Pennod 6 Garddio a Mwy

-*

-It's June,

-and a fortnight has passed...

-..since you last visited

-Pont y Twr's garden.

-As you see, there has

-been a lot of growth.

-The cherry tree looks lovely, the

-red Parrot tulips are blooming...

-..and the blue

-forget-me-nots are gorgeous.

-But it's not only

-the flowers that are growing.

-The apple trees are

-starting to show off.

-I'll tackle another

-kind of fruit this week.

-Also this week,

-Meinir Gwilym spends a day...

-..with a Snowdonia

-National Park area warden.

-And Awen Jones gives advice

-on making a simple pond...

-..to attract wildlife

-to the garden.

-Here in Pont y Twr, we try

-our best to garden organically.

-One of the most organic

-things here is the compost heap.

-For me, it's the most

-important part of the garden.

-I use a simple system.

-I have three boxes...

-..numbers one, two and three.

-Raw materials go in number one.

-After a few weeks,

-I tip number one into number two.

-By the time we get to number three,

-the compost is ready to use.

-After a very busy

-weekend in the garden...

-..I have a lot of stuff

-to put in the first heap.

-But first, I have to empty this.

-Here are some of the most

-vital creatures in the process.

-Worms.

-If you think a worm

-is a worm, think again.

-There are 27 species in Wales.

-They all do different jobs.

-The ones in compost heaps,

-like these, are red or stripy.

-They eat raw materials

-and recycle the compost.

-They do a very important job.

-We're ready to make a new heap.

-I'll shut the door.

-We make compost to close

-the nutrient loop in the garden.

-Plants need nutrients

-to grow in summer.

-All the plant waste

-goes on the compost heap.

-It rots down, then the nutrients

-go back to the soil in autumn.

-I use a lot of compost,

-so I need a good supply every year.

-I'll show you what to do.

-First, I put some green stuff

-at the bottom of the heap.

-I'll start with a good layer.

-That's the first layer.

-Now, I want brown stuff.

-Sioned has been busy

-pruning lavender.

-These old twigs are perfect

-as brown, hard stuff, for the heap.

-So the second layer is brown stuff.

-Now, back to green stuff.

-This is waste from Sioned's shed.

-That goes on top.

-Now, I'm making another layer.

-I'm sure you can guess

-what comes next...

-..a bit of brown.

-This straw comes from cattle.

-There's manure in it,

-so it's even better.

-Manure is perfect

-for starting a compost heap.

-It's called a compost activator.

-Perfect.

-Now we're ready for kitchen waste...

-..things like

-potato peelings or banana skins.

-That's nice and wet.

-Teabags also go on the heap.

-We put things in layers

-to encourage bacteria.

-If we put a small amount

-of something on the compost heap...

-..it's not enough to cause

-an explosion of bacteria...

-..which creates a lot of heat.

-Layers of different materials

-create a good bacteria explosion.

-Then, slowly, worms come back in.

-They start to mix all the layers.

-We'll finish

-with a layer of cardboard.

-We're lucky that Sioned gets a lot

-of cardboard boxes with the flowers.

-We always have plenty.

-I could finish

-with a layer of carpet.

-I tend to do that

-in winter when it's cold...

-..and I want to keep heat

-in the compost heap.

-That's it.

-It's June and the weather

-has really warmed up.

-It's a perfect time

-to leave the garden...

-..to enjoy some

-of Wales's most beautiful scenery.

-That's just what Meinir did.

-On a day like this,

-there's no better place to be...

-..than outdoors

-in a beautiful setting like this.

-That's a picture postcard view

-if ever I saw one!

-We tend to take the fine views

-around us for granted.

-But some people work very hard

-to ensure we can enjoy them.

-I've come to Penmaenpool on the

-River Mawddach, near Dolgellau...

-..to meet Rhys Gwynn, a Snowdonia

-National Park area warden.

-He looks after

-this part of the park.

-What is the day's first job, Rhys?

-Let's go this way

-to Penmaenpool car park.

-I've worked on a wildlife garden

-and built a small wall.

-I want to sow grass seeds there.

-I'll help.

-I'll help.

-

-Great.

-This is the wall.

-This is the wall.

-

-Yes.

-Did you build it?

-Did you build it?

-

-Yes.

-It's marvellous.

-The idea was to record the old names

-of fishing pools on local rivers.

-Near the signal box, the Mawddach

-flows down from Ganllwyd.

-The River Wnion

-flows through Dolgellau.

-There are marvellous names,

-like on many of our rivers.

-What about these names?

-We chose names

-that sounded good...

-..and perhaps had

-a story behind them.

-Long ago, witches from Dolgellau

-were drowned in Llyn Y Gadair Goch.

-The wall created a great deal of

-interest while it was being built.

-It's a way to tell people

-about some of the area's heritage.

-It's an important part

-of our work as wardens...

-..to protect nature

-and various species...

-..but the heritage aspect

-is also very important.

-What do you want me to do?

-I want to sow grass seeds here.

-You can do the sowing,

-or cover them with compost.

-Do you have a sieve?

-Yes.

-I'll do the compost.

-I like the sieve.

-This isn't grass.

-It's wildflower turf.

-There are some leeks, yarrow and

-flowers from the pea family here.

-There's quite a variety.

-They'll bloom soon.

-I'm looking forward

-to seeing how it all looks.

-You have a fine wildflower garden.

-We had funding

-from Grow Wild to create a garden.

-We were lucky to have help

-from local schoolchildren.

-It's starting to get established.

-We hope it will be

-a nice place to sit...

-..and to teach local schoolchildren

-about the area's flowers.

-Which part of your work

-do you look forward to most?

-It's hard to say.

-I'm planning a new path

-round Moel Offrwm in Llanfachreth.

-It's an old estate path.

-Renovating old paths

-is a great pleasure.

-I've always been interested

-in the world of nature.

-It's a chance to help species

-that are often quite rare.

-The cultural aspect too...

-..gives a lot of pleasure...

-..to ensure that the rich heritage

-in this area is protected...

-..for future generations.

-Where are we putting this post?

-We're going to Llyn Gwernan.

-It's one of the largest

-lakes near Dolgellau.

-Is that straight? No.

-Is that straight? No.

-

-You're not far off.

-It's straight on this side!

-It's straight on this side!

-

-Not far off!

-No-one will see that part.

-No-one will see that part.

-

-No!

-Hallelujah! Have we cut too much?

-Hallelujah! Have we cut too much?

-

-It's fine. Perfect.

-Concrete?

-Concrete?

-

-This is fast-setting concrete.

-It will be rock hard in a

-few minutes. What about the level?

-It's alright this side.

-It's alright this side.

-

-It's fine.

-We'll give it five

-minutes to harden.

-It will be solid enough

-to hang the gate.

-Well done.

-Good job, Rhys.

-Good job, Rhys.

-

-It looks great...

-..although the post is as crooked

-as the Leaning Tower Of Pisa.

-It closes.

-It wasn't crooked.

-My sawing was fine!

-.

-Subtitles

-Subtitles

-

-Subtitles

-I spotted these

-in the garden centre.

-I thought to myself...

-..melons in Wales?

-It can't be.

-But it is possible. Melons need

-four months of sunshine to ripen.

-They are easy to grow, it's the

-ripening process that's difficult.

-We have a hot summer ahead of us.

-I'll keep the faith,

-and plant melons.

-From what I read

-about planting melons...

-..they are quite fussy.

-They do well in light soil

-that is high in nutrients.

-They like limey soil

-and a great deal of moisture.

-It isn't going to be easy.

-But I have a trick for you.

-The trick is to create a mound.

-I'll start by putting lime

-in the soil.

-A handful in the hole.

-And a little more.

-I have manure from the farm.

-I'll fill the hole with manure.

-It's called humus.

-Once that's done, I'll put soil

-on top of it and make a mound.

-There are several varieties

-of melons.

-I'm growing cantaloupe.

-You can plant them

-straight from seed.

-But this is an experiment.

-I didn't buy a packet full.

-I don't know

-if I'll grow them successfully.

-That's it. Plenty of roots.

-Dig a hole in the middle.

-And in it goes.

-Melons need a lot of water.

-I'll water it every day.

-Here's a tip to retain

-moisture round the leaves.

-Use a jam jar...

-..and place it over the plant.

-And now, water well.

-Next, Awen Jones proves you

-don't have to dig up your garden...

-..to make a water feature.

-The best way to encourage

-biodiversity in the garden...

-..is to introduce water.

-Most of us don't have

-enough space...

-..to build a pond.

-Any parent would be wary

-of having a pond.

-There's a simple and cheap

-way of introducing water.

-Buy a big plastic pot

-without holes.

-This is rather deep for plants.

-I'll start by rising the levels.

-The pots will be the right level.

-You can buy ready-made

-groups of plants.

-This was planted

-to attract insects and bees.

-It's one of my favourites.

-It's quite heavy.

-I'll put this in the back.

-The bricks hold it in place.

-The next plant

-is a variety of marsh marigold.

-It reminds me of the river

-that flowed near my parents' house.

-I need to raise it a little.

-I'll use smaller bricks to raise it

-to the level of the big pot.

-I have also chosen Equisetum.

-It doesn't have pretty flowers.

-But insects like dragonflies...

-..make use of the straight stems.

-The larvae develops in the pond.

-It needs this to climb out and

-turn into that wonderful insect.

-I'll fill it with water.

-Rainwater is the best.

-If you don't have rainwater,

-tap water is OK.

-During the summer...

-..you'll need to top up the water.

-Water evaporates in the sunshine.

-That's it.

-There are a few more things to do.

-It needs to be oxygenized.

-The easiest way

-is to use pondweed.

-Drop it in to oxygenize the water.

-People tend to put goldfish in.

-The problem is...

-..goldfish eat larvae, eggs...

-..and tadpoles.

-They tend to make the water dirty...

-..and over-fertilize it.

-Algae grows and feeds on it.

-The water resembles pea soup,

-so keep them out.

-Don't buy plants in normal compost.

-They need aquatic compost...

-..which has less nutrients.

-You don't get the green problem.

-It's nice to hear

-the sound of running water.

-I add a little pump.

-It rotates the water.

-That's a simple and

-quickly assembled water feature.

-Put it on the patio to see

-what comes to the flowers.

-At night, you can listen

-to the running water.

-Beds are not the only place

-for your garden flowers and plants.

-A stone wall

-is perfect for planting.

-I love a stone wall,

-and the romance of it all.

-I didn't want to plant anything

-when the wall was built.

-I liked it as it was. But

-that was two and a half years ago.

-It's ready for colour.

-The little cracks

-are perfect for growing flowers.

-I'll help them along with soil.

-Make sure the soil

-isn't too sandy or heavy.

-Loam soil is perfect.

-I'll add water and stir it...

-..so it creates a putty

-to go in the cracks.

-Do this before a manicure!

-That's it.

-I'll plant pink phlox here.

-This delightful flower

-grows like a carpet.

-It'll reach 10cm high

-and spread out 25cms.

-It'll flower until midsummer.

-I need to put soil in the cracks.

-This little spade

-is perfect for the job.

-A child's spade would be ideal.

-I'll put a stone in the front.

-I need to push it in place.

-It creates a pocket

-to secure the plant.

-These have had a good soaking.

-Carefully push the plant

-in the hole.

-Another little stone

-keeps it in place.

-I've chosen sedum...

-..because it'll flower later.

-It'll flower from summer to autumn.

-I need more soil.

-These walls are perfect for plants

-that wouldn't normally succeed.

-The walls stay warm in winter.

-The plants won't get too wet.

-In summer, its position here...

-..means the stones

-stay cool and the soil moist.

-It's perfect to grow plants

-like succulents, alpines and herbs.

-Push that in.

-And that's it.

-This is quite a large wall.

-The trick is to plant here and

-there, or where the cracks are.

-Don't go overboard, or you'll

-lose the character of the wall.

-The stones are as beautiful

-as the plants.

-There's more to do,

-but I'm off to a good start.

-That's it for another week.

-Remember to mow

-the lawn every week from now on.

-Just think how much football

-will be played over the next month!

-Until next week,

-enjoy the gardening!

-S4C Subtitles by Gwead

-.