0:00:03 > 0:00:07Britain has some of the finest gardens anywhere in the world.
0:00:07 > 0:00:11For me, it's about getting in amongst the wonderful plants
0:00:11 > 0:00:14that flourish in this country and sharing the passion
0:00:14 > 0:00:15of the people who tend them.
0:00:17 > 0:00:20However, there is another way to enjoy a garden.
0:00:24 > 0:00:26And that's to get up above it.
0:00:30 > 0:00:33I love ballooning because you get to see the world below
0:00:33 > 0:00:36in a whole new light.
0:00:36 > 0:00:39From up here, you get a real sense of how the garden sits in the
0:00:39 > 0:00:43landscape, how the terrain and the climate has shaped it,
0:00:43 > 0:00:46and I want you to share that experience with me.
0:01:05 > 0:01:09I'm taking to the skies over a county on the south eastern
0:01:09 > 0:01:13edge of the country. And what a surprise it is.
0:01:13 > 0:01:17I'll show you a wonderful open, rural landscape, bisected by
0:01:17 > 0:01:22waterways and bounded by 350 miles of coastland,
0:01:22 > 0:01:26with the Thames providing a direct link into the heart of London.
0:01:27 > 0:01:29Today, I'm visiting Essex.
0:01:29 > 0:01:31In the north of the county,
0:01:31 > 0:01:33you've got the beautiful Epping Forest.
0:01:33 > 0:01:39In the far south, the Thames Estuary and on the east, mile upon mile
0:01:39 > 0:01:41of marshland and mudflats.
0:01:45 > 0:01:46What a view!
0:01:49 > 0:01:51I want to show you how different this county is
0:01:51 > 0:01:55from the suburban outposts of London we sometimes imagine.
0:01:57 > 0:02:01It's the maritime geography of Essex that creates a temperate climate.
0:02:01 > 0:02:04It's one of the driest counties in the country
0:02:04 > 0:02:07and that makes for some fascinating gardens.
0:02:10 > 0:02:14Today, I'll be seeing how two beautiful gardens are flourishing
0:02:14 > 0:02:16here despite the low rainfall.
0:02:17 > 0:02:21The first belongs to a woman who's inspired a whole generation
0:02:21 > 0:02:24to get more creative in the garden.
0:02:24 > 0:02:25See, I like that, I like that.
0:02:28 > 0:02:32And I find out from one garden curator, who was once a student
0:02:32 > 0:02:34of mine, how his career has flourished.
0:02:35 > 0:02:38I remember as we were sort of dozing off, that you used to sort of
0:02:38 > 0:02:41shout and get us all awake again. So those moments still haunt me.
0:02:41 > 0:02:43- THEY LAUGH - Pleasantly?
0:02:43 > 0:02:46While we see how keeping the simple traditions
0:02:46 > 0:02:50alive in Essex not only gives us a link to the past,
0:02:50 > 0:02:52but also ensures our future.
0:02:52 > 0:02:54- How is it?- Lovely.
0:02:58 > 0:03:02Inland, most of Essex is made up of small, traditional villages
0:03:02 > 0:03:05and glorious farmland as far as the eye can see.
0:03:06 > 0:03:09And five miles to the east of Colchester,
0:03:09 > 0:03:13lies a green haven that has a special place in my heart -
0:03:13 > 0:03:15the Beth Chatto Gardens.
0:03:16 > 0:03:21This garden, started in 1960, is world famous for its pioneering,
0:03:21 > 0:03:26naturalistic approach to planting, which changed the way
0:03:26 > 0:03:28people looked at their gardens forever.
0:03:29 > 0:03:33This garden, to me, oozes plantsmanship.
0:03:33 > 0:03:38A lake, woodlands and a dry garden, the like of which you won't
0:03:38 > 0:03:40see anywhere else. It's exciting,
0:03:40 > 0:03:44it's invigorating and I can't wait to get down there.
0:03:54 > 0:03:58This glorious place is a testament to the vision of Beth Chatto
0:03:58 > 0:04:01and her farmer husband, Andrew,
0:04:01 > 0:04:05who were determined to make a garden grow out of an arid wilderness.
0:04:08 > 0:04:13Today, you just have to marvel at the way Beth makes plants flourish.
0:04:13 > 0:04:15It's her simple philosophy to grow
0:04:15 > 0:04:18plants in exactly the same conditions as
0:04:18 > 0:04:19they would have done in the wild.
0:04:21 > 0:04:24And, in doing that, she's turned what was once a wasteland
0:04:24 > 0:04:26into a wonderful garden.
0:04:29 > 0:04:32Beth Chatto's right plant, right place.
0:04:32 > 0:04:34But we seldom see it.
0:04:34 > 0:04:39But here, in her garden, it exudes from every single bed
0:04:39 > 0:04:42and is a testament to Beth's genius.
0:04:45 > 0:04:48She's probably most famous for creating this Gravel Garden,
0:04:48 > 0:04:51which proves her theory beautifully.
0:04:51 > 0:04:54It's full to bursting with all manner of fantastic plants,
0:04:54 > 0:04:58despite the fact it's never been artificially watered.
0:04:59 > 0:05:03In contrast, there's a Water Garden, where clusters of
0:05:03 > 0:05:06irises and other plants make beautiful swathes of
0:05:06 > 0:05:09colour and texture around four ponds.
0:05:10 > 0:05:13It's like finding an oasis in a parched landscape.
0:05:14 > 0:05:17And in the glorious gloom of the Woodland Garden,
0:05:17 > 0:05:21you'll discover shade-loving plants at their very best.
0:05:26 > 0:05:30Beth Chatto has had no formal horticultural training,
0:05:30 > 0:05:32but has a creative eye for what works.
0:05:32 > 0:05:35And she isn't afraid to experiment,
0:05:35 > 0:05:37and that's what I love about it here.
0:05:40 > 0:05:45But back in 1960, it was hardly an auspicious start.
0:05:46 > 0:05:50Beth moved into a new house with her husband Andrew, a farmer.
0:05:52 > 0:05:56But the house was surrounded by the worst possible growing conditions.
0:05:56 > 0:06:00Dry, gravelly soil and a boggy ditch.
0:06:00 > 0:06:04Most self-respecting gardeners would have run a mile.
0:06:04 > 0:06:07But the couple began planning a garden that would make
0:06:07 > 0:06:09a feature of each difficult area.
0:06:11 > 0:06:15In 1981, a fresh-faced young reporter visited Beth
0:06:15 > 0:06:20to hear about the problems they'd faced. You might recognise him.
0:06:20 > 0:06:23You think that you've got a problem garden.
0:06:23 > 0:06:27Can you imagine trying to make a garden out of this?
0:06:27 > 0:06:30It's a piece of wilderness that's got in it every
0:06:30 > 0:06:34kind of perennial weed you can think of.
0:06:34 > 0:06:37Not only did she have an enormous weed problem,
0:06:37 > 0:06:40but she also had a pretty rotten soil.
0:06:40 > 0:06:41Just look at this.
0:06:47 > 0:06:50Beth and Andrew worked with the problem areas in their garden,
0:06:50 > 0:06:53rather than trying to fix them.
0:06:53 > 0:06:56Andrew researched the wild background of plants,
0:06:56 > 0:07:00collected specimens from all over the world and Beth created
0:07:00 > 0:07:03artistic displays of unusual specie plants
0:07:03 > 0:07:07rather than the colourful cultivars popular in the 1970s and '80s.
0:07:09 > 0:07:12For me, it is the shape of a plant which is the most important,
0:07:12 > 0:07:14the texture, the foliage,
0:07:14 > 0:07:17and so I like to build up contrasting shapes.
0:07:17 > 0:07:19Fine leaves, small leaves,
0:07:19 > 0:07:23contrasted with the big leaves of hostas and then occasionally,
0:07:23 > 0:07:28the tall spikes of anything, whether it's a sword-like leaf or
0:07:28 > 0:07:33a fine grass or a foxglove or delphinium, whatever.
0:07:35 > 0:07:37By the time Alan visited,
0:07:37 > 0:07:42Beth had already become a successful gardening author and TV personality.
0:07:42 > 0:07:45Crowds were flocking to visit her garden and she was
0:07:45 > 0:07:49winning gold medals every year at the Chelsea Flower Show.
0:07:50 > 0:07:53But these days, at the age of 91,
0:07:53 > 0:07:56Beth isn't as hands-on as she used to be, leaving some
0:07:56 > 0:08:00pretty big shoes for garden director David Ward to fill.
0:08:03 > 0:08:05- Hi, David, how are you? - Hello there.
0:08:05 > 0:08:07What are you doing?
0:08:07 > 0:08:10I'm collecting Phlomis russeliana seed.
0:08:10 > 0:08:12'Also known as Turkish sage,
0:08:12 > 0:08:15'this has striking yellow flowers in the summer.'
0:08:15 > 0:08:17Ah, lovely.
0:08:17 > 0:08:19- It's a lovely plant, isn't it? - Yes, it is.
0:08:19 > 0:08:22I just love how it goes up in rows and rows and rows.
0:08:22 > 0:08:24- Yes, it's such a useful plant. - I mean, ding, ding, ding.
0:08:24 > 0:08:27I know, I know, it's a fantastic sound, isn't it?
0:08:27 > 0:08:29You can just rattle. FLOWER RATTLES
0:08:29 > 0:08:31- So they're ripe, ready to pick. Yeah. - Can I help?
0:08:31 > 0:08:33Yes, you certainly can. If you'd like to grab a bag.
0:08:33 > 0:08:36- Great.- There you go. You can write the name on the bag first.
0:08:36 > 0:08:38- Not very technical.- Date.
0:08:38 > 0:08:40Yeah, date will be great, yeah.
0:08:40 > 0:08:44'In a garden like this, there's always something to be done.
0:08:44 > 0:08:45'And seeds are gathered
0:08:45 > 0:08:49'and stored, for selling or for re-sowing next season.'
0:08:49 > 0:08:52If you spin 'em round, they just pop out.
0:08:52 > 0:08:54Yeah.
0:08:56 > 0:08:59It's good fun, isn't it, the old, the old twist and shake?
0:08:59 > 0:09:00That's right, yeah.
0:09:01 > 0:09:04How did you come to be here, David?
0:09:04 > 0:09:06Well, I've been working here for over 30 years.
0:09:06 > 0:09:09I actually turned Beth down. I made her wait a year
0:09:09 > 0:09:10- before I came...- Oh!
0:09:10 > 0:09:13And then I realised I'd probably made a bit of a mistake,
0:09:13 > 0:09:17came back and she very kindly said, "Yes, you can still come along."
0:09:17 > 0:09:19And when I first came here,
0:09:19 > 0:09:22she was totally involved in everything.
0:09:22 > 0:09:25I mean, she had her own ways of doing things.
0:09:25 > 0:09:28She horrified me when I first arrived because
0:09:28 > 0:09:31the sort of way she did cuttings,
0:09:31 > 0:09:34her equipment was a razor blade and a pack of plasters.
0:09:34 > 0:09:36THEY LAUGH
0:09:36 > 0:09:39So I just, I did refuse to go down that route
0:09:39 > 0:09:41- and said, "I prefer to use my knife." - Yeah.
0:09:42 > 0:09:45It's a wonderful garden, it's a lot of hard work
0:09:45 > 0:09:47and a lot of effort has gone into it.
0:09:47 > 0:09:51Even before I came here, I appreciate that Beth had built up
0:09:51 > 0:09:55a lovely garden and all of us here are quite proud to carry it on.
0:09:58 > 0:10:01David's been around as the garden's evolved over the years,
0:10:01 > 0:10:04playing his part in Beth's more radical schemes.
0:10:07 > 0:10:12The Gravel Garden was created in 1992, on what was once a car park,
0:10:12 > 0:10:16and was an experiment to see which drought-resistant
0:10:16 > 0:10:19sun-lovers would survive, without any form of irrigation.
0:10:22 > 0:10:24During a hot spell in the first two years,
0:10:24 > 0:10:28when the plants were failing and Beth was desperate to water,
0:10:28 > 0:10:30David persuaded her not to.
0:10:31 > 0:10:34It could have all gone horribly wrong,
0:10:34 > 0:10:38but luckily the weather broke and the rest, as they say, is history.
0:10:41 > 0:10:44- Hey, look what I've got here. - What have you got in there?
0:10:44 > 0:10:46Hey, you've got a right plethora in here.
0:10:46 > 0:10:47- Yes, you will do.- Look.
0:10:47 > 0:10:49What happens is, you have to leave the bag open
0:10:49 > 0:10:52- and they'll all crawl up. - Yeah, well we've got shield bugs.
0:10:52 > 0:10:56- Right.- We've got ladybirds. - Earwigs, earwigs.- We've got earwigs.
0:10:56 > 0:10:59Yeah, hey, well, let's go and sort these out
0:10:59 > 0:11:02and let all these bugs out. And shall we have a cup of tea?
0:11:02 > 0:11:03- That sounds a great idea.- Come on.
0:11:09 > 0:11:12Beth's planting philosophy was heavily influenced
0:11:12 > 0:11:16by a Japanese theory about the three layers of Heaven, Earth and Man.
0:11:18 > 0:11:21And I think this is beautifully illustrated here.
0:11:22 > 0:11:28It draws your eyes up, or down, with something to see at every level.
0:11:28 > 0:11:32And this garden's just full of examples of Beth's
0:11:32 > 0:11:34- triangulation, isn't it? - It is actually, yeah.
0:11:34 > 0:11:36I mean, we're just walking past a really good example.
0:11:36 > 0:11:38You can see a lovely line.
0:11:38 > 0:11:40It's all about shape, line and form.
0:11:40 > 0:11:42So, from this Cotinus, through the
0:11:42 > 0:11:45Amelanchier, the monkey puzzle, up to the conifer,
0:11:45 > 0:11:47you've got a lovely linear line through there.
0:11:47 > 0:11:49- And the same thing coming down.- Yes.
0:11:49 > 0:11:51You know, this way, and if you move here,
0:11:51 > 0:11:53you've got the same flipping principle.
0:11:53 > 0:11:56That's right. Whatever way you view it from.
0:11:56 > 0:11:58But so many people, in their garden, I mean, they just plonk plants,
0:11:58 > 0:12:01don't they, without even thinking, really?
0:12:01 > 0:12:03It is. It's not just the tall, medium and short,
0:12:03 > 0:12:05there's a lot more to it than that.
0:12:05 > 0:12:08Yeah, I mean, you can also do it, you know, with plants in pots,
0:12:08 > 0:12:10can't you? Because so many people buy and they don't play.
0:12:10 > 0:12:13I've seen people go to a garden centre and don't, you know.
0:12:13 > 0:12:16It's like sort of putting in regimental sergeant majors.
0:12:16 > 0:12:20They'll put them in a line and you sort of think, actually,
0:12:20 > 0:12:23nice plants but you could so much more with them.
0:12:23 > 0:12:26- That's right.- And it is just that triangulation, isn't it?
0:12:26 > 0:12:30Sort of contrasting the leaf shapes and the size.
0:12:30 > 0:12:32It's not, you know, it's not rocket science.
0:12:34 > 0:12:38'I don't want to sound bossy but think of all the fun you can have!'
0:12:38 > 0:12:41I love doing this, you know. I love going to garden centres
0:12:41 > 0:12:48and just nicking things off benches and playing to see it, the magic.
0:12:48 > 0:12:51I like that, I like that, I like that.
0:12:51 > 0:12:53Well, another way of doing it, what Beth would do is to say,
0:12:53 > 0:12:56put the grass down here so the line's going like this
0:12:56 > 0:12:59and sort of fill that void in, round there.
0:12:59 > 0:13:02That's what's missing in so many beds, isn't it?
0:13:02 > 0:13:04You don't get the sense of adventure.
0:13:04 > 0:13:07Of being able to, you know, what is just round there?
0:13:07 > 0:13:09- That's right.- Let's go and get some more plants
0:13:09 > 0:13:11- then we can play a bit more. - That's a good idea.
0:13:17 > 0:13:19For gardens like this, with plenty of sun
0:13:19 > 0:13:22and a tendency to dry soil,
0:13:22 > 0:13:25sedums are very nearly the perfect plant.
0:13:27 > 0:13:31As well as being drought-resistant and needing very little care,
0:13:31 > 0:13:35this plant will provide gorgeous, colourful flowers in summer,
0:13:35 > 0:13:37and even looks good in the winter.
0:13:38 > 0:13:41The smaller species will give good ground cover,
0:13:41 > 0:13:45and the taller ones are great for cutting and drying.
0:13:45 > 0:13:47And if you need any more persuading,
0:13:47 > 0:13:50they're great for attracting butterflies and bees, too.
0:13:56 > 0:13:59Somehow Beth managed to combine the creation
0:13:59 > 0:14:02and running of this wonderful place with a busy family life.
0:14:04 > 0:14:07Her two daughters and six grandchildren,
0:14:07 > 0:14:11and now their children, have all grown with the garden.
0:14:12 > 0:14:15Julia Bolton is Beth's eldest granddaughter,
0:14:15 > 0:14:18and commercial director at the garden.
0:14:20 > 0:14:23Now you grew up in this very special place.
0:14:23 > 0:14:25What childhood memories have you got?
0:14:25 > 0:14:28You know, a lot of my memories are about parts of the garden
0:14:28 > 0:14:30that no longer exist, so...
0:14:30 > 0:14:33For instance, the Gravel Garden before was the car park, so...
0:14:33 > 0:14:36- Yes.- So we would play on there, you know, football
0:14:36 > 0:14:39and take our bikes and... But really my very favourite place is here,
0:14:39 > 0:14:41in the Water Garden, where we are right now.
0:14:43 > 0:14:46Throughout their childhood, Julia and her brother spent their
0:14:46 > 0:14:51school holidays here, at a time when Beth was at the height of her career
0:14:51 > 0:14:53doing Chelsea and writing books.
0:14:55 > 0:14:57But for the youngsters, the whole
0:14:57 > 0:15:01gardens stretched out before them like a giant playground.
0:15:01 > 0:15:04Now, Julia's children have the run of the place.
0:15:06 > 0:15:09What I do remember doing was making some
0:15:09 > 0:15:12little boats with my brother. And we used to race them under
0:15:12 > 0:15:15the bridge here. And I wondered if you'd like a challenge, Christine?
0:15:15 > 0:15:17Oh, yes, yes. We can play. Yeah, yeah.
0:15:17 > 0:15:19Jolly good, but I have to warn you,
0:15:19 > 0:15:21I did actually push my brother in once,
0:15:21 > 0:15:24when he was leaning to get his boat, so I don't want any funny business.
0:15:24 > 0:15:28OK. Well if you promise not to push me in, I promise not to push you in.
0:15:28 > 0:15:30- OK. It's a deal. - Right, come on, let's play.
0:15:32 > 0:15:33Get down there, come on.
0:15:33 > 0:15:35On a count of three. Do you want a count down?
0:15:35 > 0:15:37Yeah.
0:15:37 > 0:15:39One, two, three.
0:15:39 > 0:15:40Oh, look!
0:15:40 > 0:15:42Go on. Get up there.
0:15:43 > 0:15:45Oh, mine wants to stay near me.
0:15:45 > 0:15:49Well, look at that, it's going to catch it up, no, it's not, no,
0:15:49 > 0:15:51- no it is, go on, after it. - No luck.
0:15:51 > 0:15:53'I can see she's done this before.'
0:15:53 > 0:15:56I think I'm just going to have to admit defeat.
0:15:56 > 0:15:58Admit defeat, yeah.
0:15:58 > 0:15:59- Well...- You're a good sport.
0:15:59 > 0:16:02Well, you know. It's all very well doing this
0:16:02 > 0:16:04- but now we've got to get up. - That's right. Come here.
0:16:04 > 0:16:07- THEY LAUGH - Give us a hand.
0:16:08 > 0:16:09Well, that's fun.
0:16:10 > 0:16:14This garden is filled with happy memories for Julia,
0:16:14 > 0:16:17and she's enormously proud of everything her
0:16:17 > 0:16:21grandmother has achieved. But I'm sure she and Beth have more plans
0:16:21 > 0:16:23up their sleeves.
0:16:23 > 0:16:24What of the future?
0:16:24 > 0:16:27You know, what are you going to do with this garden?
0:16:27 > 0:16:29Well, you know, we get asked that quite a lot
0:16:29 > 0:16:31- because obviously Beth's getting older now.- Yeah.
0:16:31 > 0:16:34But, you know, gardens change all the time and obviously there's
0:16:34 > 0:16:37going to be carrying on replanting certain areas
0:16:37 > 0:16:39and that kind of thing but it's all in the style of Beth Chatto.
0:16:39 > 0:16:42But one of the things that we are really excited about here
0:16:42 > 0:16:45is that we're setting up an educational charity in
0:16:45 > 0:16:46- Beth Chatto's name.- Great.
0:16:46 > 0:16:49It's something that we're really, really proud about.
0:16:49 > 0:16:53You see, that's exactly how Beth has spent her life,
0:16:53 > 0:16:57taking little seedlings, growing them on and then seeing them bloom.
0:16:57 > 0:17:00- That's really, really lovely, very special.- Spot on.
0:17:00 > 0:17:02It is spot on. Yeah, come on, but
0:17:02 > 0:17:04it's not spot on that I didn't win that race, so I want another race.
0:17:04 > 0:17:07- Let's go and get some more boats. - Come on.
0:17:13 > 0:17:16From the smooth waters of Beth's garden pond,
0:17:16 > 0:17:19it's just a few miles to the River Colne,
0:17:19 > 0:17:22once an important trade route and much more of a
0:17:22 > 0:17:27challenge for the boats that had to navigate its tricky waters.
0:17:27 > 0:17:31From above, you get a spectacular view of the Essex coastline,
0:17:31 > 0:17:34and a real sense of how it's shaped the county's history.
0:17:36 > 0:17:39In the 19th century, these tributaries
0:17:39 > 0:17:41and estuaries that wend their way eastward
0:17:41 > 0:17:45and out to the North Sea, would have been crowded with the distinctive
0:17:45 > 0:17:48red-brown sails of the Thames barges.
0:17:48 > 0:17:51They carried cargoes of brick, grain
0:17:51 > 0:17:55and coal along the Thames Estuary and out to the coast.
0:17:59 > 0:18:02Kitty dates back to 1895,
0:18:02 > 0:18:05and is one of the few restored working barges left.
0:18:06 > 0:18:10Kevin Burtonshaw feels proud to be her current skipper.
0:18:11 > 0:18:16What makes a Thames barge special is it's got a flat bottom.
0:18:16 > 0:18:20So these were able to go up all the little inlets,
0:18:20 > 0:18:24to all the little villages, take the coal,
0:18:24 > 0:18:27you know, goods from London, whatever it might be,
0:18:27 > 0:18:30right up into the little places, and a lot
0:18:30 > 0:18:34of the work of these was what we call stack barges.
0:18:34 > 0:18:38They'd literally carry a haystack, loaded up on their deck,
0:18:38 > 0:18:42about ten-foot-high and they actually had to have a ladder
0:18:42 > 0:18:45to get up on to the top, to see where they were going.
0:18:45 > 0:18:47They'd take it down to London
0:18:47 > 0:18:50and then unload it for the horses in London.
0:18:50 > 0:18:54Then they'd come back with the manure to spread on the field.
0:18:54 > 0:18:58Pick up another stack and off they'd go again.
0:18:58 > 0:19:01So, yeah, they were very, very versatile craft.
0:19:04 > 0:19:09In their heyday, there was about 2,000 of them registered.
0:19:09 > 0:19:12You pretty much wouldn't have been able to go anywhere around
0:19:12 > 0:19:16the east coast without seeing a Thames barge, and you'd
0:19:16 > 0:19:21have seen them as far afield as down in Cornwall, over on the Continent.
0:19:23 > 0:19:26Kitty was even used to take munitions to
0:19:26 > 0:19:28France during World War I.
0:19:28 > 0:19:30But her days were numbered.
0:19:30 > 0:19:34By the end of the '40s and early '50s,
0:19:34 > 0:19:36the biggest problem was actually finding crew.
0:19:36 > 0:19:41So unfortunately, it all fizzled out, as it were.
0:19:42 > 0:19:45The Thames barges had fallen out of fashion, but luckily,
0:19:45 > 0:19:49there were still some seafarers who weren't prepared
0:19:49 > 0:19:52to let these beautiful old boats sink without trace.
0:19:53 > 0:19:58These vessels are all part of the heritage of the country.
0:19:58 > 0:19:59They are unique.
0:19:59 > 0:20:03No other country has anything like these. I think it's absolutely
0:20:03 > 0:20:07vital that we still keep them for the generations to come.
0:20:08 > 0:20:10It's a continuity with our past
0:20:10 > 0:20:13which would be awful sad to see it go.
0:20:13 > 0:20:17If there ever was to come a day when you couldn't look out
0:20:17 > 0:20:20and see a barge, I wouldn't want to be around for it, I know that.
0:20:24 > 0:20:28These barges are truly part of the landscape here in Essex,
0:20:28 > 0:20:32perfectly adapted for use in their environment. And in every corner
0:20:32 > 0:20:34of the county, you can see
0:20:34 > 0:20:37how people have learned to work in harmony
0:20:37 > 0:20:39with the climate and the natural world around them.
0:20:42 > 0:20:45If you drive 50 miles south of here, towards London,
0:20:45 > 0:20:50you'll find another magnificent Essex garden - Hyde Hall.
0:20:50 > 0:20:52Sitting on top of a hill,
0:20:52 > 0:20:56amongst undulating countryside, this is a garden that shows
0:20:56 > 0:21:00exactly what can be done in one of the driest areas of the country.
0:21:03 > 0:21:06This was once a busy, working farm
0:21:06 > 0:21:08exposed to the elements on all sides.
0:21:10 > 0:21:13But it's now been transformed into one of the finest gardens
0:21:13 > 0:21:15in the east of England.
0:21:21 > 0:21:25Hyde Hall is a mix of historic and contemporary horticulture.
0:21:27 > 0:21:30They planted traditional woodland, meadows and hedgerows
0:21:30 > 0:21:34that will eventually blend into the landscape,
0:21:34 > 0:21:37as well as creating the Dry and New World Garden.
0:21:40 > 0:21:45In 1955, when Dick and Helen Robinson bought this farm,
0:21:45 > 0:21:49they inherited a few trees, an overgrown field of rye grass
0:21:49 > 0:21:52and a derelict orchard as a starting point for their garden.
0:21:52 > 0:21:55But they cleared the land and started again.
0:21:57 > 0:22:02The gardening curator, Ian Le Gros, and I go back a long way.
0:22:02 > 0:22:04He was once a student of mine.
0:22:05 > 0:22:07Now that's nice that you're doing a bit of work.
0:22:07 > 0:22:10- Oh, nice for a change.- How are you? - Good to see you. I'm doing very well.
0:22:10 > 0:22:12- How you doing?- Yes, I'm fine, yeah. - Good.
0:22:12 > 0:22:13So, what are you up to here?
0:22:13 > 0:22:16We've just decided this stops a bit abruptly,
0:22:16 > 0:22:18so we're getting another piece of stone in,
0:22:18 > 0:22:20just to finish the seam off and tuck it into the hill a bit tighter.
0:22:20 > 0:22:22Are you going to bung some plants in?
0:22:22 > 0:22:25We've got a few little things and we'll filter those in around later.
0:22:25 > 0:22:26OK, can I give you a hand?
0:22:26 > 0:22:29It'd be great to have that hand, certainly, absolutely.
0:22:29 > 0:22:33So I think, yeah, we've got to just measure, dig and then maybe put
0:22:33 > 0:22:37some hardcore in the bottom cos we don't want the rock to sink.
0:22:38 > 0:22:42Now, Ian, the last time I had any dealings with you,
0:22:42 > 0:22:44you were as one of my students.
0:22:44 > 0:22:46Yeah, I've got sort of fond memories of it.
0:22:46 > 0:22:49Yeah, I remember as we were sort of dozing off, drifting
0:22:49 > 0:22:52off slightly, you used to sort of shout and get us all awake again.
0:22:52 > 0:22:54So those memories still haunt me.
0:22:54 > 0:22:55THEY LAUGH
0:22:55 > 0:22:57- Pleasantly? - Pleasantly, absolutely, yeah.
0:22:58 > 0:23:01He must have been paying attention in some of my lectures,
0:23:01 > 0:23:04because just look at the glorious gardens
0:23:04 > 0:23:06Ian and his team has created.
0:23:07 > 0:23:09So what's your actual role here?
0:23:09 > 0:23:12My role here is the head of site and curator,
0:23:12 > 0:23:15so I'm in charge of the whole site, all the activities that go on it.
0:23:15 > 0:23:16It's not bad for an old student, is it?
0:23:16 > 0:23:18No, not bad at all, actually, it's not bad.
0:23:18 > 0:23:21I mean, it's a great place to work, great, great team here,
0:23:21 > 0:23:23great atmosphere to the place.
0:23:23 > 0:23:26'If I do say so myself, he's done a grand job.'
0:23:26 > 0:23:29What I like is seeing your name in the press.
0:23:29 > 0:23:30Every now and then.
0:23:30 > 0:23:33In the magazines, I think, "One of my old students."
0:23:33 > 0:23:34- Yes.- Great sense of pride.
0:23:34 > 0:23:36Oh, that's good to hear.
0:23:40 > 0:23:43Ian and the team have seen lots of changes in the 22 years he's
0:23:43 > 0:23:46been at Hyde Hall, because this site was almost as
0:23:46 > 0:23:50hostile as the one Beth Chatto faced when she started planting.
0:23:51 > 0:23:56But unlike Beth's garden, the soil here was a solid, heavy clay,
0:23:56 > 0:23:59giving them all sorts of different challenges.
0:23:59 > 0:24:02And we always say that we put more under the ground
0:24:02 > 0:24:04here at Hyde Hall than we do on the top.
0:24:04 > 0:24:06Of course you do. That's what every gardener does.
0:24:06 > 0:24:08You know, if you're going to do it properly.
0:24:13 > 0:24:15It's a big piece of rock, Ian.
0:24:15 > 0:24:16It is, it is a sizeable piece.
0:24:16 > 0:24:18I managed to move it a little bit myself,
0:24:18 > 0:24:21so I think between two of us, and with a bit of luck on our side...
0:24:21 > 0:24:22Yeah.
0:24:25 > 0:24:26I'll get out your way.
0:24:28 > 0:24:32They've managed to create this dry garden by mixing in sharp sand
0:24:32 > 0:24:35and grit to the clay soil to take the water away.
0:24:35 > 0:24:40Perfect for drought-resistant plants of all kinds.
0:24:40 > 0:24:42And one firm favourite since it came here from the
0:24:42 > 0:24:44Mediterranean is lavender.
0:24:46 > 0:24:50There are more than 30 species of this lovely plant,
0:24:50 > 0:24:54which thrives in full sun and is happiest in well-drained soil.
0:24:54 > 0:24:58Colours range from blue to lilac and violet and its
0:24:58 > 0:25:01heady scent is unmistakable.
0:25:01 > 0:25:05Lavender is good for encouraging sleep and relaxation.
0:25:09 > 0:25:12Not much chance of relaxation here.
0:25:12 > 0:25:14We've got this rock to get in!
0:25:18 > 0:25:21Well, let's have a look at our handiwork.
0:25:21 > 0:25:25Almost looks like we've done it, that there's a new rock in place.
0:25:25 > 0:25:27Really tucks into the ground like we wanted it to at the start.
0:25:27 > 0:25:29Is this your favourite bit of the garden?
0:25:29 > 0:25:31It's a very nice bit, but no,
0:25:31 > 0:25:33I actually prefer some of the Hilltop Garden.
0:25:33 > 0:25:35OK, do you want to show me?
0:25:35 > 0:25:38Why not, why not. Totally different theme, but beautiful nonetheless.
0:25:38 > 0:25:40- Yes, come on, let's go and have a shufti.- OK.
0:25:45 > 0:25:49Hyde Hall is now owned by the Royal Horticultural Society and
0:25:49 > 0:25:53attracts thousands of visitors a year, who come to enjoy the
0:25:53 > 0:25:56variety of gardening styles on show.
0:25:56 > 0:26:00From the contemporary look of the Dry Garden to Ian's favourite,
0:26:00 > 0:26:04the six formal beds filled with masses of gloriously scented blooms
0:26:04 > 0:26:05in the rose garden.
0:26:07 > 0:26:10So, Ian, this is your favourite bit of the garden, but why?
0:26:10 > 0:26:12I think it's my favourite bit
0:26:12 > 0:26:15because the rest of the plantings at Hyde Hall all sort of meander
0:26:15 > 0:26:18and sort of roll together and they look more organic.
0:26:18 > 0:26:21This is a lot more formal, therefore it's different.
0:26:21 > 0:26:24And it sort of rekindles people's love of roses, hopefully.
0:26:24 > 0:26:28Lovely old English flower, shape, scent, very important for roses,
0:26:28 > 0:26:32I think, but with disease and pest resistance in the modern breeding.
0:26:32 > 0:26:34No longer do we have to don suits quite so often
0:26:34 > 0:26:35and come up and spray them.
0:26:35 > 0:26:37And what about the future? How are you taking it forward?
0:26:37 > 0:26:39What are your plans?
0:26:39 > 0:26:41Well the plans are to do up the perennial meadows
0:26:41 > 0:26:43and the hay meadows that we're working on.
0:26:43 > 0:26:45Huge drifts of bulbs naturalised in turf
0:26:45 > 0:26:47and the landscape pockmarked with trees.
0:26:47 > 0:26:50And then outside of that you've got the true East Anglian countryside,
0:26:50 > 0:26:52the wild wood that we've been planting for 15 years.
0:26:52 > 0:26:55You see, for me, that's what's typical of Hyde Hall.
0:26:55 > 0:26:59You're constantly moving it on, but you're always showing
0:26:59 > 0:27:02what you can do on a really windy, dry site.
0:27:02 > 0:27:04And I think that's fantastic.
0:27:06 > 0:27:08Time never stands still in a garden.
0:27:08 > 0:27:11They've worked so hard to create something beautiful here,
0:27:11 > 0:27:14that's so in tune with its surroundings.
0:27:17 > 0:27:21But just a few miles away is a natural spectacle
0:27:21 > 0:27:23that's largely untouched by time.
0:27:25 > 0:27:28This must be one of the most stunning prehistoric sights
0:27:28 > 0:27:31I've seen in the British countryside.
0:27:31 > 0:27:35These salt-marshes have looked like this for thousands of years.
0:27:35 > 0:27:39You wouldn't think anything could grow down there,
0:27:39 > 0:27:41but believe it or not,
0:27:41 > 0:27:44they support a fascinating and unique habitat for plant life.
0:27:46 > 0:27:50Neil Harvey works for the Essex Wildlife Trust.
0:27:50 > 0:27:53The salt-marshes have been here since after the last Ice Age.
0:27:53 > 0:27:55And they're created when rivers that are bringing
0:27:55 > 0:27:59the silt down to the coast, widen out and they lose their energy
0:27:59 > 0:28:02and they can't carry that material any more, so they drop the silts.
0:28:02 > 0:28:05What's left behind is very high in nutrients,
0:28:05 > 0:28:09and this builds up to a height where the plants can start to grow.
0:28:11 > 0:28:14The vegetation on salt-marshes is quite specialised.
0:28:14 > 0:28:17There aren't a huge number of species of plants here,
0:28:17 > 0:28:19it's quite a simple community, but all of the plants
0:28:19 > 0:28:22are particularly adapted to growing in these conditions,
0:28:22 > 0:28:26so they have to cope with various kind of stresses.
0:28:26 > 0:28:29The salt-marshes are covered by the tide twice a day.
0:28:30 > 0:28:33But the plants have to be salt-tolerant to
0:28:33 > 0:28:35survive in this habitat.
0:28:37 > 0:28:41Plants like samphire, which are succulent, a bit like cacti,
0:28:41 > 0:28:43so they're holding onto water in that way.
0:28:43 > 0:28:46Other plants, like the sea lavender, will have a really thick cuticle,
0:28:46 > 0:28:49which means that they can hold onto the water.
0:28:49 > 0:28:51So there are lots of different adaptations that they show
0:28:51 > 0:28:54that allow them to live here where most plants
0:28:54 > 0:28:55wouldn't be able to survive.
0:28:57 > 0:29:00As well as plants, the salt marshes are a rich food source.
0:29:01 > 0:29:06The Blackwater Estuary has been fished for oysters for 1,000 years,
0:29:06 > 0:29:10and oysters are still harvested by hand here today.
0:29:10 > 0:29:16And lamb grazed on salt marshes is deliciously juicy and tender,
0:29:16 > 0:29:18with a fantastic flavour.
0:29:18 > 0:29:22Perhaps it was this that led ancient settlers to find a way to harvest
0:29:22 > 0:29:24the most precious treasure of all,
0:29:24 > 0:29:28from this apparently empty landscape - salt.
0:29:35 > 0:29:38The ancient town of Maldon, which sits at the head of the
0:29:38 > 0:29:42Blackwater Estuary, has been at the centre of the salt-making industry
0:29:42 > 0:29:44for 2,000 years.
0:29:45 > 0:29:49Clive Osborne's family has been involved for four generations.
0:29:49 > 0:29:51- Everything all right this morning? - Yes, everything's fine.
0:29:51 > 0:29:56Sea salt has been produced in this area going back to the Roman times,
0:29:56 > 0:29:58and then through the Saxon and Norman times.
0:29:58 > 0:30:01Going back to the great Domesday Book,
0:30:01 > 0:30:05there were no fewer than 45 salt pans listed on this
0:30:05 > 0:30:06particular part of the river.
0:30:08 > 0:30:11This area has always been perfect for producing salt -
0:30:11 > 0:30:14not only because it's the driest part of the country, but
0:30:14 > 0:30:17because of the way the salt marshes help concentrate
0:30:17 > 0:30:19and filter the sea water.
0:30:20 > 0:30:25Salt produced in this area has been known as Maldon salt for a long time.
0:30:25 > 0:30:29But in 1882, a company was formed,
0:30:29 > 0:30:32called the Maldon Crystal Salt Company.
0:30:34 > 0:30:37And the process hasn't changed much over the centuries.
0:30:37 > 0:30:40Sea water is brought in from the estuary
0:30:40 > 0:30:43and filtered into massive pans.
0:30:43 > 0:30:45It's boiled to remove impurities,
0:30:45 > 0:30:48and then heated until the salt crystallizes.
0:30:50 > 0:30:53Workers use a traditional method of drawing the crystals by hand
0:30:53 > 0:30:55from the pans.
0:30:56 > 0:30:59Sometimes the older, simpler ways
0:30:59 > 0:31:03of doing things really can't be improved upon.
0:31:03 > 0:31:05And it's not only on the coast
0:31:05 > 0:31:08that you can find rich pickings from the environment.
0:31:08 > 0:31:12Head inland from Maldon and you can reach a community that's
0:31:12 > 0:31:16determined to make the most of whatever it can produce itself.
0:31:16 > 0:31:19Wivenhoe is one of more than a thousand so-called
0:31:19 > 0:31:21Transition Towns across the world.
0:31:21 > 0:31:24They want to practise sustainability
0:31:24 > 0:31:29and save our dwindling oil supplies, by encouraging us all to go local.
0:31:29 > 0:31:32Ruth Melville explains.
0:31:32 > 0:31:36We've been going since maybe 2008, 2009.
0:31:36 > 0:31:40As part of the project, we've started doing quite a few food-related things
0:31:40 > 0:31:43because I suppose one of the core things about transition
0:31:43 > 0:31:46is moving from sort of not thinking about where it comes from,
0:31:46 > 0:31:48to realising that you can get a lot of things locally
0:31:48 > 0:31:52and, obviously, it's fresher and it's easier to get hold of.
0:31:52 > 0:31:56The group has converted bits of unused land in the town to
0:31:56 > 0:32:00produce food, including the disused Station Master's garden
0:32:00 > 0:32:02next to the local railway line,
0:32:02 > 0:32:05which has become a herb and vegetable plot.
0:32:05 > 0:32:09And they love nothing better than to share their bounty.
0:32:10 > 0:32:13One year we had far too many courgettes which grew into marrows,
0:32:13 > 0:32:16so we made marrow curry and gave it out to the commuters as they
0:32:16 > 0:32:18were coming off the train.
0:32:18 > 0:32:19Lucky commuters!
0:32:21 > 0:32:25Businesses have also joined the transition campaign.
0:32:25 > 0:32:27One pub landlord offered his back yard,
0:32:27 > 0:32:31so that neighbours could set up a community chicken coop.
0:32:31 > 0:32:35Carole Rennie and her son, Joshua, love getting involved.
0:32:35 > 0:32:38I'm one of about eight of us, and we take shifts.
0:32:38 > 0:32:41So every other Friday, it's mine and Josh's turn to do the chickens.
0:32:41 > 0:32:44We come in, in the morning, let the chickens out of their coop
0:32:44 > 0:32:48and then we come and collect the eggs, clean out the bottom
0:32:48 > 0:32:50and give them any scraps that we've got.
0:32:52 > 0:32:57We're not allowed to feed them onions, I think, but, like,
0:32:57 > 0:32:59other things we usually do.
0:33:02 > 0:33:04The kids are having fun,
0:33:04 > 0:33:07getting their hands dirty at the same time as learning
0:33:07 > 0:33:09where their food comes from.
0:33:09 > 0:33:11And what have you learned, Joshua?
0:33:11 > 0:33:13Not much, actually.
0:33:13 > 0:33:15LAUGHTER
0:33:15 > 0:33:17Well, you can't win 'em all!
0:33:19 > 0:33:22The volunteers are so dedicated and productive that the local
0:33:22 > 0:33:25council even asked them to take over a vacant plot of land
0:33:25 > 0:33:27and do something with it.
0:33:29 > 0:33:32The result is this fabulous wildlife garden,
0:33:32 > 0:33:35which is John Rowland's domain.
0:33:35 > 0:33:38Before we started creating this garden,
0:33:38 > 0:33:41it was pretty much just scrubland. And then once we'd cleared all that,
0:33:41 > 0:33:43we could start putting in plants that are good for
0:33:43 > 0:33:45the bees and the butterflies.
0:33:45 > 0:33:49The big thing was making sure that we had a pond, so we've got some water.
0:33:49 > 0:33:52We've done lots of activities with pond dipping,
0:33:52 > 0:33:55just getting people out here.
0:33:55 > 0:33:57All sorts of events that we've done over the year to
0:33:57 > 0:34:01sort of get the most out of what is quite a nice little wildlife garden.
0:34:03 > 0:34:06Today, the neighbours are all getting together for a
0:34:06 > 0:34:07meal in the open air.
0:34:07 > 0:34:10Using ingredients from the garden,
0:34:10 > 0:34:13including the eggs that the children collected earlier,
0:34:13 > 0:34:17as well as herbs from the Station Master's garden. Scrumptious.
0:34:19 > 0:34:21Quite a lot of butter in that.
0:34:21 > 0:34:23Try a bit.
0:34:23 > 0:34:26The idea of moving to a more sustainable society is one that
0:34:26 > 0:34:30I agree with and I've met lots of nice like-minded people doing it.
0:34:32 > 0:34:35These neighbours may be amateur gardeners,
0:34:35 > 0:34:39but they've used their environment to produce a wonderful harvest.
0:34:39 > 0:34:41What an achievement.
0:34:41 > 0:34:43- How is it?- Lovely. - Do you like it?
0:34:43 > 0:34:47- Oh, it's really coming out. - So salty.
0:34:47 > 0:34:48I need a pumpkin!
0:34:55 > 0:34:59In Essex, it's fantastic to see the ingenious ways in which people
0:34:59 > 0:35:04and plants have adapted to this dry, windy, low-lying landscape
0:35:04 > 0:35:09and created something that not only produces food and sustains life,
0:35:09 > 0:35:10but is also beautiful.
0:35:13 > 0:35:19And the one place that sums it all up for me is Beth Chatto's garden.
0:35:19 > 0:35:22She and Andrew did so much to show gardeners
0:35:22 > 0:35:24how to work with their surroundings.
0:35:24 > 0:35:28I love it here, and I want to give my own offering to this
0:35:28 > 0:35:30beautiful place.
0:35:33 > 0:35:37After garden director David and I had a close encounter
0:35:37 > 0:35:39with all those lovely bugs earlier,
0:35:39 > 0:35:41it occurred to me there's one thing that would
0:35:41 > 0:35:44benefit Beth's garden and the local environment
0:35:44 > 0:35:46for years into the future.
0:35:46 > 0:35:51And it involves a practice that stretches back 4,000 years.
0:35:51 > 0:35:55Perfect for traditional Essex - beekeeping.
0:35:56 > 0:36:00As pretty much any schoolchild knows, plants need to be pollinated
0:36:00 > 0:36:02to reproduce and spread.
0:36:03 > 0:36:06Bats, birds and insects all do this job,
0:36:06 > 0:36:10but by far the most important of the pollinators are bees.
0:36:11 > 0:36:14For Essex beekeeper Lee Bartrip,
0:36:14 > 0:36:17it was an accident of nature that led to a new passion.
0:36:18 > 0:36:20Initially, a swarm came into the garden
0:36:20 > 0:36:22and I didn't know what to do with them.
0:36:22 > 0:36:25So I went online to check what you do with a
0:36:25 > 0:36:29swarm in your garden, joined the local Bee Association and
0:36:29 > 0:36:33really just found them so fascinating, I thought,
0:36:33 > 0:36:35"Yeah, I'm going to become a beekeeper."
0:36:36 > 0:36:39Lee installed a beehive in his garden
0:36:39 > 0:36:42and has a colony of 15,000 bees.
0:36:42 > 0:36:46He inspects the hive regularly to check on the health of the bees,
0:36:46 > 0:36:49and to see how they're getting on with honey production.
0:36:51 > 0:36:53If it's been a good year, you get honey, you get wax
0:36:53 > 0:36:57for candle-making. It's just really good fun looking after bees.
0:37:00 > 0:37:03No wonder bees got the reputation for being busy.
0:37:03 > 0:37:06A worker bee visits about 100 flowers collecting
0:37:06 > 0:37:09nectar on every foraging trip.
0:37:10 > 0:37:13They store the nectar in their honey stomachs,
0:37:13 > 0:37:15where it mixes with enzymes.
0:37:15 > 0:37:18When they're full, they head back to their hive.
0:37:19 > 0:37:24We have sealed honey here. The bees are still bringing in nectar,
0:37:24 > 0:37:28which comes straight from the plant, has been passed
0:37:28 > 0:37:31from the foraging bee to the house-working bees.
0:37:31 > 0:37:33And these are all house-working bees,
0:37:33 > 0:37:38so they're not old enough to go out to collect nectar yet themselves.
0:37:38 > 0:37:41It's the job of these young bees to process
0:37:41 > 0:37:46and store this sugary substance in the comb cells within the hive.
0:37:48 > 0:37:51Bees top up the cells until they're full,
0:37:51 > 0:37:56then allow water to evaporate off until the substance has thickened.
0:37:58 > 0:38:01And that's a complete frame of honey.
0:38:01 > 0:38:06It's been capped, so that is actually ready to harvest.
0:38:09 > 0:38:13It's incredible to think that to produce one pound of honey,
0:38:13 > 0:38:17around 500 bees will have visited about two million flowers,
0:38:17 > 0:38:20and that one bee will only produce
0:38:20 > 0:38:23a fraction of a teaspoonful in its lifetime.
0:38:23 > 0:38:26But what a treat for us.
0:38:31 > 0:38:35Gardens provide the habitat bees need to thrive,
0:38:35 > 0:38:39and all the gardens I've visited today are a natural bee paradise.
0:38:40 > 0:38:45Particularly this one, where Beth Chatto and her husband, Andrew,
0:38:45 > 0:38:48have been so determined to work in harmony
0:38:48 > 0:38:51with the natural world around them.
0:38:51 > 0:38:54Beth doesn't make TV appearances these days,
0:38:54 > 0:38:58so I'm thrilled that this towering figure in the world of horticulture
0:38:58 > 0:39:01has kindly agreed to have a chat with me today.
0:39:07 > 0:39:09Beth, how lovely to see you.
0:39:09 > 0:39:12Oh, I'm so pleased to see you.
0:39:14 > 0:39:16This is a real, real privilege.
0:39:16 > 0:39:18Oh, not at all. For me, too.
0:39:18 > 0:39:26For me, this garden has always exuded two people -
0:39:26 > 0:39:29Andrew and you.
0:39:29 > 0:39:31Indeed, Andrew, of course.
0:39:31 > 0:39:33Without him, it wouldn't be like this.
0:39:33 > 0:39:39And it was that ability of Andrew to really see plants in nature,
0:39:39 > 0:39:45bring them back and then pass that knowledge to you, the plantsman,
0:39:45 > 0:39:49the artist, the person with soul.
0:39:49 > 0:39:52Well, we were...I think we were a good partnership.
0:39:52 > 0:39:54We were so different, for one thing.
0:39:54 > 0:39:57I mean, Andrew was not a practical gardener
0:39:57 > 0:40:00in the sense that we perhaps understand it,
0:40:00 > 0:40:02- he was an intellectual.- Right.
0:40:02 > 0:40:06I was a teenager when I first met him and I was
0:40:06 > 0:40:11interested in gardening because my parents were both keen gardeners.
0:40:11 > 0:40:14But here was Andrew bringing in to me
0:40:14 > 0:40:17a totally new conception of gardening.
0:40:17 > 0:40:21Not to be using hybrid plants,
0:40:21 > 0:40:24which lost all their character.
0:40:24 > 0:40:28He taught me, he taught me to look carefully
0:40:28 > 0:40:32and see the beauty in plants as they are growing in the wild now.
0:40:32 > 0:40:35The majority of people would think they're just fiddly,
0:40:35 > 0:40:38you know, but think of many of the plants that are
0:40:38 > 0:40:41growing here that are as they grow in the wild.
0:40:41 > 0:40:46Although it is a very complicated garden now, I know, in many ways,
0:40:46 > 0:40:51I've aimed for simplicity through the principle of
0:40:51 > 0:40:53putting plants where they're comfortable and happy.
0:40:53 > 0:40:55Because plants are like people,
0:40:55 > 0:40:58they don't want to be pushed into the nearest available hole
0:40:58 > 0:41:03and this, the Japanese golden rule - the Earth, Heaven, Man line.
0:41:03 > 0:41:06- Triangles.- Triangles, yes.
0:41:06 > 0:41:11Yeah, well you pull it off with so much panache, it's untrue.
0:41:11 > 0:41:15And what you're leaving us, Beth, is something very, very special.
0:41:15 > 0:41:17So thank you so much.
0:41:17 > 0:41:19I'm overwhelmed.
0:41:19 > 0:41:21SHE LAUGHS HAPPILY
0:41:21 > 0:41:23Thank you, Beth, thank you so much.
0:41:26 > 0:41:28What a remarkable woman.
0:41:28 > 0:41:32Beth's inspired so many people, including me.
0:41:32 > 0:41:36There's nothing I can give her that could possibly reflect her
0:41:36 > 0:41:37lifetime of achievements,
0:41:37 > 0:41:41but there's one thing that would benefit the garden
0:41:41 > 0:41:43that I'm sure she'll approve of.
0:41:44 > 0:41:48Today, I've seen how, through the centuries, people in Essex
0:41:48 > 0:41:52have learned to work with their environment, without changing it.
0:41:52 > 0:41:56And how they continue to use traditional, simple ways
0:41:56 > 0:41:58to harvest what they need from nature.
0:42:00 > 0:42:04And to round off this very special day, I've gathered everyone together
0:42:04 > 0:42:07for a little celebration.
0:42:07 > 0:42:10Now this is a happy sight. Look at all this.
0:42:10 > 0:42:13Honey cake, that's beautiful, isn't it?
0:42:13 > 0:42:16- Very nice. Do you want some, Christine?- Wow, I'd love. some.
0:42:16 > 0:42:18Yeah, terrific. Look at the beautiful flower.
0:42:18 > 0:42:21- And there we go. - Oh, I'm going to have a chomp.
0:42:21 > 0:42:22Mm.
0:42:23 > 0:42:27I've had a really beautiful day today.
0:42:29 > 0:42:34An iconic garden, a very iconic lady,
0:42:34 > 0:42:36sharing a passion,
0:42:36 > 0:42:38sharing a love.
0:42:38 > 0:42:43We need to ensure that that love, that knowledge, that enthusiasm
0:42:43 > 0:42:46for nature and gardens continues.
0:42:46 > 0:42:50And we've got little seedlings from the same family,
0:42:50 > 0:42:53a bigger seedling, the matriarch
0:42:53 > 0:42:59and we just thought it would be really nice to actually ensure that
0:42:59 > 0:43:04bees continue to come into this garden, so the future is secure.
0:43:04 > 0:43:06And we thought it would be quite nice to
0:43:06 > 0:43:10leave you with your very own beehive.
0:43:12 > 0:43:14Well, that's wonderful.
0:43:14 > 0:43:17Isn't that great? That's an old-fashioned beehive.
0:43:17 > 0:43:19Absolutely. We couldn't give you a modern one.
0:43:19 > 0:43:21I think that's lovely, isn't it?
0:43:21 > 0:43:24- It's very attractive, yes. - It's a des-res, that is, for bees.
0:43:24 > 0:43:28So, I can come back and always have honey cake.
0:43:28 > 0:43:29THEY LAUGH