0:00:02 > 0:00:05Britain has a long and proud gardening heritage.
0:00:05 > 0:00:08And a passion for plants that goes back centuries.
0:00:08 > 0:00:12But all is not well in our once green and pleasant land.
0:00:12 > 0:00:14Front gardens paved over.
0:00:14 > 0:00:16Our lawns lack lustre.
0:00:16 > 0:00:19And rare wild flowers on the brink of extinction.
0:00:19 > 0:00:21So we need you...
0:00:21 > 0:00:23to help us...
0:00:23 > 0:00:24in our campaign...
0:00:24 > 0:00:25to help rediscover....
0:00:25 > 0:00:27our passion for gardening.
0:00:27 > 0:00:30We're going to give you the best gardening tips.
0:00:30 > 0:00:36And revealing British gardens that will quite simply take your breath away.
0:00:37 > 0:00:40- It's time to plant. - And prune.
0:00:40 > 0:00:42And sharpen your shears.
0:00:42 > 0:00:46Let the Great British Garden Revival begin.
0:01:25 > 0:01:30On tonight's show, Joe Swift is on the campaign trail for trees
0:01:30 > 0:01:35but first I celebrate the very best of British cut flowers.
0:01:36 > 0:01:40For me, there's nothing better for bringing our homes alive than
0:01:40 > 0:01:42freshly cut British flowers.
0:01:42 > 0:01:47And a simple vase like this should be a celebration of the seasons.
0:01:47 > 0:01:52We used to take enormous pride in our own home-grown cut flowers
0:01:52 > 0:01:56but today around 90% of them are actually imported and I find that
0:01:56 > 0:02:01really shocking and it's something I believe we need to change.
0:02:01 > 0:02:05So, come on, Britain, grab those secateurs, get out in your garden
0:02:05 > 0:02:10and join me, Rachel De Thame, in the Great British cut flower revival.
0:02:11 > 0:02:16I want to find out exactly what's happened to Britain's cut-flower industry.
0:02:16 > 0:02:19Unfortunately most English growers have packed up now.
0:02:19 > 0:02:20It's sad but it's true.
0:02:20 > 0:02:24I'll be meeting our passionate flower champions...
0:02:24 > 0:02:26Amazing.
0:02:26 > 0:02:28They really are such a delicate flower.
0:02:28 > 0:02:31..who are fighting to save our floral heritage.
0:02:31 > 0:02:35People are coming and asking specifically for British grown.
0:02:35 > 0:02:40And I'm going to show you how simple it is to start your own cut-flower garden.
0:02:40 > 0:02:43It's like an heir and a spare. If one of them
0:02:43 > 0:02:45fails then hopefully the other one will germinate.
0:02:45 > 0:02:49So together we can put the bloom back into Britain.
0:02:51 > 0:02:53It's like holding an English garden in your hands.
0:02:59 > 0:03:02This is Kelmarsh Hall in Northamptonshire.
0:03:02 > 0:03:07Built in the 1730s it stretches over 3,000 acres
0:03:07 > 0:03:12but it's most famous for one award-winning garden in particular.
0:03:15 > 0:03:19Well, for me this is the jewel in Kelmarsh Hall's crown.
0:03:19 > 0:03:24An incredible, an enormous, walled garden. Breathtaking.
0:03:25 > 0:03:29There's no better place to base my campaign to revive the Great British
0:03:29 > 0:03:34tradition of growing our own flowers for cutting than here.
0:03:34 > 0:03:38A team of expert gardeners are dedicated to showcasing the best
0:03:38 > 0:03:42of Britain's floral heritage, but is sadly struggling to stay alive.
0:03:43 > 0:03:47And in-house florist Louise Wesley's fulltime job is to maintain
0:03:47 > 0:03:52the Kelmarsh tradition of cutting and arranging flowers for the hall.
0:03:52 > 0:03:54I thought I'd come and give you a hand.
0:03:54 > 0:03:57If I can get to you. I'll just tiptoe through here.
0:03:58 > 0:04:01- This... You know this is my idea of heaven?- I'm very lucky.
0:04:01 > 0:04:02This setting.
0:04:02 > 0:04:05But why is it that Kelmarsh Hall has such an extraordinary cutting garden?
0:04:05 > 0:04:09It's all thanks to an incredible lady called Nancy Lancaster.
0:04:09 > 0:04:13She arrived at the hall around 1930s
0:04:13 > 0:04:15and although from Virginia
0:04:15 > 0:04:18she completely wanted the essence of an English country garden
0:04:18 > 0:04:21and just basically loved flamboyant arrangements
0:04:21 > 0:04:24within the house because she did lots of entertaining.
0:04:24 > 0:04:27So why are home-grown flowers so special?
0:04:27 > 0:04:31In terms of using the flowers, the strength of the stems
0:04:31 > 0:04:35and the longevity of the flowers, they just last so much longer.
0:04:35 > 0:04:38Also when you're buying from the shop, obviously everything is grown to demand.
0:04:38 > 0:04:42So it's the same stem lengths. It's the same flower heads.
0:04:42 > 0:04:46Whereas if you're growing them in your garden obviously, as you can see, it's the variety
0:04:46 > 0:04:49of the shapes and the textures and the colours that you can get.
0:04:49 > 0:04:50It's somehow more real, isn't it?
0:04:50 > 0:04:52Yes, absolutely.
0:04:53 > 0:04:56The UK cut-flower industry relies on the fact
0:04:56 > 0:05:02we say it with flowers and it's worth over £2 billion a year.
0:05:02 > 0:05:05It's 6.30 in the morning and I'm at New Covent Garden market
0:05:05 > 0:05:08in southwest London, and if you want to know
0:05:08 > 0:05:11about the business of cut flowers this is the only place to be.
0:05:14 > 0:05:18It was the original market which opened its doors in the late 1800s
0:05:18 > 0:05:24that ignited a spark and created a booming cut-flower industry.
0:05:24 > 0:05:28I have very fond memories of the original Covent Garden market.
0:05:28 > 0:05:29I was training to be a dancer,
0:05:29 > 0:05:33I used to go there for rehearsals and I remember the barrow boys
0:05:33 > 0:05:37just wheeling the barrows across the cobble stones and sort of
0:05:37 > 0:05:41bump, bump, bump as they went along and they would be filled with flowers.
0:05:41 > 0:05:42And it was the colour,
0:05:42 > 0:05:46the aroma, and the atmosphere was just very buzzing in that place
0:05:46 > 0:05:49and I think that's stayed with me - it's become part of my
0:05:49 > 0:05:54passion for plants, for gardening and of course a love of cut flowers.
0:05:57 > 0:06:01The market grew so big that by the 1970s it had to be
0:06:01 > 0:06:03moved down the road to Vauxhall.
0:06:06 > 0:06:09This is still the UK's biggest market.
0:06:09 > 0:06:13£45 million worth of blooms pass through every year
0:06:13 > 0:06:16and even though I know we import most of our flowers these days,
0:06:16 > 0:06:20I'm hoping, here, we'll still be buying British.
0:06:22 > 0:06:25- Hello.- Hello. How are you?- Very well thank you. Can I just ask you what
0:06:25 > 0:06:28proportion of the flowers that you sell come from Britain originally?
0:06:28 > 0:06:32Come from Britain, um, very little now. 10%-20%.
0:06:36 > 0:06:37All imported. All imported.
0:06:37 > 0:06:42Um, mainly from Holland, Columbia, Ecuador.
0:06:43 > 0:06:45Probably about 10% of British.
0:06:45 > 0:06:50Unfortunately most of the English growers have packed up now.
0:06:50 > 0:06:52It's sad but it's true.
0:06:57 > 0:07:01Ooh, now this looks promising. Look, Union Jacks everywhere.
0:07:01 > 0:07:04English flowers on the boxes. Excuse me.
0:07:04 > 0:07:06Is this you?
0:07:06 > 0:07:07That is, yeah.
0:07:07 > 0:07:11It says "English flowers". Are they all British grown?
0:07:11 > 0:07:13We do supplement it with some imported goods
0:07:13 > 0:07:16but in the main English flowers, that's what we do.
0:07:16 > 0:07:19All this is seasonal and it's from Kent.
0:07:19 > 0:07:24- Lovely poppies, larkspur, cornflowers, lavender. All traditional English flowers.- Yes.
0:07:24 > 0:07:27Rather than something that's come thousands of miles.
0:07:27 > 0:07:29I mean those roses have come from Ecuador.
0:07:29 > 0:07:31- It's a hell of a long way to send flowers.- Ha-ha!
0:07:31 > 0:07:32But there it is, you know?
0:07:32 > 0:07:36So, the people that are supplying your flowers, what are they like? What kind of growers?
0:07:36 > 0:07:37It's all sorts of businesses.
0:07:37 > 0:07:40Some of them are small concerns, small farms,
0:07:40 > 0:07:43traditional growers that have always grown flowers.
0:07:43 > 0:07:46But it is diminishing because obviously the young people tend
0:07:46 > 0:07:49not to go into the growing, whereas their parents or grandparents
0:07:49 > 0:07:52have done it because, believe it or not, it's not that profitable.
0:07:52 > 0:07:55It's a lot of hard work for what return they do actually get.
0:07:56 > 0:07:59So, where did it all go wrong?
0:07:59 > 0:08:02The struggle for British growers began in the 1960s,
0:08:02 > 0:08:06when subsidies for growers in Holland brought cheap imports to
0:08:06 > 0:08:10the UK. And with the arrival of even more blooms from far-flung locations
0:08:10 > 0:08:15like Columbia and Kenya, the bottom fell out of the UK market.
0:08:15 > 0:08:20The final nail in the coffin came in the 1990s,
0:08:20 > 0:08:22when the supermarkets wanted a piece of the action
0:08:22 > 0:08:26and their buying power put pressure on already slashed prices.
0:08:26 > 0:08:29But now it's time to put British flowers back on the shelves
0:08:29 > 0:08:31and in our homes.
0:08:31 > 0:08:33Now, you see THIS is really exciting.
0:08:33 > 0:08:35This is what I wanted to find here.
0:08:35 > 0:08:39You know you've got these cornflowers, the lavender.
0:08:39 > 0:08:42Look at these pinks down here. Absolutely beautiful.
0:08:42 > 0:08:46It's like holding an English garden in your hands.
0:08:46 > 0:08:50They've been cut in a field an hour or so's drive from here.
0:08:50 > 0:08:54I would rather have a bouquet of these than one of those great
0:08:54 > 0:08:58big bouquets of roses that have come halfway across the world.
0:08:58 > 0:09:02For me, this somehow... it just says more.
0:09:06 > 0:09:08The gardens here at Kelmarsh Hall are vital
0:09:08 > 0:09:11because they're keeping our classic flowers alive.
0:09:11 > 0:09:16Like salvias, a range of daisies and flocks.
0:09:16 > 0:09:19In fact you can't get hold of most of these any more
0:09:19 > 0:09:23because the supermarkets focus on the same imported flowers
0:09:23 > 0:09:27all year round rather than what should be available seasonally.
0:09:27 > 0:09:31It would be such a great shame for our traditional blooms
0:09:31 > 0:09:36to disappear, so I'm going to show you that we can all grow our own.
0:09:42 > 0:09:47Just look how lovely these are, and there's nothing more
0:09:47 > 0:09:50rewarding than you knowing that you grew all of these from seed.
0:09:50 > 0:09:53Seed growing is such fun. It's incredible.
0:09:53 > 0:09:55I don't know why everybody isn't doing it.
0:09:58 > 0:10:01The easy flowers to grow are hardy annuals, which means
0:10:01 > 0:10:04they go through their entire life cycle in one season,
0:10:04 > 0:10:09like sunflowers, cornflowers and poppies.
0:10:09 > 0:10:12You need to plant the seeds at the start of spring
0:10:12 > 0:10:15and can then spend the summer enjoying their blooms.
0:10:15 > 0:10:19Now I like to sow my seed into modules
0:10:19 > 0:10:22because, if you put these little inserts in and just a couple of
0:10:22 > 0:10:27seeds in each one, you get a really strong, individual little plants.
0:10:27 > 0:10:30So I'm going to fill this with a seed and cutting compost.
0:10:30 > 0:10:34Now that's a compost that is very low in nutrients because
0:10:34 > 0:10:38you don't need to feed these little baby plants because what they need
0:10:38 > 0:10:41is a nice soft texture that they can get their little roots out into.
0:10:44 > 0:10:48A packet of seed. This is coreopsis.
0:10:48 > 0:10:50The common name for it is tick seed and that's
0:10:50 > 0:10:54because these tiny little seeds look like little ticks.
0:10:54 > 0:10:56Little insects. And so very gently,
0:10:56 > 0:11:00just try and grab a couple of those into each module.
0:11:00 > 0:11:02So it's like an heir and a spare.
0:11:02 > 0:11:06If one of them fails, then hopefully the other one will germinate successfully.
0:11:06 > 0:11:10And this is just one of those lovely jobs to while away
0:11:10 > 0:11:15one of those blustery days at the end of winter and early spring
0:11:15 > 0:11:17and you've got all that promise of all these flowers to come.
0:11:17 > 0:11:22Press them down gently and then I'm just going to add a very fine
0:11:22 > 0:11:25layer of compost over the top. Always check on the seed packet,
0:11:25 > 0:11:28it will tell you whether that particular seed needs
0:11:28 > 0:11:32a bit of light, and in that case you don't have to cover it at all.
0:11:32 > 0:11:34That's just a very light dusting over there.
0:11:34 > 0:11:38Now I'm going to label it because that's the other thing that's crucial.
0:11:38 > 0:11:41So I always put on the date and then the name.
0:11:41 > 0:11:46This is Coreopsis "Quills and Thrills" mixed. Sounds good.
0:11:49 > 0:11:52There. I'm going to give it a good watering.
0:11:52 > 0:11:54It's that simple.
0:11:54 > 0:11:57If you don't have a greenhouse keep them covered and moist by
0:11:57 > 0:12:01a window indoors and soon enough the seeds will germinate and shoots will
0:12:01 > 0:12:05appear. Once you've got a strong seedling, you can put them outside
0:12:05 > 0:12:07in a sheltered spot or cold frame
0:12:07 > 0:12:10and this will help them to acclimatise.
0:12:10 > 0:12:13After two or three weeks, they should be ready to plant out
0:12:13 > 0:12:17and your flowers will appear at the start of summer.
0:12:17 > 0:12:20For just a few pounds you can pick up some seed at the garden centre.
0:12:20 > 0:12:26It's an easy and cost-effective way to get beautiful blooms outside and in.
0:12:28 > 0:12:32I'm prepared to guarantee that once you start growing your own
0:12:32 > 0:12:35cut flowers you're never going to want to stop.
0:12:35 > 0:12:36It's completely addictive.
0:12:36 > 0:12:39When you look at something like this, the sweet pea,
0:12:39 > 0:12:42which traditionally has been such a favourite for gardeners,
0:12:42 > 0:12:45not only for the fragrance - which is knockout -
0:12:45 > 0:12:48and for the way they look, but also because they make incredibly
0:12:48 > 0:12:52good cut flowers and I want to see even more of them.
0:12:54 > 0:12:56So I'm off to Kendal in Cumbria
0:12:56 > 0:12:58to see how a national sweet pea champion
0:12:58 > 0:13:01is on his own mission to inspire us
0:13:01 > 0:13:03to grow this cottage garden classic.
0:13:04 > 0:13:08I think a gardener might live here.
0:13:08 > 0:13:12- Hello.- Hello. Viv. - Yes.- Hello. Nice to meet you. It's Rachel.- Nice to meet you.
0:13:12 > 0:13:15I expected to come here and it be absolutely full of sweet peas
0:13:15 > 0:13:18because I hear your husband's quite keen.
0:13:18 > 0:13:20Er, keen? Obsessed, more like, yes.
0:13:20 > 0:13:24The average day for him will start at five in the morning, so then
0:13:24 > 0:13:26it's into the sweet peas until usually about ten o'clock at night.
0:13:26 > 0:13:29Sounds like you're a bit of a sweet pea widow.
0:13:29 > 0:13:30Oh, definitely.
0:13:34 > 0:13:37Gosh. Look at this. Just a sea of sweet peas.
0:13:40 > 0:13:41Ah, here he is.
0:13:42 > 0:13:45Viv's husband, Kevin, has been growing his award-winning sweet peas
0:13:45 > 0:13:48for competitions for the last 15 years.
0:13:51 > 0:13:54Where does this come from, this passion for sweet peas?
0:13:54 > 0:13:56It's just the desire.
0:13:56 > 0:13:57The sweet pea that produces
0:13:57 > 0:14:00so many flowers throughout its flowering period.
0:14:00 > 0:14:02It's just so fantastic to work with, really.
0:14:02 > 0:14:06What I tend to do is grow about 21 different varieties,
0:14:06 > 0:14:10about 60 plants of each so I get a good vase of quality flowers.
0:14:10 > 0:14:13- That's what I'm after at the end of the day.- Amazing.
0:14:13 > 0:14:15They really are such a delicate flower.
0:14:15 > 0:14:18So, for people who want to grow their own cut flowers,
0:14:18 > 0:14:21would you suggest starting with sweet peas?
0:14:21 > 0:14:23Sweet peas would be a perfect flower.
0:14:23 > 0:14:27Very easy to grow and you put them in canes, let the side shoots grow
0:14:27 > 0:14:30and get a good mass of flowers, and that's the easiest way.
0:14:30 > 0:14:33Just leave them be and you'll get a lot of flower.
0:14:33 > 0:14:37If you grow from seed, you only need a few plants to give yourself
0:14:37 > 0:14:42flowers all summer long. Because they're climbers, the important thing
0:14:42 > 0:14:45with sweet peas is to give them something to attach themselves to -
0:14:45 > 0:14:49like a trellis or bamboo canes like Kevin uses -
0:14:49 > 0:14:51and make sure they get plenty of sun.
0:14:52 > 0:14:55And now the best part, isn't it? We're going to cut some.
0:14:55 > 0:14:57The best part, cutting the flowers. Yes.
0:14:57 > 0:15:00What we're looking for is something good on the stem
0:15:00 > 0:15:02with three or four flowers on,
0:15:02 > 0:15:06all fully open and really cut as far down to the plant
0:15:06 > 0:15:09- as what we can, so it has a good long stem length.- OK.
0:15:13 > 0:15:16Depending on the year and the weather, you'll get flowers from
0:15:16 > 0:15:22sort of early summer right through until the beginning of autumn.
0:15:22 > 0:15:26But again, it does depend on you continuing to pick them.
0:15:26 > 0:15:27If you stop picking them,
0:15:27 > 0:15:29what they do is they start to produce little peas.
0:15:29 > 0:15:31There's one here. There we are.
0:15:31 > 0:15:33The plant thinks that it's done its job. It's reproduced.
0:15:33 > 0:15:36It's got the next generation there and it's stopped flowering.
0:15:36 > 0:15:39So the incentive has gone to produce more flowers.
0:15:39 > 0:15:43So you prevent that happening, you get blooms for weeks and weeks.
0:15:45 > 0:15:49Given how beautiful your sweet peas are, what do you feel about
0:15:49 > 0:15:52the cut-flower industry bringing in sweet peas from abroad?
0:15:52 > 0:15:56You will never get the scent of what we've got from a freshly cut flower.
0:15:56 > 0:16:00From abroad, they'd be stored in a cold store for two or three days
0:16:00 > 0:16:01before they get here,
0:16:01 > 0:16:04and generally the scent will have actually disappeared.
0:16:04 > 0:16:07So generally the fresher the sweet pea plant is, the flower,
0:16:07 > 0:16:09you will get a far better and heavier scent.
0:16:09 > 0:16:11So when you put it in your room, first thing in the morning
0:16:11 > 0:16:15or last thing at night the scent will fill the room so quickly.
0:16:15 > 0:16:19By morning or that next night, it will be unbelievable.
0:16:19 > 0:16:21With around 1,000 plants,
0:16:21 > 0:16:24Kevin has so many sweet peas that he sells some of them
0:16:24 > 0:16:28to his neighbours, and today we've cut them for a very special order.
0:16:28 > 0:16:30Ooh, a customer.
0:16:30 > 0:16:32- Brilliant. They look absolutely... - That's good timing!
0:16:32 > 0:16:35Ah. I hope they'll do.
0:16:35 > 0:16:36Yep, they're going to be perfect.
0:16:36 > 0:16:39These are for my daughter's wedding, which is on Saturday.
0:16:39 > 0:16:42They're so delicate and the scent is just absolutely gorgeous.
0:16:42 > 0:16:46Well, they're absolutely stunning, and I hope you have a fantastic day!
0:16:46 > 0:16:47Thank you.
0:16:50 > 0:16:53This is what cut flowers should be about.
0:16:53 > 0:16:57Straight from the Great British countryside into your own home,
0:16:57 > 0:17:01and even better if you grow them yourself.
0:17:06 > 0:17:08The traditional walled garden at Kelmarsh
0:17:08 > 0:17:10has its own fair share of sweet peas,
0:17:10 > 0:17:15but there are plenty of other beauties great for cutting here.
0:17:15 > 0:17:17Another must-have are carnations,
0:17:17 > 0:17:20but forget about those cellophane-wrapped, ever-flowering
0:17:20 > 0:17:23and scentless varieties that you find in the supermarket,
0:17:23 > 0:17:28and meet instead their fragrant cousins, the pinks.
0:17:35 > 0:17:38I want to show you how from one little pink
0:17:38 > 0:17:40you can grow masses of them.
0:17:41 > 0:17:44People do tend to forget about old English pinks -
0:17:44 > 0:17:46these lovely little dianthus -
0:17:46 > 0:17:49and I think they're slightly under-used as cut flowers,
0:17:49 > 0:17:51but there's also that wonderful fragrance,
0:17:51 > 0:17:53and they do make surprisingly good cut flowers,
0:17:53 > 0:17:56particularly for those little posies that are very fashionable
0:17:56 > 0:17:58at the moment - in little vintage teacups and things like that.
0:17:58 > 0:18:01Fortunately, they're very, very easy to propagate,
0:18:01 > 0:18:02so you can get more plants.
0:18:02 > 0:18:05You start off with one or two and you quickly get more.
0:18:05 > 0:18:08And what you're looking for, rather than these flowering stems
0:18:08 > 0:18:12where you can see these individual pieces of stems between where
0:18:12 > 0:18:15the leaves are, you're looking for pieces that are sort of more tufted.
0:18:15 > 0:18:17So there's some good material here around the base,
0:18:17 > 0:18:22and we just strip away those lower leaves, and you're aiming
0:18:22 > 0:18:25for something which is probably not much taller than your finger.
0:18:25 > 0:18:28And then I'm going to make a clean cut just below that
0:18:28 > 0:18:32slightly knobbly bit, just below where the leaf joins onto the stem,
0:18:32 > 0:18:35and that's where the growth will come from.
0:18:35 > 0:18:39And then, very simply, I've got a pot here which is filled with
0:18:39 > 0:18:42a really nice gritty compost because dianthus, little pinks,
0:18:42 > 0:18:47need good drainage and don't want to sit in a lot of damp soil.
0:18:47 > 0:18:51And I've chosen terracotta because their porosity means that
0:18:51 > 0:18:55they'll draw any excess moisture out towards the side.
0:18:55 > 0:18:59If you put them round the edge, they seem to root better.
0:18:59 > 0:19:00They take better.
0:19:01 > 0:19:03Strip off those leaves,
0:19:03 > 0:19:05cut to a node...
0:19:08 > 0:19:10..and pop it in.
0:19:10 > 0:19:11It's one of those nice jobs.
0:19:11 > 0:19:14And it's also the idea that you've got the mother plant
0:19:14 > 0:19:16and you're going to have all these babies.
0:19:16 > 0:19:19It brings out the whole maternal side of me, I suppose.
0:19:20 > 0:19:24Then I'm just going to put a top dressing of grit on there,
0:19:24 > 0:19:27just to make sure we don't have water sitting round
0:19:27 > 0:19:30the base of the plant which might cause them to rot off.
0:19:33 > 0:19:38Now that needs a good watering in and then I'm going to cover it.
0:19:38 > 0:19:40I'm just going to put a stick down in the middle there,
0:19:40 > 0:19:43and then I'm going to use a polythene bag -
0:19:43 > 0:19:47that will just help to conserve that moisture, keep it in there.
0:19:47 > 0:19:50And the stick's just going to stop the polythene from flopping down
0:19:50 > 0:19:52on top of those cuttings.
0:19:52 > 0:19:55And in fact a great tip is when you're staying in a hotel,
0:19:55 > 0:19:56take those little shower caps,
0:19:56 > 0:19:59the little plastic ones, because they're already elasticised
0:19:59 > 0:20:02they make great little covers for plants.
0:20:02 > 0:20:05But this works just as well - an elastic band round the pot.
0:20:06 > 0:20:08Keep them moist for about a month
0:20:08 > 0:20:10when they should have developed roots.
0:20:10 > 0:20:12Just sort of give them a little pull just to see
0:20:12 > 0:20:15if there's any resistance there, and if there is they're probably
0:20:15 > 0:20:19rooted down, and then you break them apart and take each one individually
0:20:19 > 0:20:22and pot it up in its own pot, and before you look round
0:20:22 > 0:20:24you'll have another lovely little pink.
0:20:26 > 0:20:29Once they're planted out, these little beauties will flower
0:20:29 > 0:20:34every year, so you can cut and enjoy them all summer long.
0:20:42 > 0:20:45I hope by showing you how easy it is to grow your own,
0:20:45 > 0:20:50you'll get out in the garden and help save our British cut flowers.
0:20:50 > 0:20:53But if my revival is to have a meaningful impact,
0:20:53 > 0:20:58I need to tackle one of the biggest areas of the cut-flower industry.
0:20:58 > 0:21:02In the UK, more than £120 million a year is forked out
0:21:02 > 0:21:05for the bride's special day,
0:21:05 > 0:21:08the vast majority of which are still imported.
0:21:08 > 0:21:11My daughter recently asked me to do the flowers for her wedding.
0:21:11 > 0:21:14I think we might have overdone it just slightly.
0:21:14 > 0:21:17Yeah, I think we've got three weddings' worth here.
0:21:18 > 0:21:22A wonderful opportunity to add that magical touch to her big day
0:21:22 > 0:21:23and to showcase the flowers
0:21:23 > 0:21:26that I'm passionate about bringing back into our homes.
0:21:26 > 0:21:28Like peonies and delphiniums.
0:21:30 > 0:21:34It was such an incredibly special day and one I'll treasure for ever.
0:21:40 > 0:21:43I've come to visit the magnificent 16th century Doddington Hall
0:21:43 > 0:21:48in Lincolnshire, where florist Rachel Petheram runs the cutting garden,
0:21:48 > 0:21:50dedicated to British floral heritage,
0:21:50 > 0:21:54which she uses for her renowned wedding displays.
0:21:54 > 0:21:57I definitely have noticed over the past few years,
0:21:57 > 0:21:58that people are coming
0:21:58 > 0:22:03and asking specifically for British-grown, and I think the trend
0:22:03 > 0:22:08for seasonal food and British-grown food is translating into flowers.
0:22:08 > 0:22:14She's also added an unusual twist to her bridal displays
0:22:14 > 0:22:16by using commonly-grown herbs.
0:22:16 > 0:22:19So, what is the reaction of the bride when you tell her
0:22:19 > 0:22:22you're going to put herbs into her bouquet?
0:22:22 > 0:22:24They always love it and they say,
0:22:24 > 0:22:26"I would never have thought about doing that,"
0:22:26 > 0:22:28but they absolutely love it.
0:22:28 > 0:22:32We've cut stacks of lemon balm, artemisia, lovely mints.
0:22:32 > 0:22:36They are very robust and they smell absolutely beautiful.
0:22:36 > 0:22:40And the scent for wedding flowers in particular is absolutely crucial.
0:22:40 > 0:22:43And obviously if you're growing herbs at home,
0:22:43 > 0:22:46I mean, a lot of them, very easy to grow, so fantastic.
0:22:46 > 0:22:49It seems to be a really obvious thing that maybe we've been missing.
0:22:49 > 0:22:53Yes, exactly, and if anybody has already got a herb garden at home,
0:22:53 > 0:22:57then they've already got the basis for a beautiful flower arrangement.
0:22:58 > 0:23:01This is such a fantastic idea.
0:23:01 > 0:23:05Many herbs can be grown all year round and they're easy to grow,
0:23:05 > 0:23:07and if you don't have a wedding coming up,
0:23:07 > 0:23:10you can always use them in your cooking.
0:23:10 > 0:23:14Rachel runs workshops teaching people how to grow
0:23:14 > 0:23:17and arrange their own flowers, and she's asked me to help out
0:23:17 > 0:23:21with some hand-tied bouquets for a wedding down the road.
0:23:21 > 0:23:24Do you feel that maybe this is an art that's got lost
0:23:24 > 0:23:26somewhere along the way?
0:23:26 > 0:23:29I think it has, and I think it's very easy for people just to go
0:23:29 > 0:23:32and buy cut flowers from the supermarket and then just pop them
0:23:32 > 0:23:37in a vase, but I think to be able to grow your own flowers, cut them
0:23:37 > 0:23:41from the garden, put them together in a simple hand-tie like this,
0:23:41 > 0:23:43it's a very easy thing to do,
0:23:43 > 0:23:46but people are very unconfident about doing it.
0:23:46 > 0:23:49So, do you think people should just get stuck in there and have a go?
0:23:49 > 0:23:50- I really do.- Yeah.
0:23:52 > 0:23:56I think every wedding should embrace our floral heritage in this way.
0:23:57 > 0:24:01You don't get fresher or more British than these pretty,
0:24:01 > 0:24:04fragrant and colourful displays.
0:24:04 > 0:24:06So, do you find this bit rather nerve-racking,
0:24:06 > 0:24:08waiting to see how the bride responds?
0:24:08 > 0:24:10Yes. This is the worst bit. This is the worst bit.
0:24:10 > 0:24:12It's such an important part of someone's day
0:24:12 > 0:24:15that they have to be right. I do feel a bit sick.
0:24:19 > 0:24:21Ah, it's perfect. It's absolutely perfect.
0:24:21 > 0:24:23Are you pleased?
0:24:23 > 0:24:27I'm really, really pleased. They look amazing.
0:24:27 > 0:24:28I'm getting really sort of...
0:24:28 > 0:24:32- Ah!- I know. Just watching your reaction is wonderful.
0:24:35 > 0:24:39Is it important to you that these are all home-grown British flowers?
0:24:39 > 0:24:41It's really lovely, because it's like on the farm
0:24:41 > 0:24:44and so it kind of brings Lincolnshire into the barn
0:24:44 > 0:24:48and makes it feel just that sort of special extra touch, I think.
0:24:51 > 0:24:53Oh, thank you so much.
0:24:53 > 0:24:54You're very welcome.
0:24:54 > 0:24:58Well, there we are, you see? Flower power in action -
0:24:58 > 0:25:04that reaction to those flowers and the emotion that they brought!
0:25:04 > 0:25:08It's something so simple and yet so exquisite and heartfelt -
0:25:08 > 0:25:12home-grown, locally British flowers.
0:25:12 > 0:25:14It doesn't get any better.
0:25:18 > 0:25:22Back at Kelmarsh Hall I've shown you how to grow classic cut flowers,
0:25:22 > 0:25:25so now it's time to enjoy them indoors.
0:25:25 > 0:25:28Whether you're arranging flowers for a wedding
0:25:28 > 0:25:29or just for the kitchen table,
0:25:29 > 0:25:32there's a definite skill in cutting them
0:25:32 > 0:25:34then preparing them, and, of course, arranging them,
0:25:34 > 0:25:38so you get the absolute maximum from every single bloom.
0:25:43 > 0:25:44When it comes to cutting,
0:25:44 > 0:25:48first thing in the morning is absolutely ideal because the flowers
0:25:48 > 0:25:50are going to be really full of water
0:25:50 > 0:25:52that they've taken up during the night
0:25:52 > 0:25:56and so they'll be really strong and sturdy on the stems.
0:25:56 > 0:25:59And then, if you've got a bucket right next to you as you cut
0:25:59 > 0:26:03filled with fresh cool water, you pop them straight into that
0:26:03 > 0:26:06and that forces the water back up the stem to the flower.
0:26:08 > 0:26:11Make sure that your secateurs are really good and sharp
0:26:11 > 0:26:13so that you don't snag the plant and damage it.
0:26:13 > 0:26:15You could also use sharp scissors or snippers.
0:26:15 > 0:26:18And then go right the way down to the bottom here,
0:26:18 > 0:26:21just above the leaf joint and snip there,
0:26:21 > 0:26:24and then you'll encourage more blooms to develop and flower,
0:26:24 > 0:26:27and you'll get plenty of blooms for your buck.
0:26:35 > 0:26:38So before we fill up our lovely clean vase with water,
0:26:38 > 0:26:40I'm going to add to that water some flower food.
0:26:40 > 0:26:41Now you've probably seen these,
0:26:41 > 0:26:44you get them when you buy flowers from the shops,
0:26:44 > 0:26:46but it's just as easy to make your own.
0:26:46 > 0:26:48I've got two litres of water in here
0:26:48 > 0:26:52and I'm going to put in two teaspoons of sugar.
0:26:52 > 0:26:55That's carbohydrate so that will feed them,
0:26:55 > 0:26:59and then we're going to put in a little bit of thin household bleach.
0:26:59 > 0:27:01Not the gloopy stuff you use to put in the loo.
0:27:01 > 0:27:04Two teaspoons in there.
0:27:04 > 0:27:07That helps to kill off any bacteria.
0:27:07 > 0:27:09And then I've got some lemon juice here
0:27:09 > 0:27:13and we're going to double up and have four teaspoons of that in.
0:27:13 > 0:27:16It's just like cooking, really, isn't it?
0:27:16 > 0:27:18Now that is going to make sure
0:27:18 > 0:27:21that they really can take up that water nicely.
0:27:21 > 0:27:22It really is that simple.
0:27:26 > 0:27:30And finally, my favourite part, the arranging.
0:27:30 > 0:27:34I've cut some colourful dahlias, statuesque snapdragons,
0:27:34 > 0:27:38elegant cleome and one of my favourite herbs, dill.
0:27:39 > 0:27:41Arranging flowers is just the best.
0:27:41 > 0:27:44You know, it's that culmination of everything you've done
0:27:44 > 0:27:47up to that point, and there are no rules!
0:27:47 > 0:27:51What I'm doing with this type of dill is just creating a framework.
0:27:51 > 0:27:54It's almost like using those metal frames that you can buy
0:27:54 > 0:27:56for floristry, but here you've got a natural one,
0:27:56 > 0:27:58and instead of using a foliage base
0:27:58 > 0:28:01this is going to give me that lovely injection of a bright acidic green
0:28:01 > 0:28:03as well, which is a great contrast
0:28:03 > 0:28:06to these other strong colours I've chosen.
0:28:09 > 0:28:11And turn the vase as you go,
0:28:11 > 0:28:12particularly if you're going to have it
0:28:12 > 0:28:15in the middle of the room because you want to make sure
0:28:15 > 0:28:18that it's going to look good from every angle.
0:28:18 > 0:28:22The trick with doing flowers is knowing when you've finished.
0:28:23 > 0:28:27In here, I've only used four different types of flower,
0:28:27 > 0:28:30and in fact I think that's enough.
0:28:30 > 0:28:33You can over-egg the pudding. There we go.
0:28:33 > 0:28:36I think that's probably about right.
0:28:36 > 0:28:38I'm pleased with that. I think that's really effective.
0:28:43 > 0:28:46Fortunately, I'm not alone in my mission
0:28:46 > 0:28:48to bring back British cut flowers.
0:28:48 > 0:28:50Just outside York, Jill Hodgson
0:28:50 > 0:28:54and her daughter Peggy are highly successful flower growers
0:28:54 > 0:28:57who are championing the glories of our seasonal flowers
0:28:57 > 0:28:58from their farm.
0:28:58 > 0:29:02A friend asked me to grow some flowers for a wedding
0:29:02 > 0:29:04and I grew far too many,
0:29:04 > 0:29:07so I decided I would sell some at the end of the drive,
0:29:07 > 0:29:11and nobody was more surprised than me when people started buying my flowers
0:29:11 > 0:29:15and I realised that there was a market for British garden flowers,
0:29:15 > 0:29:17that these were different
0:29:17 > 0:29:19from what people were finding at the supermarket,
0:29:19 > 0:29:21and it's all grown from there.
0:29:23 > 0:29:27Jill and her daughter wanted to share their passion and expertise
0:29:27 > 0:29:30and bring like-minded growers together,
0:29:30 > 0:29:32so they set up a non-profit co-operative
0:29:32 > 0:29:34called Flowers From The Farm
0:29:34 > 0:29:38that now has an incredible 150 flower farmers across the UK
0:29:38 > 0:29:41who are fighting to get us all to buy local.
0:29:41 > 0:29:44There is a fantastic market for these flowers...,
0:29:46 > 0:29:49..for home-grown flowers, for the sort of varieties that have
0:29:49 > 0:29:53actually been grown in our gardens for hundreds of years,
0:29:53 > 0:29:56but sadly, over the last 30-50 years, they have disappeared.
0:29:59 > 0:30:03I hope I've shown you what an incredible array of cut flowers
0:30:03 > 0:30:08we can grow in British gardens. And my message is really very simple -
0:30:08 > 0:30:12the next time you want to brighten your home, well,
0:30:12 > 0:30:15celebrate our incredible horticultural heritage
0:30:15 > 0:30:17and buy UK-grown cut flowers
0:30:17 > 0:30:21or, better still, go one step further and grown your own.
0:30:25 > 0:30:29Next, Joe Swift is on the campaign trail for trees.
0:30:36 > 0:30:40What's not to love about trees? Take this silver birch, for example.
0:30:40 > 0:30:43It's got a lovely, huggable trunk.
0:30:43 > 0:30:46A lovely buttery-yellow autumn colour.
0:30:46 > 0:30:49And just to think that this tree has grown from a tiny little seed
0:30:49 > 0:30:53and it's going to outlive all of us. It's a beauty.
0:30:55 > 0:30:59Now only a measly 2% of Britain is covered in ancient woodland,
0:30:59 > 0:31:00and in our own back gardens
0:31:00 > 0:31:03we've fallen out of love with trees altogether.
0:31:03 > 0:31:06We're either scared of them - we think they're going to grow too big
0:31:06 > 0:31:08or what the neighbours may say about them,
0:31:08 > 0:31:13or we don't plant them in the first place because we think, "Why bother?
0:31:13 > 0:31:15"I'm never going to live to see them mature."
0:31:18 > 0:31:21I'm Joe Swift and I'm going to show you it's all about choosing
0:31:21 > 0:31:23the right tree for the right place.
0:31:23 > 0:31:27Join me for the Great British tree revival.
0:31:30 > 0:31:33To help rekindle our love of trees,
0:31:33 > 0:31:36I'll be showing you a selection of my favourites.
0:31:36 > 0:31:39Some of the leaves have gone a lovely pink, as well.
0:31:39 > 0:31:42You see them against a clear, blue sky on a day like this
0:31:42 > 0:31:45and it really makes you feel alive.
0:31:45 > 0:31:48I'll be learning about some new trees too.
0:31:48 > 0:31:51The really dark one, that's beautiful.
0:31:51 > 0:31:55I imagine that, with some silvery plants underneath
0:31:55 > 0:31:58or against a white background, would just look phenomenal.
0:31:59 > 0:32:02And helping plant trees fit for an Olympic athlete.
0:32:02 > 0:32:06The foliage will turn a lovely sort of orangey, even a gold colour.
0:32:06 > 0:32:08Do you think that might be significant?
0:32:08 > 0:32:11- Oh, maybe. I see what you did there. - Yeah.- Interesting.
0:32:23 > 0:32:26I've come to the Cambridge University Botanic Gardens
0:32:26 > 0:32:30because in my opinion it has one of the finest collection of trees
0:32:30 > 0:32:32for all different sizes of gardens.
0:32:32 > 0:32:34What better place to start my revival?
0:32:38 > 0:32:40Trees really are wonderful.
0:32:40 > 0:32:43Every size and form, choice of leaf shape and colour,
0:32:43 > 0:32:46flowers and berries, there's something for everyone.
0:32:48 > 0:32:50I guess I first really connected with trees when I was a kid.
0:32:50 > 0:32:54I used to love being up in them with my friends, and if I go into a garden
0:32:54 > 0:32:58without any trees at all, I just feel as if something is missing.
0:32:58 > 0:33:01They add plenty of height and lovely dappled shade underneath.
0:33:01 > 0:33:03How can you have a garden without one?
0:33:06 > 0:33:09Trees are essential to any good garden design
0:33:09 > 0:33:12and are the first thing you should consider before planting anything.
0:33:13 > 0:33:16They help set the scene and form the framework on which to
0:33:16 > 0:33:18hang the rest of the plants.
0:33:18 > 0:33:22But not only that, trees are living tower blocks for wildlife
0:33:22 > 0:33:24and essential to a healthy garden.
0:33:24 > 0:33:27They're the most important plant you'll ever buy
0:33:27 > 0:33:29because they'll be there for many years to come.
0:33:35 > 0:33:37Oak before ash, in for a splash.
0:33:37 > 0:33:39Ash before oak, in for a soak.
0:33:39 > 0:33:41It's just one piece of folklore that highlights
0:33:41 > 0:33:44how we've revered trees for centuries.
0:33:46 > 0:33:49We've relied on their wood for fuel and construction
0:33:49 > 0:33:52and celebrate their aesthetic beauty and splendour
0:33:52 > 0:33:53in our Great British landscape.
0:33:55 > 0:33:58It was the Victorians who planted them in our streets and parks
0:33:58 > 0:34:01to help bring green into the industrial landscape,
0:34:01 > 0:34:04and in Brighton they chose to plant the infamous elm,
0:34:04 > 0:34:08as I discovered from arboriculturist David Archer.
0:34:08 > 0:34:10So, David, why does Brighton in particular
0:34:10 > 0:34:12have such a wonderful collection of elms?
0:34:12 > 0:34:14Well, it's all down to our Victorian forefathers.
0:34:14 > 0:34:17When they finished building all the nice, comfortable villas
0:34:17 > 0:34:20and residential streets that surround the centre of the city,
0:34:20 > 0:34:24they planted the street rows along with elm.
0:34:24 > 0:34:28Primarily because they were resistant to salt,
0:34:28 > 0:34:33they tolerated exposure to strong winds and they liked alkaline soils.
0:34:33 > 0:34:37They thrived in this warm, seaside, maritime environment.
0:34:40 > 0:34:43So successful was the elm, Brighton and Hove now holds
0:34:43 > 0:34:45the largest single collection of elms in Europe,
0:34:45 > 0:34:49with an astonishing 130,000 specimens.
0:34:53 > 0:34:57But this iconic Victorian street tree later fell on hard times,
0:34:57 > 0:34:59putting it under threat of extinction in Britain.
0:35:01 > 0:35:02I think it was back in the '70s
0:35:02 > 0:35:05that I first heard about this Dutch elm disease,
0:35:05 > 0:35:07it was always in the press.
0:35:07 > 0:35:10It's a fungal disease that is spread by a beetle
0:35:10 > 0:35:12and it was absolutely devastating.
0:35:12 > 0:35:17In total, it wiped out over 25 million trees just in the UK alone.
0:35:20 > 0:35:24Brighton, however, became a unique sanctuary with a glimmer of hope.
0:35:24 > 0:35:28Some of their cherished elms are now in excess of 200 years old.
0:35:31 > 0:35:33These are absolutely spectacular.
0:35:33 > 0:35:36- They are really special trees, aren't they? They really are.- Wow.
0:35:36 > 0:35:39How come these haven't got Dutch elm disease or didn't get it?
0:35:39 > 0:35:43Well, it's really an accident of geography.
0:35:43 > 0:35:45We had natural barriers in place.
0:35:45 > 0:35:50The seafront to the south and the South Downs to the north.
0:35:50 > 0:35:54So the elm beetle found it really difficult to come into the city.
0:35:59 > 0:36:03Unfortunately, Brighton's natural defences haven't been enough to stop
0:36:03 > 0:36:07Dutch elm disease, and every year around 45 trees become infected,
0:36:07 > 0:36:09resulting in drastic measures.
0:36:16 > 0:36:18So this tree has got to come down, has it?
0:36:18 > 0:36:20It has indeed, yeah.
0:36:20 > 0:36:23It's got quite a deep infection of the Dutch elm disease.
0:36:23 > 0:36:25And how do you know? How can you tell?
0:36:25 > 0:36:29Initially, all you see is a brown staining or a dark bloom in
0:36:29 > 0:36:30the top of the tree.
0:36:30 > 0:36:33It will be universally green and then you'll just see a brown patch
0:36:33 > 0:36:35that just sticks out to the eye.
0:36:35 > 0:36:38The dark marks down in here are actually the fungus,
0:36:38 > 0:36:40- the disease itself. - That little bit of blue.
0:36:40 > 0:36:41All of that darkness.
0:36:41 > 0:36:43It should just look like Jersey cream.
0:36:43 > 0:36:45It should just look a lovely universal colour.
0:36:45 > 0:36:48And you can't just chop it out and hope for the best?
0:36:48 > 0:36:52If we get to the disease within the first few days to a week,
0:36:52 > 0:36:54sometimes we're really lucky
0:36:54 > 0:36:57and we've stopped it getting into the main trunk of the tree.
0:36:57 > 0:36:58So it's that quick, then?
0:36:58 > 0:37:01A few days to a week and literally it's just got to come down.
0:37:01 > 0:37:04The disease will show within two to three days
0:37:04 > 0:37:06and then it'll be in the trunk of the tree
0:37:06 > 0:37:08and then down into the ground in about two weeks.
0:37:12 > 0:37:15Unfortunately, Dutch elm disease isn't the only disease
0:37:15 > 0:37:17plaguing our trees in the UK.
0:37:17 > 0:37:21Currently ash, horse chestnut and oaks are also under threat.
0:37:26 > 0:37:28This tree is apparently about 100 years old.
0:37:28 > 0:37:32100 years to grow and about an hour to take down.
0:37:32 > 0:37:35It's absolutely tragic, but has to be done.
0:37:40 > 0:37:44Owing to this assault on our native species, now more than ever
0:37:44 > 0:37:48it's important to keep planting trees, but ornamental rather than
0:37:48 > 0:37:52native trees are much more appropriate in our own back gardens.
0:38:00 > 0:38:02Cambridge University Botanic Garden
0:38:02 > 0:38:06is the perfect place to see trees in the prime of their life.
0:38:07 > 0:38:09I'm going to show you three showstoppers
0:38:09 > 0:38:13that are guaranteed to breed life and interest into any garden.
0:38:16 > 0:38:18There are so many trees on offer
0:38:18 > 0:38:22but choosing the right one for the right spot is important.
0:38:22 > 0:38:25The key things to consider are its full height at maturity
0:38:25 > 0:38:27and how quick- or slow-growing it is.
0:38:31 > 0:38:35To help narrow things down, I'm going to look at three key attributes -
0:38:35 > 0:38:40autumn colour, berries and bark.
0:38:42 > 0:38:46This is Acer davidii and its common name is the snakebark maple,
0:38:46 > 0:38:50which it gets from the fissures in its branches.
0:38:50 > 0:38:53And on the younger branches its more pronounced,
0:38:53 > 0:38:56and on the older stem, the main trunk,
0:38:56 > 0:38:59it becomes deeper and more distorted
0:38:59 > 0:39:01and it gives it more character too.
0:39:01 > 0:39:04It feels so magical, standing beneath it, looking through to
0:39:04 > 0:39:07the sky above, and it's got a very wide canopy, this tree,
0:39:07 > 0:39:11so its perfect for the large- or medium-sized garden,
0:39:11 > 0:39:14but actually you can prune it back to keep it in check.
0:39:15 > 0:39:18I often use acers in my garden designs,
0:39:18 > 0:39:21but the mature specimens can come with the price tag to match,
0:39:21 > 0:39:24so it pays dividends to do a little bit of research
0:39:24 > 0:39:26before investing in one.
0:39:26 > 0:39:29Consider planting them in a sheltered spot away from harsh winds
0:39:29 > 0:39:32and preferably on a slightly acidic soil that doesn't dry out.
0:39:36 > 0:39:39If you like to see the mellow fruits of autumn, then look no further
0:39:39 > 0:39:41than the sorbus - or mountain ash - family.
0:39:44 > 0:39:47Berries range from white to pink and scarlet red,
0:39:47 > 0:39:51and they all make great trees for a small-to-medium-sized garden.
0:39:52 > 0:39:55Sorbus are best planted where you can see them from a window,
0:39:55 > 0:39:58and that's because all manner of wild birds and mammals
0:39:58 > 0:40:00will dine out on their bountiful berries.
0:40:02 > 0:40:05Like with any tree, plant them a good distance from buildings
0:40:05 > 0:40:09to make sure they don't block light or risk damaging structures.
0:40:09 > 0:40:11This one is perfectly positioned in an open lawn area.
0:40:13 > 0:40:17But if you want a great all-rounder with explosive autumn colour,
0:40:17 > 0:40:20then this tree is a great addition to any garden.
0:40:22 > 0:40:24Euonymus are commonly called spindle trees,
0:40:24 > 0:40:26and they're tough as old boots.
0:40:26 > 0:40:30This one is from North and East Asia, and is called sachalinensis.
0:40:30 > 0:40:34Only reaches about 3.5m tall, so it's perfect for a small garden.
0:40:34 > 0:40:37And at the moment it's got this amazing fruit on it.
0:40:37 > 0:40:40These are sort of pinky-red flowers and then orange fruit.
0:40:40 > 0:40:43Orange and red are not normally my favourite combination
0:40:43 > 0:40:45but they work beautifully on this tree.
0:40:45 > 0:40:48Actually, on some of the leaves, they've gone a lovely pink as well.
0:40:48 > 0:40:51You see them against a clear, blue sky on a day like this
0:40:51 > 0:40:55and it really makes you feel alive. I'm not the only one.
0:40:55 > 0:40:57There's a robin over there. It's absolutely loving it.
0:41:07 > 0:41:10Providing habitats and food for our wildlife is essential,
0:41:10 > 0:41:12and trees are a vital source.
0:41:12 > 0:41:15If we don't continue to plant trees in our gardens
0:41:15 > 0:41:17then our wildlife will suffer too.
0:41:19 > 0:41:22Birch trees support extensive communities of insects
0:41:22 > 0:41:23and other invertebrates.
0:41:23 > 0:41:28A whopping 334 species are known to feed on them.
0:41:28 > 0:41:31I went to see a fabulous collection of birch trees which was
0:41:31 > 0:41:33the labour of love for one man.
0:41:35 > 0:41:38The late Kenneth Ashburner sadly passed away
0:41:38 > 0:41:40just a couple of years ago.
0:41:40 > 0:41:44Since 1971, he spent much of his life collecting and planting seed
0:41:44 > 0:41:47of this ideal domestic tree in his Devonshire garden.
0:41:49 > 0:41:52His legacy now holds a National Collection status,
0:41:52 > 0:41:55and with over 170 varieties
0:41:55 > 0:41:59it makes it the perfect place to see them in their full maturity.
0:42:06 > 0:42:09Wow. Just look at the different tones in those rings.
0:42:09 > 0:42:10I'm in for a treat here.
0:42:11 > 0:42:16Kenneth's wife, June, recalls how he first got the bug for birch.
0:42:16 > 0:42:21So when Kenneth started collecting all these trees, what did you think?
0:42:21 > 0:42:25Well, I didn't realise that it could be attractive in our time, actually.
0:42:25 > 0:42:28I had no idea how quickly they could grow.
0:42:28 > 0:42:31And I thought, there was Kenneth at 40-plus -
0:42:31 > 0:42:32we'll never have a decent garden.
0:42:32 > 0:42:37Nobody had ever actually made a garden in this manner before.
0:42:37 > 0:42:40I honestly didn't know there was such a variety, coming here...
0:42:40 > 0:42:43Most people didn't think there was more than one kind of birch,
0:42:43 > 0:42:44- did they? - Yes, well, exactly.
0:42:44 > 0:42:46A white thing that grew all over the place.
0:42:50 > 0:42:54So how do they make you feel when you come into this garden?
0:42:54 > 0:42:58Well, I always remember him and I feel like I nearly see him, really,
0:42:58 > 0:43:03because he usually walked in the same sort of way
0:43:03 > 0:43:07and was interested in the same things as he looked around it.
0:43:08 > 0:43:11So his presence is still very much here, really?
0:43:11 > 0:43:12Oh, very much, I think.
0:43:12 > 0:43:15Nobody else could have made this garden, could they?
0:43:20 > 0:43:23These were Kenneth's favourite trees.
0:43:23 > 0:43:26Fantastic specimens, holding the space around them
0:43:26 > 0:43:29like a piece of sculpture in a gallery.
0:43:29 > 0:43:33And it was his vision 40 years ago to plant all these trees.
0:43:33 > 0:43:36But not plant them in regimented lines like a tree library,
0:43:36 > 0:43:40but to create a wonderful, beautiful garden out of them.
0:43:40 > 0:43:43And these trees will live on a long time,
0:43:43 > 0:43:46and sustain an incredible amount of life too.
0:43:50 > 0:43:54This precious collection of trees held in the five acre garden
0:43:54 > 0:43:58is cared for by a committed group of volunteers, including Sue Fisher.
0:44:01 > 0:44:03Sue, you volunteer your time here
0:44:03 > 0:44:05and the garden survives on volunteers like yourself.
0:44:05 > 0:44:07What is it about this garden?
0:44:08 > 0:44:10It's just a magical place.
0:44:11 > 0:44:14It's a wonderful opportunity to see it at different times of day,
0:44:14 > 0:44:17at different times of year, and see how the light changes
0:44:17 > 0:44:19throughout the seasons,
0:44:19 > 0:44:22and to think that these have been grown from tiny seedlings,
0:44:22 > 0:44:24and the chance to compare all these different varieties.
0:44:24 > 0:44:29This is Betula davurica from Japan. Amazing bark.
0:44:29 > 0:44:32The way it is just so shaggy. Full of insects too.
0:44:34 > 0:44:37I'm bowled over by the variety within this one species,
0:44:37 > 0:44:41but it's the delicate, peeling bark that really draws you in.
0:44:42 > 0:44:46And take this one, China rose. This is just a beautiful colour.
0:44:47 > 0:44:48It's gorgeous.
0:44:48 > 0:44:51They are the most tactile trees, aren't they? I have to say.
0:44:51 > 0:44:54But you do want to do a bit of tree-hugging with them.
0:44:54 > 0:44:55I love that bit of moss, there, as well.
0:44:55 > 0:44:58And what are those darker ones up there, then? They're gorgeous.
0:44:58 > 0:45:01The really dark one, Mount Logi, that's beautiful.
0:45:01 > 0:45:04Imagine that with some silvery plants underneath
0:45:04 > 0:45:08or against a white background - a stone wall, for example.
0:45:08 > 0:45:10It would just look phenomenal.
0:45:13 > 0:45:14I love to stand in one place,
0:45:14 > 0:45:18if I ever get the time, and watch how the light shifts and changes.
0:45:18 > 0:45:20It's nature's natural light show.
0:45:24 > 0:45:27Birch are incredibly important. They are a pioneer species,
0:45:27 > 0:45:30so they were the first trees on the block, as it were.
0:45:30 > 0:45:35They populate rocks and poor soils, as they can get their roots
0:45:35 > 0:45:40deep down into the ground and draw up those nutrients.
0:45:40 > 0:45:43They grow up and their leaves then just drop
0:45:43 > 0:45:46and create leaf litter, and build up the level of soil, so that other
0:45:46 > 0:45:51plants can start populating the same area and other trees come in too.
0:45:51 > 0:45:54They have one of those architectural qualities too, but they don't
0:45:54 > 0:45:59create lots of deep shade beneath, so they're perfect in urban settings,
0:45:59 > 0:46:03suburban settings, and they really are the tree for all seasons too.
0:46:03 > 0:46:05Great in spring and summer,
0:46:05 > 0:46:08and in autumn they have a beautiful buttery colour.
0:46:08 > 0:46:10And then in winter you can see their bark,
0:46:10 > 0:46:12which is what they're really all about.
0:46:12 > 0:46:15They can hold a garden together all by themselves.
0:46:26 > 0:46:28There are some stunning birch specimens
0:46:28 > 0:46:31here at Cambridge University Botanic Gardens too.
0:46:31 > 0:46:34A top tip is to plant them in a tight group of three,
0:46:34 > 0:46:36which creates a bold statement.
0:46:38 > 0:46:41If you only have space for one tree in your garden, then here is
0:46:41 > 0:46:44how to plant it and give it the best start in life.
0:46:49 > 0:46:53Trees of all types can fail to establish at an early age
0:46:53 > 0:46:56just due to basic care, really, so it's important to plant them
0:46:56 > 0:46:59right, make sure they establish themselves, and then give them
0:46:59 > 0:47:04a little bit of TLC, and they'll romp away and turn into fantastic trees.
0:47:05 > 0:47:09The telltale signs of an unhappy tree are that their leaves
0:47:09 > 0:47:12turn yellow or drop out of season.
0:47:12 > 0:47:14If this is the case, check that the soil is not waterlogged
0:47:14 > 0:47:18or bone-dry - these are the two biggest killers.
0:47:18 > 0:47:22Get to know your soil, and you can easily solve these problems.
0:47:24 > 0:47:27Now, organic matter you can add in.
0:47:27 > 0:47:31It's something like mushroom compost or well-rotted manure, or just
0:47:31 > 0:47:35garden compost. It's something just to beef up the soil.
0:47:35 > 0:47:38If you've got a very sandy soil, it will help retain moisture
0:47:38 > 0:47:41and slowly feed the plant at the same time.
0:47:41 > 0:47:44And if you have a really heavy clay soil,
0:47:44 > 0:47:48I would also advise putting in some grit or some sharp sand,
0:47:48 > 0:47:51to just loosen it up and just help the drainage a little bit.
0:47:53 > 0:47:55Now, as a lot of trees are grown in pots
0:47:55 > 0:47:57and the roots tend to go round in circles,
0:47:57 > 0:48:01if you actually dig a square hole, the roots eventually hit
0:48:01 > 0:48:06a flat bit of wall and grow out through it and they spread nicely.
0:48:07 > 0:48:10By gently teasing out a few roots, you'll help the tree
0:48:10 > 0:48:13establish itself more quickly.
0:48:13 > 0:48:15I'm just sort of loosening it up a little bit,
0:48:15 > 0:48:19but I'm keeping as much soil around the root ball as possible.
0:48:19 > 0:48:24And then any tree has a best facing side, like we all do.
0:48:24 > 0:48:28So just make sure that you rotate it
0:48:28 > 0:48:31so that it looks pretty happy in its setting.
0:48:31 > 0:48:33I think that will do really nicely there.
0:48:33 > 0:48:35And I'm just backfilling...
0:48:37 > 0:48:40And, as I go, I'm just making sure to firm
0:48:40 > 0:48:44it in, and I'm just going to lightly use my foot there, making sure that
0:48:44 > 0:48:48there's no real air gaps between the roots and the soil itself.
0:48:48 > 0:48:51So they're not just dangling in the middle of nowhere, where
0:48:51 > 0:48:52they're just going to dry out.
0:48:52 > 0:48:55The next thing I'm going to do is stake the tree.
0:48:55 > 0:48:58Actually, use a stake very low down, and what that means
0:48:58 > 0:49:01is that the tree actually has some flexibility
0:49:01 > 0:49:05and it can move around and it can build up its internal strength.
0:49:05 > 0:49:08Taking care not to drive the stake through the tree's root ball,
0:49:08 > 0:49:12angle your stake at 45 degrees and hammer it in.
0:49:12 > 0:49:15And then it's important to use a proper tree tie.
0:49:15 > 0:49:20Now, this has got a rubber bung, which sits between the stake and the
0:49:20 > 0:49:23tree, so it stops the two rubbing together and damaging the tree.
0:49:23 > 0:49:26It's really quite important.
0:49:26 > 0:49:29Fix a tree tie to the stake by hammering a nail in to stop
0:49:29 > 0:49:33it slipping, and check the tree tie every year to make sure it's
0:49:33 > 0:49:36not too tight. Now it's a case of just watering it in.
0:49:38 > 0:49:43With young trees, it's important that they don't dry out while they're
0:49:43 > 0:49:47establishing themselves, so give them a real deep soaking to the roots.
0:49:51 > 0:49:55Planting a tree is as British as fish and chips, and we see
0:49:55 > 0:49:58the royals planting at least one tree each every year, don't we?
0:49:58 > 0:50:01It's a symbol of long life and prosperity,
0:50:01 > 0:50:05but planting just one tree isn't enough for some people.
0:50:12 > 0:50:16Fabulous views here across Bath - amazing.
0:50:16 > 0:50:17Beautiful, isn't it?
0:50:17 > 0:50:21Adam Gretton's personal crusade is taking over his life
0:50:21 > 0:50:23and the land here in Bath.
0:50:24 > 0:50:27His vision is to plant trees all over the city, as he's
0:50:27 > 0:50:29concerned about the environment.
0:50:29 > 0:50:32Planting trees is one way that he believes you can
0:50:32 > 0:50:35offset your carbon footprint.
0:50:35 > 0:50:38Helped by a team of equally concerned volunteers,
0:50:38 > 0:50:43they've planted a staggering 3,500 trees across the district,
0:50:43 > 0:50:46ranging from public spaces to private gardens.
0:50:46 > 0:50:49It's great to be able to get a perspective on the city,
0:50:49 > 0:50:51and it's amazing how green it is, really.
0:50:51 > 0:50:53I live in London, such an urban environment,
0:50:53 > 0:50:56but the trees make a difference to your everyday life, I think.
0:50:56 > 0:50:59Yeah, they really do, you know. They're so good for your wellbeing
0:50:59 > 0:51:02and general health, as well as the environment.
0:51:02 > 0:51:04I mean, Bath is quite interesting because we're in this bowl,
0:51:04 > 0:51:07in this valley, and there is a historical problem with smog
0:51:07 > 0:51:10and pollution, so actually it's really important here.
0:51:10 > 0:51:11They're the lungs of the city...
0:51:11 > 0:51:14That's it. Improving the air quality. Yeah.
0:51:15 > 0:51:20Adam and his team of volunteers are no strangers here at the city farm.
0:51:20 > 0:51:24This community land is the perfect space to plant trees
0:51:24 > 0:51:27to benefit everyone in the neighbourhood.
0:51:27 > 0:51:30So, is it always community projects that you're involved in?
0:51:30 > 0:51:33Not always. Sometimes it's on a more individual basis.
0:51:33 > 0:51:35So probably the best example,
0:51:35 > 0:51:38a mate of mine wanted to offset his carbon footprint.
0:51:38 > 0:51:40He'd just bought a new four-wheel drive
0:51:40 > 0:51:42and was feeling a bit guilty about it,
0:51:42 > 0:51:46so he gave us some money to specifically offset
0:51:46 > 0:51:49- the exact amount of the emissions of his new car.- Right. OK.
0:51:49 > 0:51:52So how many trees did he have to plant for his new four-wheel drive?
0:51:52 > 0:51:56It was 35 trees. That's for two years' worth of offset.
0:51:56 > 0:52:00- Sounds like a deal, really. - Yeah, exactly. It's simple.
0:52:00 > 0:52:03Volunteers at the city farm are helping to keep the 35 young
0:52:03 > 0:52:06saplings weed-free during their early years,
0:52:06 > 0:52:09until they become established enough to look after themselves.
0:52:09 > 0:52:13This carbon-offset scheme doesn't stop there, however.
0:52:13 > 0:52:15It's now attracting all manner of local people
0:52:15 > 0:52:18who also want to get involved.
0:52:18 > 0:52:21- Ah, Rose, I've been expecting you. - Hi. Nice to meet you.
0:52:21 > 0:52:22Nice to meet you.
0:52:22 > 0:52:25Now, why do you want to plant a tree?
0:52:25 > 0:52:28I'm training for the next Winter Olympics, which is in February.
0:52:28 > 0:52:30Lots of travelling. Lots of air miles.
0:52:30 > 0:52:33We travel round in a van around Europe as well, so I'm just a bit
0:52:33 > 0:52:36more aware of my carbon footprint, so I'm just trying to reduce it.
0:52:36 > 0:52:38OK. What sport do you do?
0:52:38 > 0:52:40So I do skeleton and that's all based here in Bath.
0:52:40 > 0:52:42Skeleton? Hang on, hang on, what's skeleton?
0:52:42 > 0:52:45It's a winter sport, sliding head-first on your front
0:52:45 > 0:52:48at about 90mph...racing.
0:52:48 > 0:52:51- 90mph head-first? - Yep.- Are you mad?- Yes.
0:52:51 > 0:52:52BOTH LAUGH
0:52:52 > 0:52:55So have you done any calculations on your carbon footprint?
0:52:55 > 0:52:58I have, yeah. I've been online and had a look and tried to plug in
0:52:58 > 0:53:00some estimates of how much we travel,
0:53:00 > 0:53:02and it worked out that roughly
0:53:02 > 0:53:05one tree over a course of its lifetime would cover a whole season.
0:53:05 > 0:53:09Rose has chosen a mature cherry to plant here at the farm.
0:53:09 > 0:53:14So what we've got to do is get that tree out of its plastic wrapper.
0:53:15 > 0:53:18- Don't put your back out! - I don't...
0:53:18 > 0:53:21- You've got some serious training coming up.- Wahey.
0:53:21 > 0:53:24Right. I think you should put it in the hole, considering it's your tree.
0:53:24 > 0:53:29- Yep.- It's a significant moment. There you go. Beautiful.
0:53:29 > 0:53:31It's going to be a beautiful spring-flowering cherry.
0:53:31 > 0:53:33And now backfilling.
0:53:33 > 0:53:35Well, there you go, a beautifully planted tree.
0:53:35 > 0:53:37It just needs a bit of watering and staking,
0:53:37 > 0:53:39and hopefully it will be there a long time.
0:53:39 > 0:53:41Yeah, hopefully it will be. It will be good.
0:53:41 > 0:53:44The foliage will turn a lovely sort of orangey, even a gold colour.
0:53:44 > 0:53:46Do you think that might be significant?
0:53:46 > 0:53:48Oh, maybe. I see what you did there, yeah.
0:53:48 > 0:53:51- Interesting.- Yeah. Exactly. Let's hope so, anyway, eh?- Yep.
0:53:52 > 0:53:56Well, what a great scheme. It shows anybody can get involved.
0:53:56 > 0:53:59By planting trees, you can reduce your global footprint and,
0:53:59 > 0:54:04in turn, reduce global warming. And also, it's important for habitats,
0:54:04 > 0:54:06especially in towns and cities.
0:54:06 > 0:54:09But it's proved to me that you don't even need a garden to plant a tree.
0:54:15 > 0:54:18It's important to keep trees in tiptop condition.
0:54:18 > 0:54:21Here at Cambridge, I want to show you how to go about it with
0:54:21 > 0:54:23a spot of light pruning.
0:54:23 > 0:54:25Now, it's nothing to be afraid of,
0:54:25 > 0:54:28just a few simple steps to follow.
0:54:28 > 0:54:31Deciduous trees are best pruned in autumn or winter when they're
0:54:31 > 0:54:35dormant, but evergreen trees left till late winter or early spring.
0:54:40 > 0:54:43It's important to have the right tools for the job,
0:54:43 > 0:54:45and these are the essential tools.
0:54:45 > 0:54:49A pair of secateurs, a pair of loppers and a pruning saw,
0:54:49 > 0:54:54and they must all be really sharp and really clean as well.
0:54:54 > 0:54:58And the reason we actually prune a tree is for two main reasons.
0:54:58 > 0:55:01One is the aesthetics of the tree - to get a nice balanced canopy,
0:55:01 > 0:55:04to make it look good and really proud,
0:55:04 > 0:55:07and also for the health of the tree as well.
0:55:07 > 0:55:09So the first thing we're looking for are the three Ds -
0:55:09 > 0:55:11dead, diseased and damaged.
0:55:11 > 0:55:15So something like that, you can see, it's got absolutely no leaves on it.
0:55:15 > 0:55:17It's completely dead and that must come off
0:55:17 > 0:55:21because otherwise it can die back into the trunk and damage the tree.
0:55:21 > 0:55:25And when you're cutting, cut nice and flush
0:55:25 > 0:55:28and that's why you need a really sharp pair of secateurs,
0:55:28 > 0:55:30so they're cutting and they're not ripping the wood.
0:55:30 > 0:55:33Now, as you do your pruning, you might come across something
0:55:33 > 0:55:36like this, which is a crossing branch.
0:55:36 > 0:55:39One is touching the other and is rubbing against it,
0:55:39 > 0:55:41and is taking a layer of bark off it,
0:55:41 > 0:55:43so it's opening it up -
0:55:43 > 0:55:45creating a wound, as it were, and opening it up for infection,
0:55:45 > 0:55:48fungal or bacterial infection, that can get in there
0:55:48 > 0:55:51and really damage the tree. So you have to take one of those out.
0:55:51 > 0:55:53I'm just going to get around this side of the tree -
0:55:53 > 0:55:56gives me better access. There you go.
0:55:56 > 0:56:00Once you've got all the obvious wood out of the way, that needs to go,
0:56:00 > 0:56:04then you can stand back, make sure you're creating a nice, open shape.
0:56:04 > 0:56:07One of the key things is to try to make sure you get enough
0:56:07 > 0:56:09air into the canopy as possible
0:56:09 > 0:56:14because that means air circulation keeps the tree nice and healthy.
0:56:15 > 0:56:18At some point, you might want to get up on the stepladder just to
0:56:18 > 0:56:21reach something you couldn't get from the ground.
0:56:21 > 0:56:23But any higher than this, call in an expert.
0:56:25 > 0:56:26And there you go.
0:56:26 > 0:56:30Once you've taken out the dead, diseased and damaged wood
0:56:30 > 0:56:33and the crossing branches, often that's all you have to do.
0:56:33 > 0:56:34And then stand back.
0:56:34 > 0:56:37Keep looking back and see if you've got a nice, balanced
0:56:37 > 0:56:41shape of a tree, just like that, and there's no more work to do on it.
0:56:41 > 0:56:42It looks absolutely perfect.
0:56:48 > 0:56:52Just an hour or two of maintenance a year is all it takes to keep
0:56:52 > 0:56:55a tree in prime condition.
0:56:55 > 0:56:59But for one couple in the Midlands, they go one step further.
0:56:59 > 0:57:02Their unorthodox and meticulous pruning methods
0:57:02 > 0:57:04results in trees staying small,
0:57:04 > 0:57:06meaning they can grow loads of varieties,
0:57:06 > 0:57:10and proving you don't need masses of space to grow a tree.
0:57:11 > 0:57:15- You see, this one is lovely, isn't it?- Yeah. It's already changed.
0:57:15 > 0:57:16All plants want to get larger.
0:57:16 > 0:57:20In a confined space, you need a tree that you can keep to size,
0:57:20 > 0:57:23so we find the secret is to prune a little bit and often.
0:57:25 > 0:57:28In 1990, Tony and Marie Newton restructured
0:57:28 > 0:57:30and re-landscaped their town garden.
0:57:30 > 0:57:33The appearance is that of a traditional shrubbery,
0:57:33 > 0:57:37but underneath the varied palette of tightly pruned foliage hides
0:57:37 > 0:57:39a multitude of tree trunks.
0:57:40 > 0:57:44Their garden has now fully matured and the trees provide them
0:57:44 > 0:57:46all-year-round interest and structure.
0:57:46 > 0:57:49This particular area is a mixture of evergreens
0:57:49 > 0:57:51and deciduous plants.
0:57:51 > 0:57:54The trees here in this case are acers and, in the
0:57:54 > 0:57:57winter, I tend to pollard them quite heavily.
0:57:57 > 0:57:59And then, as they grow in the spring,
0:57:59 > 0:58:02I pinch out the growing tips and I've kept it quite compact.
0:58:02 > 0:58:04We planted that about 20 years ago
0:58:04 > 0:58:08and it would now be 30ft tall if we hadn't pruned it.
0:58:08 > 0:58:11Hey, look at that... It's 20 years old. That's amazing.
0:58:11 > 0:58:14That should be 30ft tall now.
0:58:14 > 0:58:17I think it's a lovely one to have in the garden, really.
0:58:17 > 0:58:18It's so amenable to pruning.
0:58:18 > 0:58:20We're passionate about trees because they add
0:58:20 > 0:58:22so much interest to the garden.
0:58:22 > 0:58:25Many of them become focal points at different times of the year.
0:58:25 > 0:58:28We've got colour throughout the seasons.
0:58:28 > 0:58:30We've got the bark, the berries.
0:58:30 > 0:58:33Everybody with a garden could plant a tree,
0:58:33 > 0:58:36but of course it has to be the right tree for the right space.
0:58:46 > 0:58:48Trees are essential for a healthy planet,
0:58:48 > 0:58:53and with very little attention they reward us with so much.
0:58:53 > 0:58:57Interesting bark, lovely berries, and then - just look at that -
0:58:57 > 0:58:59awesome autumn foliage as well.
0:59:02 > 0:59:06So join me in the Great British tree revival and plant a tree,
0:59:06 > 0:59:10not just for our generations, but for many generations to come.