than 200 metres deep

-in places...

-..and holds more than 13 million

-gallons of water.

-The dam was built in 1888...

-..to supply Liverpool with water.

-The valley and village of Llanwddyn

-were drowned...

-..a tragedy

-for the people who lived there.

-But drowning the valley also

-destroyed wildlife habitats.

-However,

-it's now a haven for wildlife.

-It's home to all sorts of birds.

-Lake Vyrnwy

-is a RSPB Nature Reserve.

-I met Bethan Lloyd, of RSPB Wales...

-..where else, but in the hide.

-What are we looking for?

-What are we looking for?

-

-I'm trying to spot a nuthatch.

-It's my favourite. I spotted

-one earlier, but it's gone now!

-What rare birds

-can people expect to see here?

-Birdwatchers come to see

-pied flycatchers...

-..or redstarts.

-The nests are usually full of them.

-We're expecting them back any

-time now. They haven't arrived yet.

-What is that yellow bird?

-A siskin.

-They are brightly coloured

-in the breeding season.

-What is special about this reserve?

-The cross-section

-of different habitats.

-Trees attract all sorts of birds,

-including garden birds.

-The highlands and moors

-attract hen harriers.

-There are rare plants here.

-The habitats are incredibly diverse.

-The RSPB realized

-the potential of the place.

-The reserve is located

-in the Berwyn Mountains...

-..an area of international

-significance to wildlife...

-..but also intensively farmed.

-What's unique about this reserve...

-..is that RSPB Wales

-run an organic farm on the site.

-Have you ever done this?

-Have you ever done this?

-

-I have!

-Jan Evans is a farmer's wife as well

-as an RSPB education officer.

-She educates visitors

-about the link...

-..between

-conservation and agriculture.

-Here it comes!

-Here it comes!

-The children are enjoying this.

-The children are enjoying this.

-

-I enjoy watching them!

-They learn about nature, and how

-hard farmers work this time of year.

-How do the farm and the RSPB

-work together?

-It's incredible.

-We took over the farm

-from Severn Trent 15 years ago.

-People found it

-an unusual partnership.

-I'm a farmer's wife

-first and foremost.

-However, we could see

-the combination working.

-As you can see, the sheep

-are down from the mountain.

-So now, on the mountain,

-the larger birds are nesting...

-..without being disturbed.

-We can concentrate on the sheep.

-The shed will be full

-until the end of May.

-The farm is open every weekend

-for people to experience lambing.

-We put the skin on the newborn lamb.

-The mother thinks it's her own.

-He's wearing pyjamas.

-That's nature for you.

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-April has been reasonably mild

-so far.

-But frost is still

-a cause for concern.

-I'm planting bulbs

-in the greenhouse.

-In a fortnight...

-..I'll plant them outdoors.

-I'm planting freesias

-for their wonderful scent.

-They're lovely in an arrangement,

-too.

-I need a pot and stones.

-I'll add some grit to the soil.

-A little more.

-Now for some soil.

-This is normal topsoil.

-It'll help retain

-water and moisture.

-I'll put a little in the pot.

-Here are the freesias.

-I've chosen mixed colours.

-The orange, yellow, lilac and white

-flowers look so pretty together.

-The bulbs look very unusual,

-as if they're covered in material.

-I plant them

-backsides down and point up.

-I'll put them about

-ten cms apart and ten cms deep.

-I'm not going to be too fussy.

-The main thing is to see the pot

-packed with colour.

-They're all in place,

-so I'll add more compost.

-I look forward to seeing

-the flowers between July and August.

-This is Acidanthera.

-The flowers are

-very different and unusual.

-The cut flowers last

-a long time, which is great.

-I'll put six in each one.

-Their common name

-is the peacock orchid.

-The name describes them well.

-They're very showy.

-I don't know if you can hear,

-but it's started to rain.

-It's real spring weather.

-Luckily, I'm working indoors.

-I'll cover them with a little soil.

-I'll label them too,

-or I won't remember what they are.

-While these will take a few weeks

-for their heads to show...

-..many wildflower bulbs

-are already in bloom.

-Twm Elias went for a walk.

-After winter's gloom and rain...

-..it's marvellous to welcome

-the burgeoning spring.

-The soil is warming up.

-Birds are singing.

-Some have come from Africa.

-Spring flowers are pushing up

-and brightening our lives.

-In Glynllifon country park...

-..we hope to see

-some spring flowers.

-This is one of spring's leading

-lights, the lesser celandine.

-Farmers used it as a sign

-that it was time to sow oats...

-..on the three days

-of blackbirds and two celandines...

-..the last three days of March

-and the first two in April.

-It's a marvellous season signpost.

-Amazingly, although

-it's a simple little flower...

-..it uses a very

-sophisticated technology...

-..to help with the important work

-of fertilization here in the middle.

-The flower petals

-are in the shape...

-..of a parabolic mirror...

-..like a car headlamp.

-That means that rays enter it...

-..and are reflected from

-the shiny petals to the centre.

-The centre of the flower,

-the important, business part...

-..gets more light and warmth.

-That attracts small insects...

-..which help to pollinate

-and fertilize it.

-And as the sun

-moves across the sky...

-..it tracks and follows the sun.

-It's amazing that

-such a simple little flower...

-..uses all sorts

-of technological tricks.

-It's one of spring's miracles,

-the lesser celandine.

-This is the anemone.

-Its stem is so slim,

-it trembles in the slightest breeze.

-The anemone was named...

-..after the daughter of

-the god of wind in Greek mythology.

-There are many

-other spring flowers...

-..like bluebells of course...

-..the small green opposite-leaved

-golden saxifrage...

-..and on riverbanks or

-in marshy land, the marsh marigold.

-This is an interesting plant...

-..the field woodrush.

-In the past, when farmers went

-to their fields and saw this...

-..it was a sign that

-pasture was starting to grow.

-It was safe to let animals out

-for a few hours a day.

-The farmer would go

-to the cowshed and say...

-"...Black cattle, you will live,

-I saw a field woodrush."

-I know a few people

-who still pick these...

-..and put them in their hat...

-..when field woodrush first appears.

-So, wherever you are,

-go out to enjoy the spring.

-We've had a glorious

-day in Glynllifon.

-Enjoy what the world of nature

-offers all year round.

-If you're going

-to plant vegetables this year...

-..preparing the soil

-is very important.

-Some seeds can be planted

-outdoors this time of year...

-..like parsnips, peas and leeks.

-But others are started off indoors

-or in a greenhouse.

-That's what I'm doing first today.

-I'm very lucky to have a greenhouse.

-But for years,

-I planted seeds in a tray...

-..to germinate

-on the kitchen windowsill...

-..or even at work, where

-I'd put a tray on a windowsill.

-I put compost in a tray.

-Make sure there's plenty of it.

-Level it like this.

-Press the compost down.

-Tap it or use the back

-of your hand to flatten it.

-Seeds need three things to grow...

-..warmth...

-..water and air.

-I'll add water first.

-These seeds need a lot of water.

-It's better to add it

-before the seeds.

-It needs a good soaking.

-It's surprising

-how much water is necessary.

-I know there's enough water because

-it's dripping out of the bottom.

-All the compost is wet.

-It's time to decide

-which seeds to plant in the garden.

-There's no point planting things you

-won't eat and the family don't like.

-One of the easiest

-to grow is lettuce.

-It tastes better

-than supermarket lettuce.

-It's fresh every time you pick it.

-Anyone can grow lettuce.

-Even if you only have a windowsill,

-you can grow a tray of lettuce.

-I'm planting mixed salad today.

-All the information

-is on the seed packet.

-Don't worry if the season

-has advanced, just sow them.

-Sow quite lightly.

-The first rule with sowing...

-..is to close your hand like this.

-Then you have an useful

-line to sow seeds.

-Sow round the edge first.

-Tap your hand like this.

-Go round the edge.

-Make sure not too many

-fall in one spot.

-Work round the edge.

-The middle will look after itself.

-When you're happy

-you've sown enough seeds...

-..it's time to label them.

-Mixed Salad Seeds

-Now, put a very light layer

-of soil over the seeds.

-This is when a riddle is handy.

-Like using flour in the kitchen...

-..just cover the seeds with compost,

-so they're in contact with the soil.

-I can still see the larger seeds.

-That's enough.

-Water very lightly,

-once the seeds are in the tray.

-Don't pour directly on the seeds.

-Start on one side

-and move the water over it twice.

-The last step is to cover the tray

-with clingfilm, to retain moisture.

-Now you can forget about it.

-Stick it on the windowsill.

-Once the seeds start to appear...

-..you can remove the clingfilm.

-That's it. Thanks for dropping by.

-The next time you join us, it's

-hard to believe, but it will be May.

-But it's a month

-when plants and wildlife...

-..in our gardens and the

-countryside really start to wake up.

-We'll see you then.

-Until next time,

-enjoy the gardening!

-S4C Subtitles by Gwead

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