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 > 0:00:20And rare wild flowers on the brink of extinction.
0:00:20 > 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 > 0:00:28Our passion for gardening.
0:00:28 > 0:00:31We're going to give you the best gardening tips.
0:00:31 > 0:00:33And reveal British gardens
0:00:33 > 0:00:36that will quite simply take your breath away.
0:00:38 > 0:00:40- It's time to plant.- And prune.
0:00:40 > 0:00:41And sharpen your shears.
0:00:41 > 0:00:46Let the Great British Garden Revival begin!
0:01:26 > 0:01:27On tonight's show,
0:01:27 > 0:01:30James Wong celebrates the wonders of tropical plants.
0:01:30 > 0:01:34But first, I champion the Great British lawn.
0:01:37 > 0:01:41Close your eyes and imagine the Great British lawn.
0:01:41 > 0:01:45You'll probably be thinking about a close-cut, velvet-green carpet,
0:01:45 > 0:01:49but for me, the British lawn means so much more than that.
0:01:52 > 0:01:56Our lawns once made the world green with envy.
0:01:56 > 0:02:00But today, this emblem of national pride flies at half-mast
0:02:00 > 0:02:02as lawns disappear from our gardens
0:02:02 > 0:02:04and the only greenery are the weeds
0:02:04 > 0:02:07sprouting from the cracks in the concrete.
0:02:09 > 0:02:13I'm Sarah Raven and I think it's time to let the grass grow back
0:02:13 > 0:02:16for the Great British lawn revival.
0:02:16 > 0:02:18On my campaign, I'll be showing you
0:02:18 > 0:02:21some of the greenest grass in Britain.
0:02:21 > 0:02:25The sort of depth and perfection of that green. I'm drooling!
0:02:25 > 0:02:28I'll be putting several types of lawn to the test.
0:02:28 > 0:02:30It's what you'd imagine our lawn to look like.
0:02:30 > 0:02:32As well as giving you great advice
0:02:32 > 0:02:37on keeping a traditional lawn looking fantastic all year round.
0:02:37 > 0:02:40Honestly, these bulbs will embellish your lawn for years.
0:02:46 > 0:02:49I'm at Polesden Lacey in Surrey.
0:02:49 > 0:02:52A 1,400-acre estate with this beautiful Edwardian house
0:02:52 > 0:02:55and 30 acres of formal garden.
0:02:55 > 0:02:58What better place to start my revival of the lawn?
0:03:01 > 0:03:05These grass terraces were designed as manicured showpieces.
0:03:05 > 0:03:08Status symbols on which to entertain royalty
0:03:08 > 0:03:11and frame these majestic views of the North Downs.
0:03:14 > 0:03:17While these lawns are immaculately maintained,
0:03:17 > 0:03:21in the households of Britain, we've lost seven million front lawns
0:03:21 > 0:03:24to car parking since 1996.
0:03:24 > 0:03:25And our back garden lawns
0:03:25 > 0:03:28have also been deserted for ease of maintenance.
0:03:30 > 0:03:32I believe this dangerous fashion threatens our wildlife,
0:03:32 > 0:03:34our environment
0:03:34 > 0:03:38and treasured childhood memories of the freshly-cut grass.
0:03:39 > 0:03:45My first memories of lawns was when I was quite a young girl.
0:03:45 > 0:03:47My father taught at the University at Cambridge
0:03:47 > 0:03:52and there were these very stern signs saying, "Keep off the grass."
0:03:52 > 0:03:55But when we were with him, we were allowed to run
0:03:55 > 0:03:59right the way across the middle of these amazing quads
0:03:59 > 0:04:02and it always felt rather naughty, but terribly exciting
0:04:02 > 0:04:04and I have loved lawns ever since.
0:04:05 > 0:04:08They're such a quintessential part of the British garden.
0:04:08 > 0:04:09I can't stand by and let this
0:04:09 > 0:04:13treasured institution slip into obscurity.
0:04:13 > 0:04:17The time for, "Keep Off The Grass," is over.
0:04:17 > 0:04:20I want us to run on it, jump on it
0:04:20 > 0:04:24and celebrate the green, green grass of home.
0:04:24 > 0:04:27While most of us no longer aspire to having the perfect patch of green,
0:04:27 > 0:04:30there are some people still really dedicated to their lawns.
0:04:32 > 0:04:34And just wait till you see this one.
0:04:36 > 0:04:39I'm visiting Gay and Chisholm Ogg to take a peak at the garden
0:04:39 > 0:04:43which was awarded Best Lawn in Britain for 2012.
0:04:43 > 0:04:45- Hello.- Welcome. Good to see you.
0:04:45 > 0:04:48- Hi.- Come and see Chisholm. - Thank you.
0:04:48 > 0:04:50Look at the lawn!
0:04:50 > 0:04:53It's absolutely magnificent!
0:04:53 > 0:04:58Of course, if you want to know what goes into growing the perfect lawn,
0:04:58 > 0:05:00you don't ask the gardener, you ask his wife.
0:05:01 > 0:05:04How much time does he spend out here?
0:05:04 > 0:05:06Well, obviously, when the lawn is growing
0:05:06 > 0:05:11and summer periods when it's been raining or so forth, a lot.
0:05:11 > 0:05:13The idea was that I should work with him in the garden,
0:05:13 > 0:05:16it should become a joint hobby.
0:05:16 > 0:05:18However, he didn't like my work.
0:05:18 > 0:05:20LAUGHTER
0:05:20 > 0:05:22I cut things the wrong way.
0:05:22 > 0:05:25And so by mutual consent, I don't help him.
0:05:25 > 0:05:27And you don't mind him spending so long out here?
0:05:27 > 0:05:29Not at all. It works very well.
0:05:29 > 0:05:31Sometimes we meet for lunch.
0:05:31 > 0:05:32LAUGHTER
0:05:32 > 0:05:37As a retired doctor, Chisholm tends his lawn with surgical precision.
0:05:37 > 0:05:39He spends up to 10 hours a day in his garden
0:05:39 > 0:05:44and much of that edging, mowing and perfecting the lawn.
0:05:44 > 0:05:48Well, I'm obsessional, I'm sure. I was obsessional when I was working.
0:05:48 > 0:05:49And I don't think I've changed.
0:05:49 > 0:05:53What are the key guides to success?
0:05:53 > 0:05:55The important thing is a good mower.
0:05:55 > 0:05:59By that, I mean a cylinder mower rather than a rotary.
0:05:59 > 0:06:01It gives a much nicer finish.
0:06:01 > 0:06:04I use a very old cylinder mower
0:06:04 > 0:06:05which I inherited from my mother.
0:06:05 > 0:06:07I'll mow twice a week.
0:06:07 > 0:06:10Very occasionally a third time, but twice a week is pretty standard.
0:06:10 > 0:06:13And how would you describe the perfect lawn keeper?
0:06:13 > 0:06:15Has he got to be male?
0:06:15 > 0:06:17No, but it's commonly male.
0:06:17 > 0:06:21Lawns are very much a male area.
0:06:21 > 0:06:27And when I...started to meet lots of gardeners,
0:06:27 > 0:06:30I realised the people who know about the plants tend to be the women
0:06:30 > 0:06:33and the people who know about the lawns tend to be the men.
0:06:33 > 0:06:35The lawn in this garden is used as a carpet
0:06:35 > 0:06:37that guides you through the beds,
0:06:37 > 0:06:41but I'm glad to say not all the grass is so closely cropped.
0:06:44 > 0:06:46You've got these areas of longer grass here.
0:06:46 > 0:06:48- Basically bulbs.- Right.
0:06:48 > 0:06:51The majority are daffodils, but there are other bulbs in here.
0:06:51 > 0:06:54There are hyacinths, there's some tulips, there's also some anemones.
0:06:54 > 0:06:58Anemone blanda. There's quite a lot. You can't mow down in a hurry.
0:06:58 > 0:07:02These areas are going to explode with colour in the spring
0:07:02 > 0:07:05and can be achieved so easily.
0:07:05 > 0:07:07Chisholm, what would you say to people
0:07:07 > 0:07:11who were thinking of putting concrete or gravel over their lawn
0:07:11 > 0:07:13and really giving up the lawn altogether?
0:07:13 > 0:07:15It would be a great shame.
0:07:15 > 0:07:18They are missing out on something which is very beautiful.
0:07:18 > 0:07:22It's another plant. If you're going to have a plant, you want it in good condition.
0:07:22 > 0:07:25It holds it all together
0:07:25 > 0:07:29and, er...I...I love it.
0:07:32 > 0:07:34Chisholm's passion is reminiscent of a bygone era
0:07:34 > 0:07:37when we put in the effort and took the time
0:07:37 > 0:07:40to make our gardens places to be proud of.
0:07:40 > 0:07:43I want to reignite that passion.
0:07:43 > 0:07:47And Chisholm's garden has reminded me of the perfect way of doing it.
0:07:50 > 0:07:53Here at Polesden Lacey, one of the most traditional ways
0:07:53 > 0:07:57of livening up a patch of green was by planting bulbs.
0:07:57 > 0:07:59And it really couldn't be simpler.
0:08:07 > 0:08:09When you're planting bulbs in grass,
0:08:09 > 0:08:11it's really good to go for the edges of your lawn.
0:08:11 > 0:08:14So I'm going to go in here under a tree.
0:08:14 > 0:08:15But if you've got a hedge or fence,
0:08:15 > 0:08:17that's a really good place to go, too.
0:08:17 > 0:08:20And the reason for that is it means you can mow in the middle
0:08:20 > 0:08:23all the way through the spring until June
0:08:23 > 0:08:25and then you can mow the edges, too,
0:08:25 > 0:08:28when the bulb foliage is dying back down.
0:08:28 > 0:08:30What you want to do is get...
0:08:30 > 0:08:32a good handful or two,
0:08:32 > 0:08:35and then almost like when you're playing skittles,
0:08:35 > 0:08:37you just want to throw them
0:08:37 > 0:08:41and scatter them in a very natural way.
0:08:41 > 0:08:43And then, if you plant them where they fall,
0:08:43 > 0:08:46it will just look really as if they've always been there,
0:08:46 > 0:08:48not kind of rigid and artificial.
0:08:48 > 0:08:51Where two fall like that, that's not going to work
0:08:51 > 0:08:54because they're going to compete with each other
0:08:54 > 0:08:55for all the food and water,
0:08:55 > 0:08:59so you just want to space them a little bit. They'll then work fine.
0:08:59 > 0:09:04Get a bulb planter. I really love using these
0:09:04 > 0:09:06because if you're planting loads of bulbs,
0:09:06 > 0:09:07you really start doing your back
0:09:07 > 0:09:10if you were just using a hand planter or even a trowel.
0:09:10 > 0:09:14So you just push it in with your weight
0:09:14 > 0:09:18and that will cut the core out of the grass.
0:09:22 > 0:09:23That's what we want.
0:09:25 > 0:09:28Once you've made your hole, put in a handful of compost
0:09:28 > 0:09:32to give your bulbs a nice soft bed to grow in.
0:09:32 > 0:09:35I'm putting daffodils in here.
0:09:35 > 0:09:37And they're one of the loveliest things in grass,
0:09:37 > 0:09:41but also, I really like snowdrops in under a tree.
0:09:41 > 0:09:43In the dappled shade, they do really well.
0:09:43 > 0:09:45And crocuses are wonderful out in the full sun
0:09:45 > 0:09:49because crocus in full sun open right out like a star
0:09:49 > 0:09:52and they just look really incredible,
0:09:52 > 0:09:55like a sort of painting, in February and March.
0:09:55 > 0:09:58You always want to plant three times the depth of a bulb.
0:09:58 > 0:10:01And so, for something like a daffodil,
0:10:01 > 0:10:06you're going about that deep and you don't need to feed them.
0:10:06 > 0:10:08That's the beauty of bulbs
0:10:08 > 0:10:11is all the food they need is stored in there.
0:10:13 > 0:10:15Pop that in...
0:10:16 > 0:10:19..and then the plug just goes in over the top.
0:10:19 > 0:10:23You can see the scars now, but they close over
0:10:23 > 0:10:25and they'll be totally invisible by spring.
0:10:25 > 0:10:27And then onto the next.
0:10:29 > 0:10:31This feels like quite a lot of hard work now,
0:10:31 > 0:10:35but really, honestly, these bulbs will embellish your lawn
0:10:35 > 0:10:38for years, decades even.
0:10:38 > 0:10:41And then in the spring, it's just wonderful.
0:10:41 > 0:10:44You come out one morning, the leaves have started
0:10:44 > 0:10:45and then within weeks,
0:10:45 > 0:10:48there's this wonderful, wonderful tapestry of colour.
0:10:48 > 0:10:51And that's what's so lovely about bulbs in grass.
0:10:55 > 0:10:59Bulbs are a simple way to restore some pride into a tired lawn,
0:10:59 > 0:11:02but there are places where the grass is always greener.
0:11:11 > 0:11:16I'm meeting Tom Fort, an author and self-confessed lawn fanatic,
0:11:16 > 0:11:19in the gardens of Worcester College in Oxford.
0:11:19 > 0:11:21We've come to see one of the last bastions
0:11:21 > 0:11:22of the perfect British lawn
0:11:22 > 0:11:26and one of the most important pieces of turf at the university.
0:11:28 > 0:11:32Now, Sarah, I want you to prepare yourself for major excitement.
0:11:32 > 0:11:36- Good.- We're going to go through this entrance here
0:11:36 > 0:11:38into another grass world altogether.
0:11:38 > 0:11:40Well, I can't wait.
0:11:44 > 0:11:47Wow! What a place! Look at that!
0:11:47 > 0:11:49It's incredibly beautiful.
0:11:49 > 0:11:51I mean, you couldn't get more perfect than that, could you?
0:11:51 > 0:11:55Nothing more quintessentially British than that sight, is there?
0:11:57 > 0:11:59- I'm drooling.- Yeah.
0:11:59 > 0:12:02The sort of depth and perfection of that green.
0:12:02 > 0:12:06To have grass like this is a fulltime job.
0:12:06 > 0:12:09The reward is when you get a spectacle
0:12:09 > 0:12:12and people like us wandering around saying how fantastic it is.
0:12:12 > 0:12:14So, when was the great moment of the lawn?
0:12:14 > 0:12:16When would you say was the heyday?
0:12:16 > 0:12:18Maybe the '50s and '60s.
0:12:18 > 0:12:23When mechanical mowers became cheap enough for everyone to have one.
0:12:23 > 0:12:27Before the invention of the lawn mower in 1830,
0:12:27 > 0:12:31you needed a flock of sheep or an army of men with scythes
0:12:31 > 0:12:33to keep your grass closely cropped.
0:12:33 > 0:12:38In the middle of the 20th century, there was a boom in cheaper mowers
0:12:38 > 0:12:42and Britain was given the incentive to give grass-growing a go.
0:12:42 > 0:12:45This machine makes all of this possible.
0:12:45 > 0:12:50The mechanical mower enabled people to have lawns
0:12:50 > 0:12:52big and small all over the place.
0:12:52 > 0:12:57But for the sort of billiard-cloth effect, you need this.
0:12:57 > 0:13:01My goodness, I wish I... Can I have a go?
0:13:05 > 0:13:06What a machine!
0:13:06 > 0:13:08Nowhere else in the garden
0:13:08 > 0:13:12can boys have so much fun with their toys.
0:13:12 > 0:13:13A lawn could be the perfect way
0:13:13 > 0:13:16to get your man outside in the fresh air.
0:13:16 > 0:13:20Today, the task of keeping this spectacular lawn looking pristine
0:13:20 > 0:13:24falls to the head gardener, Simon Bagnall, and his team.
0:13:24 > 0:13:27Is there any way that one can have a lawn, not as perfect as this,
0:13:27 > 0:13:29but that is quite low-maintenance?
0:13:29 > 0:13:32I think there are key points that you need to remember.
0:13:32 > 0:13:34Grass needs to be cut regularly.
0:13:34 > 0:13:37If you can water it, then that helps.
0:13:37 > 0:13:41If you can reduce the wear on it, then that clearly helps, as well.
0:13:41 > 0:13:43Tell me about your lawn at home.
0:13:43 > 0:13:45I imagine it's not that sort of standard, but is it good?
0:13:45 > 0:13:48I have to hang my head in shame here a little bit,
0:13:48 > 0:13:50um...we've actually dug our lawn up at home.
0:13:50 > 0:13:52No, you haven't!
0:13:52 > 0:13:56So you're part of the trend of getting rid of the lawn!
0:13:56 > 0:13:59And there you are looking after this and at home, you've got rid of it.
0:13:59 > 0:14:03Yeah. We have a small garden, two children
0:14:03 > 0:14:06and the two don't mix, so...
0:14:06 > 0:14:10You're meant to be one of the people helping me on my quest
0:14:10 > 0:14:13and then I find you're a traitor to the cause.
0:14:13 > 0:14:14I know. I'm sorry.
0:14:14 > 0:14:18With even expert groundsmen replacing their lawns with hard surfaces,
0:14:18 > 0:14:21it's clear my revival has come just in time.
0:14:24 > 0:14:29Polesden Lacey take great pride in making their lawn terraces sparkle.
0:14:29 > 0:14:33I'm meeting the garden and countryside manager, Simon Ackroyd,
0:14:33 > 0:14:35for the ultimate masterclass in lawn care.
0:14:44 > 0:14:47Simon, I imagine on this sort of scale,
0:14:47 > 0:14:50you don't look after the lawns with hand tools.
0:14:50 > 0:14:51You must use machines.
0:14:51 > 0:14:54Yeah. Thankfully, we have got a whole load of really fancy kit,
0:14:54 > 0:14:57which is perfect for using on all these lawns here.
0:14:57 > 0:15:00But in a small garden, there are certain things that you can do
0:15:00 > 0:15:03which would replicate exactly what we do here.
0:15:03 > 0:15:06To start with, we're just doing a little bit of scarifying here.
0:15:06 > 0:15:09Just scrapping the rake over the grass
0:15:09 > 0:15:11just to remove some of the dead material.
0:15:11 > 0:15:13OK, so this is sort of opening it up
0:15:13 > 0:15:16and that's really important for the grass to grow well.
0:15:16 > 0:15:19Yes. Basically, it's the first stage of what we call aeration.
0:15:19 > 0:15:22So it's just allowing the air just to get around each blade of grass.
0:15:22 > 0:15:25It's a good idea to scarify every three months,
0:15:25 > 0:15:27but the key time is in the autumn,
0:15:27 > 0:15:30before the grass goes to sleep for the winter.
0:15:30 > 0:15:35Once clear, you can begin the rather brutal process of spiking the lawn.
0:15:35 > 0:15:37There are special tools to do this,
0:15:37 > 0:15:40but a pitchfork works just as well.
0:15:40 > 0:15:42It may look a bit severe, but this will give your lawn
0:15:42 > 0:15:45a much fuller finish and encourage new root growth.
0:15:45 > 0:15:48I do love lawns
0:15:48 > 0:15:50because you've got millions and millions of plants
0:15:50 > 0:15:52all just in one little space.
0:15:52 > 0:15:54So even if you've got a small garden,
0:15:54 > 0:15:57I think there should always be an opportunity for a lawn.
0:15:57 > 0:16:00Well, I reckon between us, we've aerated this quite well.
0:16:00 > 0:16:02- I think we probably have, haven't we?- So, what's next?
0:16:02 > 0:16:06Now we've created the holes, we want to put some top dressing into it.
0:16:06 > 0:16:08So this is the top dressing here.
0:16:08 > 0:16:11So sand, garden soil and a bit of organic matter.
0:16:11 > 0:16:16And you just flick it...like that, on the surface.
0:16:16 > 0:16:17Yes, yes, yes.
0:16:17 > 0:16:19- Um...- Can I have a go?
0:16:19 > 0:16:20You certainly can. There you go.
0:16:22 > 0:16:24So, it's all in the flick of the wrist?
0:16:24 > 0:16:27It's all in the wrist, so just bring it behind yourself...
0:16:27 > 0:16:28OK. You did it in a very nice...
0:16:28 > 0:16:31..in an arch, and just as it comes forward, flick it over.
0:16:31 > 0:16:33- Oh!- Very good. That's perfect.
0:16:33 > 0:16:35This final step will improve the soil
0:16:35 > 0:16:39and Simon uses a brush to get the mixture into the holes
0:16:39 > 0:16:41and as close as possible to those shallow grass roots.
0:16:41 > 0:16:44Within a few weeks, you'll see fresh shoots
0:16:44 > 0:16:47begin to give your lawn a whole new lease of life.
0:16:56 > 0:17:01On this revival, I want to find out what we really want from our lawns.
0:17:01 > 0:17:03So I've come to a turf grower in Hampshire
0:17:03 > 0:17:06to put three very different types of lawn to the test.
0:17:08 > 0:17:10A traditional turf,
0:17:10 > 0:17:11a wild flower turf
0:17:11 > 0:17:13and some artificial grass.
0:17:15 > 0:17:19To see which would work best in a typical British garden,
0:17:19 > 0:17:21I've enlisted the help of a typical British family.
0:17:23 > 0:17:27This is the Skeet family, and they're having lawn issues.
0:17:28 > 0:17:31Our garden has been ruined by these.
0:17:31 > 0:17:33- By the boys?- Yes.
0:17:33 > 0:17:37Um...we recently had a paddling pool and that has killed the grass.
0:17:37 > 0:17:41Um...ball games, everything.
0:17:41 > 0:17:43It's...it's ruined.
0:17:44 > 0:17:45We've armed them with a picnic
0:17:45 > 0:17:49to see which of the three lawns the Skeets will favour.
0:17:49 > 0:17:51The first is a traditional lawn,
0:17:51 > 0:17:53using a hardwearing mix of grasses.
0:17:53 > 0:17:56It's kind of what you'd imagine our lawn to look like.
0:17:56 > 0:17:58It's soft on your feet. I like it.
0:17:58 > 0:17:59Yeah, it is quite.
0:17:59 > 0:18:02Costing £5.00 per square metre,
0:18:02 > 0:18:05this lawn needs looking after and regular mowing.
0:18:06 > 0:18:07My only thing about this,
0:18:07 > 0:18:10I don't want to be spending all my life mowing.
0:18:10 > 0:18:13Well, you never mow, so I wouldn't worry about that.
0:18:13 > 0:18:16Clearly, mowing is an issue,
0:18:16 > 0:18:19so maybe our second lawn will be more appealing.
0:18:19 > 0:18:22Grown from a mix of wild flowers and less vigorous grasses,
0:18:22 > 0:18:25this lawn would only need mowing annually,
0:18:25 > 0:18:28as well as being hardwearing and great for the environment.
0:18:31 > 0:18:34Instantly, it kind of looks like you just haven't bothered.
0:18:34 > 0:18:39It is quite nice wild, but it's not what I would class as a nice lawn.
0:18:39 > 0:18:42I think this would be quite good as a front lawn that you don't really use,
0:18:42 > 0:18:45but I'm not sure it's like a kid lawn.
0:18:45 > 0:18:48No. And also bugs.
0:18:48 > 0:18:51Well, Melissa, those bugs are huge bonus
0:18:51 > 0:18:55and help create a really biodiverse garden.
0:18:55 > 0:18:59At just £10 a square metre, you, too, could have a wild flower meadow
0:18:59 > 0:19:02rolled out in your garden.
0:19:02 > 0:19:06Leaving the wild flowers behind, our family moves to our final lawn.
0:19:06 > 0:19:10This one needs no mowing or maintenance
0:19:10 > 0:19:13and is perhaps the most hardwearing of all,
0:19:13 > 0:19:16but unfortunately, it's completely artificial.
0:19:18 > 0:19:20I think I can fall asleep on this.
0:19:20 > 0:19:25At over £30 a square metre, it's the most expensive surface.
0:19:25 > 0:19:27And while it'll keep that evergreen appearance,
0:19:27 > 0:19:30it does nothing for wildlife or insects.
0:19:30 > 0:19:33What do you think of this grass, then, boys?
0:19:33 > 0:19:34It's good when you're itchy.
0:19:34 > 0:19:37It's good when you're itchy. Why is it good when you're itchy?
0:19:37 > 0:19:41Because it's scratchy and it tickles.
0:19:41 > 0:19:44Having had a good roll around on all our lawns,
0:19:44 > 0:19:48it's time to find out where the grass grows greenest for the Skeet family.
0:19:48 > 0:19:51It's decision time. You've tried all three lawns,
0:19:51 > 0:19:54so when I say go, run to your favourite.
0:19:54 > 0:19:56OK? Go!
0:19:58 > 0:19:59LAUGHTER
0:20:02 > 0:20:03Well, there we are!
0:20:03 > 0:20:04LAUGHTER
0:20:04 > 0:20:08I'm very proud of the boys, who've got in touch with their wild side
0:20:08 > 0:20:11and chosen the lawn that does the most for the environment.
0:20:11 > 0:20:14Melissa and Michael, however, have a little explaining to do.
0:20:16 > 0:20:20From a practical perspective, with young kids, this would do the job.
0:20:20 > 0:20:25Are you not worried about this being a completely sterile environment?
0:20:25 > 0:20:28I mean, it's not as bad as concrete because it's water permeable,
0:20:28 > 0:20:32but this has nothing for wildlife at all.
0:20:32 > 0:20:33I think it would be a concern,
0:20:33 > 0:20:38however, we've got a front garden that's more for wildlife.
0:20:38 > 0:20:42It would be a concern if the back garden was the only garden we had.
0:20:42 > 0:20:46Have you been influenced by what the two boys have decided?
0:20:46 > 0:20:48No, to be honest.
0:20:48 > 0:20:50LAUGHTER
0:20:50 > 0:20:53The boys might not be getting their own way this time,
0:20:53 > 0:20:57but as we continue to lose more and more of our green spaces,
0:20:57 > 0:21:01then lawns like these are key in helping to protect our environment.
0:21:01 > 0:21:03I'm meeting Steve Head,
0:21:03 > 0:21:07an old friend and expert in biodiversity in our gardens.
0:21:07 > 0:21:10As someone keen on biodiversity,
0:21:10 > 0:21:13what do you think a lawn should look like?
0:21:13 > 0:21:17If you'd asked me 20 years ago when my children were young
0:21:17 > 0:21:18and, frankly, a pain in the neck,
0:21:18 > 0:21:21what I had was a lawn that they could ride bikes on,
0:21:21 > 0:21:23they could run around on,
0:21:23 > 0:21:25they could try and knock a tennis ball about on.
0:21:25 > 0:21:29It had to be strong and it had to be fairly low cut.
0:21:29 > 0:21:32And you're not going to get a lot of flowers under those circumstances.
0:21:32 > 0:21:36Now, I'd like my lawn to be manageable,
0:21:36 > 0:21:39but to be full of colour and flower and particularly movement.
0:21:39 > 0:21:42Because what I really like to see is the insects using it.
0:21:42 > 0:21:43The butterflies, the bees.
0:21:43 > 0:21:46And if you've got a conventional lawn,
0:21:46 > 0:21:48if you've got the guts to stop mowing part of it,
0:21:48 > 0:21:51you'll be amazed what comes up afterwards.
0:21:51 > 0:21:53You get all kinds of plants coming up.
0:21:53 > 0:21:56People are taking lawns out of their gardens
0:21:56 > 0:21:58and replacing them with paving and decking.
0:21:58 > 0:22:01- And is that an issue? Does it matter? - Yes, it does matter.
0:22:01 > 0:22:03Because the only thing that decking encourages
0:22:03 > 0:22:05in terms of biodiversity is rats,
0:22:05 > 0:22:08which really like the space, they can hide underneath it.
0:22:08 > 0:22:11But if you put concrete down or decking,
0:22:11 > 0:22:14then you're essentially denying that area of garden for wildlife.
0:22:14 > 0:22:18And if we cover more and more of our city and urban space with concrete,
0:22:18 > 0:22:22then the water runs off rather than soaking into the soil
0:22:22 > 0:22:24and replenishing the soil resources
0:22:24 > 0:22:26and you get floods downstream.
0:22:26 > 0:22:28So there's a lot to be said against concrete.
0:22:28 > 0:22:30So it's definitely hooray for the lawn.
0:22:30 > 0:22:34It's hooray for the lawn, but there's all sorts of ways
0:22:34 > 0:22:37of making an ordinary, British, boring lawn
0:22:37 > 0:22:39more interesting than perhaps it is now.
0:22:46 > 0:22:51The gardens here at Polesden Lacey have 300,000 visitors a year.
0:22:51 > 0:22:54That's an awful lot of feet on these beautifully-kept lawns.
0:22:54 > 0:22:56Your lawn might not have that problem,
0:22:56 > 0:23:00but it still may well be in need of some TLC.
0:23:04 > 0:23:06I'm in the peony garden
0:23:06 > 0:23:11and this bit of grass looks like it's in need of its own revival.
0:23:11 > 0:23:14It gets a lot of footfall here and that's why it's got so worn.
0:23:14 > 0:23:16But you may have patches in your own garden.
0:23:16 > 0:23:20So the first thing you want to do is break up the soil surface.
0:23:20 > 0:23:22And I'm going to do that with a rake.
0:23:22 > 0:23:25Or you could do it with a hand fork.
0:23:25 > 0:23:27You just want to get a rougher texture...
0:23:28 > 0:23:32..so that the seeds can take in the soil.
0:23:34 > 0:23:36So that's fine.
0:23:36 > 0:23:41And then I'm going to use not just rye grass,
0:23:41 > 0:23:43which I've got here, the seed,
0:23:43 > 0:23:46but I'm actually mixing in something really exciting,
0:23:46 > 0:23:48which is a micro clover.
0:23:48 > 0:23:52And what that means is it's basically a really tiny-leaved clover
0:23:52 > 0:23:54and they've become very fashionable
0:23:54 > 0:23:56because they have lots of advantages over grass.
0:23:56 > 0:23:59They look great from a distance, tiny leaves
0:23:59 > 0:24:01and they're green throughout the whole year.
0:24:01 > 0:24:03They're a clover, so they fix nitrogen,
0:24:03 > 0:24:06so the grass does not need feeding at all.
0:24:06 > 0:24:09And then I'm just going to sprinkle my seed in.
0:24:09 > 0:24:11Not too thick.
0:24:11 > 0:24:15About a handful per square metre.
0:24:15 > 0:24:18And also, you want to scatter a bit around the edges, too.
0:24:18 > 0:24:21Thinner than in the main part.
0:24:21 > 0:24:23But that then merges the whole thing,
0:24:23 > 0:24:27so you don't get a really green bit and then less so around the edges.
0:24:29 > 0:24:31And it's really as simple as that.
0:24:31 > 0:24:34Then all I need to do is just rake it again.
0:24:36 > 0:24:40Just rake the seed in and then just a little bit of water.
0:24:40 > 0:24:41And the final thing...
0:24:43 > 0:24:46..is just to cover it over with some netting
0:24:46 > 0:24:48to protect it from the birds.
0:24:48 > 0:24:51Because otherwise, they'll come and eat the seed.
0:24:51 > 0:24:55Within four to five weeks, it will germinate and fill in the patch
0:24:55 > 0:24:56and the lawn will look as good as new.
0:24:56 > 0:24:59And how long did that take? A matter of minutes.
0:24:59 > 0:25:01It couldn't be easier, it couldn't be quicker
0:25:01 > 0:25:04and I've now got an immaculate lawn.
0:25:06 > 0:25:08You could sow a whole lawn this way.
0:25:08 > 0:25:12And although cheaper than turf, it'll take about six weeks to establish.
0:25:18 > 0:25:22If you like the idea of finding more unusual species within your lawn,
0:25:22 > 0:25:25then there is a very modern option, too.
0:25:26 > 0:25:30Wow! This is it. And it's flowering plants in a complete carpet
0:25:30 > 0:25:33and no grasses at all. And that's the point.
0:25:34 > 0:25:36This is Avondale Park in London,
0:25:36 > 0:25:39where Lionel Smith has spent the past four years
0:25:39 > 0:25:42developing a new type of garden cover.
0:25:42 > 0:25:44It's hardwearing, colourful
0:25:44 > 0:25:47and only needs mowing three times a year.
0:25:47 > 0:25:50I approached this as a horticulturalist.
0:25:50 > 0:25:52I wanted to make something beautiful.
0:25:52 > 0:25:55You can look out of your window and see a plain green square.
0:25:55 > 0:25:58And I wanted that space to be full of colour and life
0:25:58 > 0:26:01rather than just the simple, standard
0:26:01 > 0:26:03monoculture that we would normally have.
0:26:03 > 0:26:07So I think there is a way forward for very low management,
0:26:07 > 0:26:11very high floral, very high biodiversity approach to lawn space.
0:26:11 > 0:26:13A bit more exciting, really.
0:26:13 > 0:26:16Yeah. It's a lawn for the 21st century. Definitely.
0:26:16 > 0:26:20Another huge advantage over a traditional lawn
0:26:20 > 0:26:23are the incredible aromas this garden creates
0:26:23 > 0:26:27as they entice you to explore the flora in more detail.
0:26:27 > 0:26:31This is mentha pulegium, a Corsican mint.
0:26:31 > 0:26:33- A good rub and a smell. - Oh, yeah. That's incredible!
0:26:33 > 0:26:36I mean, that smells so minty, doesn't it?
0:26:36 > 0:26:38This one is lawn camomile.
0:26:38 > 0:26:41So, how many species are there in this small area?
0:26:41 > 0:26:44We've got 65 species and their cultivars.
0:26:44 > 0:26:47When you compare that to a little patch of your garden lawn,
0:26:47 > 0:26:51which is usually made from between two and five species of grass,
0:26:51 > 0:26:53none of which produce... nectar,
0:26:53 > 0:26:58um...you can see how there is a big improvement for certainly the bees.
0:27:01 > 0:27:03All these low-growing flowering plants
0:27:03 > 0:27:05were grown individually in their own trays
0:27:05 > 0:27:09and then planted randomly, like tiles on a kitchen floor.
0:27:09 > 0:27:11This allowed the plants to move
0:27:11 > 0:27:14and mould themselves into a seamless tapestry.
0:27:16 > 0:27:18The whole thing continually evolves
0:27:18 > 0:27:22in response to the environment and the location you find them in.
0:27:22 > 0:27:24In a few years, we might be able
0:27:24 > 0:27:27to walk into any garden centre around the country
0:27:27 > 0:27:30and be able to buy 10 of your tiles
0:27:30 > 0:27:32and go and lay them out in our garden.
0:27:32 > 0:27:35I'm hoping so. I really am hoping so.
0:27:39 > 0:27:44Lionel is not the only person experimenting with the lawn.
0:27:44 > 0:27:46This is Carol Pashkevich
0:27:46 > 0:27:51and this is her heavily-scented, low-maintenance alternative to grass.
0:27:51 > 0:27:53Camomile.
0:27:53 > 0:27:56This is the true camomile lawn.
0:27:56 > 0:28:00It only took maybe one season to be as you see it now.
0:28:02 > 0:28:04Anybody could grow a camomile lawn.
0:28:04 > 0:28:08I think it's much more simpler than having an ordinary grass lawn.
0:28:08 > 0:28:13You plant camomile treneague, which is the traditional lawn camomile.
0:28:13 > 0:28:15As long as you keep them watered,
0:28:15 > 0:28:19they'll spread into the mat of camomile that you see now.
0:28:19 > 0:28:23Straightforward to plant and easy to maintain,
0:28:23 > 0:28:26this is a lawn that will always impress.
0:28:26 > 0:28:29- It's just like going in the sea, I think.- Yeah. Yeah.
0:28:29 > 0:28:31I feel as though a wave is going to come any second, don't you?
0:28:31 > 0:28:34- Making tea, that would be a bonus, wouldn't it?- Yes, it would.
0:28:34 > 0:28:39It's quite amazing how people absolutely love the camomile.
0:28:39 > 0:28:42It's just such a wonderful sort of springy sensation
0:28:42 > 0:28:45when you tread on it and then the scent's released.
0:28:45 > 0:28:47It's quite a surprise to a lot of people.
0:28:47 > 0:28:49Anybody could do it. It's very easy to look after.
0:28:49 > 0:28:51You don't need to mow it.
0:28:51 > 0:28:54And that's as simple as it. That's all you really need to do.
0:28:54 > 0:28:57Really, it's something that ought to be revived,
0:28:57 > 0:29:01so I hope that a lot of people will want to be inspired
0:29:01 > 0:29:04and have a go at growing one themselves.
0:29:13 > 0:29:16For me, this has been an enlightening journey
0:29:16 > 0:29:19that's shown me how versatile the lawn can be.
0:29:22 > 0:29:25The cornerstone of the British garden,
0:29:25 > 0:29:29these green swathes should be a source of national pride.
0:29:29 > 0:29:32It's time to put the lawn back where it belongs.
0:29:32 > 0:29:34I hope you're all ready now
0:29:34 > 0:29:37to give the Great British lawn a second chance.
0:29:37 > 0:29:41So join the revival and help to make ours
0:29:41 > 0:29:43a green and pleasant land once more.
0:29:45 > 0:29:50Next, James Wong is on another garden revival campaign.
0:29:55 > 0:29:57Exotic gardens like this one
0:29:57 > 0:30:00can transport you to anywhere in the world.
0:30:00 > 0:30:03Step in amongst these monster gunnera
0:30:03 > 0:30:05and you're in South America.
0:30:07 > 0:30:09With this congo cockatoo, you could be in Africa.
0:30:12 > 0:30:17With these incredible tree ferns, you could even be in Australia.
0:30:19 > 0:30:24For me, there is nothing more intoxicating than a tropical garden.
0:30:24 > 0:30:27Fuelled by the exploits of the early plant hunters,
0:30:27 > 0:30:30these little corners of paradise were treasured by the Victorians.
0:30:30 > 0:30:33But our love for the exotic has diminished
0:30:33 > 0:30:36and sadly, tropical gardening is perceived as unfashionable,
0:30:36 > 0:30:39expensive and hard work.
0:30:39 > 0:30:41But I completely disagree.
0:30:41 > 0:30:45No other gardening style is ever going to match
0:30:45 > 0:30:47its sheer spectacle,
0:30:47 > 0:30:51the thrill of innovation and its sense of fun.
0:30:51 > 0:30:57So join me, James Wong, in the Great British tropical garden revival.
0:30:58 > 0:31:00I want to find out why we fell out of love
0:31:00 > 0:31:02with wonderful tropical gardens.
0:31:02 > 0:31:06All gardens change over time. These became old-fashioned.
0:31:06 > 0:31:09Meet those as passionate about tropical planting as I am.
0:31:09 > 0:31:11Wow! Look at that!
0:31:11 > 0:31:13Look at that! Isn't that something special?
0:31:13 > 0:31:14And I'll show you how easy it is
0:31:14 > 0:31:17to create your very own piece of paradise.
0:31:17 > 0:31:19It's the ultimate maintenance-free plant.
0:31:29 > 0:31:32Tucked away in the middle of the Dorset countryside
0:31:32 > 0:31:35is what feels like a miniature rainforest.
0:31:35 > 0:31:37We could be anywhere in the world,
0:31:37 > 0:31:40but we're in Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens,
0:31:40 > 0:31:43my favourite exotic escape without the plane ticket.
0:31:47 > 0:31:51Over 3,500 species from around the world
0:31:51 > 0:31:55thrive in this sheltered spot on the South Coast.
0:31:55 > 0:31:59Making it the ideal location from which to launch my revival.
0:32:01 > 0:32:05I've always been totally obsessed with exotic gardening,
0:32:05 > 0:32:07but the strange thing is,
0:32:07 > 0:32:10I haven't always been mad keen on tropical plants.
0:32:10 > 0:32:13That's because when I was growing up in the tropics in Malaysia,
0:32:13 > 0:32:17an exotic plant to me was stuff like a sweet pea.
0:32:17 > 0:32:20I was desperate to grow them aged five.
0:32:20 > 0:32:24Exotic plants can be what you make them. There are no rules.
0:32:24 > 0:32:25Just go out there and do it.
0:32:28 > 0:32:31In Britain, our idea of a tropical garden
0:32:31 > 0:32:33is scientifically a little bit loose.
0:32:33 > 0:32:37We're not necessarily restricting ourselves to this narrow band
0:32:37 > 0:32:39that technically constitutes the tropics.
0:32:39 > 0:32:42We're really pinching plants from all over the world
0:32:42 > 0:32:46and combining them to get the look and feel of a tropical paradise.
0:32:48 > 0:32:50Any plant, no matter where it comes from in the world,
0:32:50 > 0:32:53needs a particular climate to survive.
0:32:53 > 0:32:56Hardy plants can cope with lower temperatures
0:32:56 > 0:32:58and more harsh conditions.
0:32:58 > 0:33:03Less hardy or tender plants require more warmth to survive.
0:33:03 > 0:33:06I think that tropical gardens have fallen out of favour
0:33:06 > 0:33:09because we think that all exotic-looking plants
0:33:09 > 0:33:11require milder climates and lots of care.
0:33:11 > 0:33:14But that simply is not true.
0:33:14 > 0:33:16This guy over here, the elephant ear,
0:33:16 > 0:33:18with his enormous heart-shaped leaves,
0:33:18 > 0:33:20comes from the jungles of Malaysia.
0:33:20 > 0:33:22And according to every expert,
0:33:22 > 0:33:26should not be growing in Dorset by any stretch of the imagination.
0:33:26 > 0:33:28Here it is! The amazing thing
0:33:28 > 0:33:31about tropical gardening, you can break rules.
0:33:35 > 0:33:37To start my revival, I need to rediscover
0:33:37 > 0:33:41our nation's fascination with the rare and the exotic.
0:33:41 > 0:33:44And where better than the Royal Botanic Gardens?
0:33:46 > 0:33:47This is Kew.
0:33:47 > 0:33:50And it might look like just a pretty garden,
0:33:50 > 0:33:53but it's really a living arc of endangered plants
0:33:53 > 0:33:57tracked down by intrepid plant hunters from all over the globe.
0:33:59 > 0:34:03Sent far and wide, their daring exploits brought home plants
0:34:03 > 0:34:05we've never laid our eyes on before.
0:34:05 > 0:34:08Resulting in this amazing collection.
0:34:09 > 0:34:13They're horticultural spoils with a fascination of high society.
0:34:13 > 0:34:15Including the British royal family.
0:34:15 > 0:34:19Author Carolyn Fry tells me about where this all began.
0:34:20 > 0:34:24Where did our love of hunting out exotic plants first come from?
0:34:24 > 0:34:25Where did it all start?
0:34:25 > 0:34:28Princess Augusta, who set up this beautiful garden here,
0:34:28 > 0:34:32she wanted her garden to contain all the known plants on earth.
0:34:32 > 0:34:34It's like a rivalry, you know, to try and show
0:34:34 > 0:34:37the most exotic things, the most unique things you could find.
0:34:37 > 0:34:40It's really thinking about plants in a totally different way.
0:34:40 > 0:34:43These were the status symbols of the day.
0:34:43 > 0:34:45Nowadays, any multi-billionaire could buy a yacht,
0:34:45 > 0:34:47could buy a plane off a production line,
0:34:47 > 0:34:50but it's an entirely different kettle of fish
0:34:50 > 0:34:53finding something that people have never even heard of.
0:34:53 > 0:34:55Well, that's true. And also, I mean, having found this plant,
0:34:55 > 0:34:57you've got to work out what it is
0:34:57 > 0:35:00and put it in the whole family tree of plant life, essentially.
0:35:00 > 0:35:03So that's really where botanical gardens came in
0:35:03 > 0:35:05because they wanted to categorise these plants
0:35:05 > 0:35:07and know how they were related to each other.
0:35:07 > 0:35:09- Botanical bling.- Exactly.
0:35:11 > 0:35:14Growing subtropical plants in Britain
0:35:14 > 0:35:17was the exclusive preserve of the mega wealthy.
0:35:17 > 0:35:21That was until 1863, when Battersea Park
0:35:21 > 0:35:26brought these plants to the masses in an entirely revolutionary garden.
0:35:28 > 0:35:31The Subtropical Gardens were created
0:35:31 > 0:35:34by Victorian plant collector, John Gibson,
0:35:34 > 0:35:37who wanted the public to enjoy the exotic plants
0:35:37 > 0:35:39he'd encountered on his travels.
0:35:39 > 0:35:42You know, when I first wandered along this path,
0:35:42 > 0:35:44I noticed a couple of exotic plants
0:35:44 > 0:35:46dotted around and it was nice to see,
0:35:46 > 0:35:49but if you're not a serious gardening geek,
0:35:49 > 0:35:53you could easily walk down this and not even bat an eyelid.
0:35:53 > 0:35:55But to Victorian eyes, this type of planting
0:35:55 > 0:35:59was so shocking, it caused national sensation.
0:36:01 > 0:36:04This is a restoration of the original Victorian garden
0:36:04 > 0:36:07which was carried out in 2004,
0:36:07 > 0:36:10headed by chief parks officer, Jennifer Allman.
0:36:10 > 0:36:15Jennifer, people think about tropical-style gardening as really trendy.
0:36:15 > 0:36:19This looks totally tropical and not trendy at all.
0:36:19 > 0:36:20No, it's not trendy at all.
0:36:20 > 0:36:23This is what we'd expect to see at the Bournemouth seaside,
0:36:23 > 0:36:25not in a central London garden these days.
0:36:25 > 0:36:27But when this garden first opened,
0:36:27 > 0:36:30it would have been the trendiest thing people had seen.
0:36:30 > 0:36:33Because they would never have seen large-leaf tropical plants before.
0:36:33 > 0:36:36Or subtropical, as we call them.
0:36:36 > 0:36:39This would have been absolutely mind-blowing.
0:36:39 > 0:36:43These gardens remained a feature of the park until WWII,
0:36:43 > 0:36:45when many of the gardeners went to war
0:36:45 > 0:36:47and much of the land was turned over to allotment gardens
0:36:47 > 0:36:50to grow vegetables to meet the demand for food.
0:36:50 > 0:36:52The restoration has seen the garden
0:36:52 > 0:36:55returned to its original Victorian glory
0:36:55 > 0:36:58with the aid of some fascinating vintage postcards.
0:36:58 > 0:37:02The incredible thing is when you look at the size of some of these,
0:37:02 > 0:37:06these are proper rainforest, completely non-hardy things
0:37:06 > 0:37:11and you can even see the pots where they've just sunk them into the ground for the summer.
0:37:11 > 0:37:14Absolutely. Each winter, all of the plants would have been taken out,
0:37:14 > 0:37:16put in the greenhouse. We don't have that luxury today.
0:37:16 > 0:37:20These are 30-foot high. You must've had a 30-foot-high greenhouse.
0:37:20 > 0:37:22Did they have a horse and cart to drag this thing out of here?
0:37:22 > 0:37:24Absolutely.
0:37:30 > 0:37:33How come you don't see tropical plants or exotic-effect plants
0:37:33 > 0:37:36as much today as you would have done in those times?
0:37:36 > 0:37:38All gardens change over time.
0:37:38 > 0:37:40These became old-fashioned
0:37:40 > 0:37:42in the way that we now perceive them as a bit seaside.
0:37:42 > 0:37:45A lot of people stopped using them.
0:37:45 > 0:37:47Most of these plants would transfer extremely well
0:37:47 > 0:37:50to many people's gardens, as long as there's a little sheltered corner
0:37:50 > 0:37:52or if they give them winter protection.
0:37:52 > 0:37:54You can take these Victorian ingredients
0:37:54 > 0:37:56and the Victorian sense of innovation,
0:37:56 > 0:37:57combine them completely differently
0:37:57 > 0:37:59and get this totally cutting-edge look,
0:37:59 > 0:38:02which you just never get from begonias and petunias.
0:38:02 > 0:38:04Absolutely. So, you know, ironically,
0:38:04 > 0:38:07this garden could set future trends the way that it set trends before.
0:38:10 > 0:38:14The key to a successful tropical garden like this one at Abbotsbury
0:38:14 > 0:38:17is all about choosing the right plant.
0:38:17 > 0:38:19Many exotic and tropical plants
0:38:19 > 0:38:22are far more hardy than you may think.
0:38:22 > 0:38:25People often think it's impossible to grow exotic plants
0:38:25 > 0:38:29outdoors in our blustery north Atlantic island.
0:38:29 > 0:38:32Think of bamboo and instantly, images of tropical Asia
0:38:32 > 0:38:34and southern China come to mind.
0:38:34 > 0:38:36But they actually come from all over the world,
0:38:36 > 0:38:38including the southern tip of Chile,
0:38:38 > 0:38:44which has a soggy, miserable climate, much like that of the UK.
0:38:45 > 0:38:48By selecting more hardy, exotic or tropical plants,
0:38:48 > 0:38:52you can make caring for your garden a breeze. And I can show you how.
0:38:57 > 0:38:59I'm joining curator, Steve Griffiths,
0:38:59 > 0:39:03to prepare a real tropical giant for the winter months.
0:39:03 > 0:39:05Got to love gunnera, Steve. It just makes you feel tiny,
0:39:05 > 0:39:07like a kid again. So exciting!
0:39:07 > 0:39:10Great scale plant, isn't it? Putting things in proportion.
0:39:10 > 0:39:13You just don't imagine you could grow them in the UK.
0:39:13 > 0:39:15The thing is, these plants are quite hardy.
0:39:15 > 0:39:17You'll see them in various gardens all over Britain.
0:39:17 > 0:39:20The only tender part that can get damaged
0:39:20 > 0:39:22is this wonderful flowerbed on the front there.
0:39:22 > 0:39:26It looks like a face-hugging alien is going to step out of it
0:39:26 > 0:39:30with these pink, almost like a sea anemone kind of frills.
0:39:30 > 0:39:33All summer, it's producing these massive great big leaves
0:39:33 > 0:39:36and then it starts to die down towards the end of the season.
0:39:36 > 0:39:40We were quite concerned about protecting that piece.
0:39:40 > 0:39:41Apart from the leaves coming out,
0:39:41 > 0:39:44- you've also got these wacky big flower spikes.- Look at that!
0:39:44 > 0:39:48Everything we've been looking at has just been thrown up in one year.
0:39:48 > 0:39:50- It dies down, right down to this every year?- Yeah.
0:39:50 > 0:39:53That's great. So, what do we need to do to protect that tip in winter?
0:39:53 > 0:39:55It's just a matter of folding the leaves.
0:39:55 > 0:39:59As they collapse, they start to lose the sap, the energy.
0:39:59 > 0:40:01- You can see them falling down already.- Yeah.
0:40:01 > 0:40:04And as they collapse, we cut the leaf off
0:40:04 > 0:40:08and we can just pack it around the crown for the following summer.
0:40:08 > 0:40:10By cutting around it like that,
0:40:10 > 0:40:12it's almost forming a frame around it already,
0:40:12 > 0:40:14so then what we'll do is start to layer it up.
0:40:14 > 0:40:16On an average winter, gunnera's fine,
0:40:16 > 0:40:18but occasionally, you get a throwback
0:40:18 > 0:40:20and if you get minus 12 degrees all around the country,
0:40:20 > 0:40:22they might start to suffer, so...
0:40:22 > 0:40:23It's just an insurance policy
0:40:23 > 0:40:26to protect the bud in case we get a horrendous winter.
0:40:26 > 0:40:29Exactly. Just in case. You never know what's going to happen.
0:40:29 > 0:40:32Gunnera is a clump-forming herbaceous perennial
0:40:32 > 0:40:34that grows over eight feet tall
0:40:34 > 0:40:37with some of the biggest leaves on the planet
0:40:37 > 0:40:40giving a jaw-droppingly exotic look.
0:40:41 > 0:40:43A lot of people would think,
0:40:43 > 0:40:46"You're on the extreme south of the UK and it's all right for you."
0:40:46 > 0:40:48What would you say to them?
0:40:48 > 0:40:51There's a whole range things like the trachycarpus fortunei,
0:40:51 > 0:40:53the palm trees that you see around this garden here.
0:40:53 > 0:40:56That type of plant will still be able to grow anywhere in Britain
0:40:56 > 0:40:58and is a suggestion of the tropics.
0:40:58 > 0:41:00And things like bamboos, of course.
0:41:00 > 0:41:03And some of the bamboos have fantastic-coloured canes on them.
0:41:03 > 0:41:05You know, lovely golden stems or black stems.
0:41:05 > 0:41:07You've got a tropical looking plant
0:41:07 > 0:41:09you can grow in any county in Britain.
0:41:09 > 0:41:12'It just goes to show that, if you do your homework,
0:41:12 > 0:41:16'you can find the right tropical plant for most UK conditions.'
0:41:16 > 0:41:19So that's all you've got to do, cut a couple of leaves.
0:41:19 > 0:41:21Make a pile and it just gives you enough insulation
0:41:21 > 0:41:23to protect that bud.
0:41:23 > 0:41:2520 minutes for a whole year
0:41:25 > 0:41:27and that's all you need to do to get this look.
0:41:27 > 0:41:30It's the ultimate maintenance-free plant.
0:41:36 > 0:41:39'I'm heading north to see if the Norfolk climate
0:41:39 > 0:41:41'will lend itself to tropical gardening.'
0:41:41 > 0:41:45When I was 18 I was given this book that would totally
0:41:45 > 0:41:48change my life about a guy who had managed to cheat
0:41:48 > 0:41:52the laws of nature, effectively, and create a garden that anyone else
0:41:52 > 0:41:54would say was virtually impossible to do.
0:41:55 > 0:41:59'It's a garden I've only seen in books and I can't help but feel
0:41:59 > 0:42:03'like I'm on an expedition to a lost world.'
0:42:04 > 0:42:07There's a big old tree house and everything!
0:42:14 > 0:42:18'This is the aptly named, Exotic Garden,
0:42:18 > 0:42:22'created over the last 20 years by Will Giles
0:42:22 > 0:42:26'who, like me, has a deep obsession for tropical plants.'
0:42:30 > 0:42:33The crazy thing about this is, is it doesn't look like
0:42:33 > 0:42:36some English guy's interpretation of what the tropics looks like.
0:42:36 > 0:42:38It actually feels like you're there.
0:42:38 > 0:42:39Well, it does.
0:42:39 > 0:42:41People always say, "What are you trying to do?
0:42:41 > 0:42:44"What's your aim?" And it's exactly that.
0:42:44 > 0:42:47It's to make my garden, which is in Norwich, supposedly on the
0:42:47 > 0:42:50chilly east coast of England, feel as though it's in the tropics.
0:42:50 > 0:42:54I've just been searching for plants, as you can see, that give that feel.
0:42:54 > 0:42:56It's all an illusion.
0:42:56 > 0:42:58It's like Carmen Miranda has exploded in your garden.
0:42:58 > 0:42:59It's amazing!
0:43:04 > 0:43:06'Will's garden is phenomenal
0:43:06 > 0:43:10'and everywhere you look there's a plant from every part of the globe.'
0:43:10 > 0:43:13You've got bananas from Ethiopia. You've got bananas from Japan.
0:43:13 > 0:43:16- Siamensis from India.- Yeah! - All combined and they just, yeah...
0:43:16 > 0:43:19That's the thing about this style of gardening.
0:43:19 > 0:43:23That's why I call it exotic because exotic means plants which
0:43:23 > 0:43:26aren't indigenous to the UK, so they could be anywhere in the world.
0:43:26 > 0:43:29People can be quite snobbish about exotic-effect gardening and they
0:43:29 > 0:43:32say, "That's not native to Britain, can't we have some nice roses?"
0:43:32 > 0:43:36If you could beam everything out of England that was introduced
0:43:36 > 0:43:38since the Roman times about three-quarters of our plants
0:43:38 > 0:43:42would vanish instantly, including most of the very common things we know.
0:43:42 > 0:43:44- Apples... Roses... Wheat... - Exactly, buddleia.
0:43:44 > 0:43:47- Potatoes.- Yeah. Everything. Oh, certainly potatoes.
0:43:47 > 0:43:49So it would be very different.
0:43:50 > 0:43:53'With such a diverse variety of exotic plants,
0:43:53 > 0:43:57'the big question that everybody asks is how on earth does
0:43:57 > 0:44:00'this all grown in Norfolk?'
0:44:00 > 0:44:02Here, I've created my own microclimate.
0:44:02 > 0:44:07I've got tall trees to the west, to the east and the north
0:44:07 > 0:44:09which stop the prevailing winds,
0:44:09 > 0:44:12slow it down and trap some heat.
0:44:12 > 0:44:14And when you say microclimate what you mean is
0:44:14 > 0:44:16within the context of quite a colder climate outside,
0:44:16 > 0:44:19- you can change the climate in your back garden.- Absolutely.
0:44:19 > 0:44:22I mean, it's probably four or five degrees difference.
0:44:22 > 0:44:25And in the plant world, four or five degrees difference makes a lot.
0:44:25 > 0:44:27- That's a couple of hundred miles further south.- Yeah.
0:44:27 > 0:44:30It makes a lot of difference between what's going to grow and what isn't.
0:44:30 > 0:44:35'And Will clearly knows the right place for the right plant.'
0:44:35 > 0:44:39Wow! This is what they call Tetrapanax rex, isn't it?
0:44:39 > 0:44:41This is Tetrapanax rex. It's a beautiful plant.
0:44:41 > 0:44:45Also called the rice paper plant, and, it's dead hardy.
0:44:45 > 0:44:47When you say "hardy," what do you mean?
0:44:47 > 0:44:49How low can it go in terms of temperature?
0:44:49 > 0:44:52Well, this went through the cold winter for me and we had -11...
0:44:52 > 0:44:54..for a long time. That's how cold it could get.
0:44:54 > 0:44:56Look at the size of these leaves.
0:44:56 > 0:44:59You feel like I've just dropped into Honey I Shrunk The Kids.
0:44:59 > 0:45:03- The plant gets a T-Rex, don't they? Tetrapanax rex.- Absolutely!
0:45:03 > 0:45:06It looks as though you should have a dinosaur walking underneath it.
0:45:06 > 0:45:09One of the great things about tropical gardening
0:45:09 > 0:45:11is you get that kind of sense of trickery,
0:45:11 > 0:45:13like you've broken the rules. It's quite subversive.
0:45:13 > 0:45:16Like where are the strings? How do they get away with it?
0:45:16 > 0:45:19'Not all tropical plants are as hardy as T-Rex,
0:45:19 > 0:45:22'but this hasn't prevented Will from growing
0:45:22 > 0:45:23'more tender tropical treasures.
0:45:25 > 0:45:27'This greenhouse provides important shelter
0:45:27 > 0:45:30'and warmth for his more delicate exotics.'
0:45:30 > 0:45:33Do you need a greenhouse to grow these because I don't have one?
0:45:33 > 0:45:37If you haven't got a greenhouse you can grow the hardy exotic.
0:45:37 > 0:45:40Then you can maybe grow things against the side of your house,
0:45:40 > 0:45:43where it's a little bit warmer. Then you could put a bit of polythene
0:45:43 > 0:45:48over the plant at the side of your house and expand it beyond that.
0:45:48 > 0:45:51I mean, somebody last week contacted me
0:45:51 > 0:45:54and said my wife won't like it but my purple bananas can live
0:45:54 > 0:45:56in the bathroom for the winter.
0:45:56 > 0:45:59So, there are always ways and means of doing these things, you know.
0:46:04 > 0:46:07Will has achieved nothing short of a miracle here.
0:46:07 > 0:46:10He has effectively cut his garden out and towed it
0:46:10 > 0:46:14thousands of miles further south and he's done it just by having a go.
0:46:14 > 0:46:16Doing a little bit of experimentation
0:46:16 > 0:46:18and breaking a couple of rules.
0:46:18 > 0:46:19There are no barriers here,
0:46:19 > 0:46:21anyone can do this.
0:46:28 > 0:46:30'Back at Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens in Dorset
0:46:30 > 0:46:34'there's a vast wealth of varied exotic plants
0:46:34 > 0:46:37'that are all thriving outdoors in our UK climate.'
0:46:37 > 0:46:40The key is not necessarily searing heat.
0:46:40 > 0:46:43It's usually more about drainage and shelter and here
0:46:43 > 0:46:45these Mediterranean plants are thriving
0:46:45 > 0:46:48because they're sheltered on this bank,
0:46:48 > 0:46:50which allows the Great British rain to drain right off 'em.
0:46:51 > 0:46:54'But if you don't have a slope like this in your garden,
0:46:54 > 0:46:57'I've got some tips to help you achieve excellent drainage
0:46:57 > 0:46:59'on a smaller scale.'
0:47:01 > 0:47:05The best way to virtually guarantee good drainage is growing in a pot,
0:47:05 > 0:47:07particularly a terracotta one like this.
0:47:07 > 0:47:11These non-glazed terracotta pots are porous. They actually breathe,
0:47:11 > 0:47:13which allows water not only out of the hole in the bottom,
0:47:13 > 0:47:15but out of the sides.
0:47:15 > 0:47:18Just so that hole doesn't get clogged up I'm going to pop a crock
0:47:18 > 0:47:21over that to stop any soil blocking it up
0:47:21 > 0:47:24and then start filling it up.
0:47:24 > 0:47:28But to really improve that drainage, I'm going to add in some of these.
0:47:28 > 0:47:33This is effectively just ground up charcoal.
0:47:33 > 0:47:37It's called biochar and it's becoming very trendy nowadays
0:47:37 > 0:47:41and it does this incredible job of both improving drainage
0:47:41 > 0:47:45and improving water retention which are two exactly opposite things.
0:47:45 > 0:47:48And, yet, it's really successful at doing both of them.
0:47:48 > 0:47:50I'm going to pop this guy in here.
0:47:51 > 0:47:55One of the most reliable and iconic of all tropical plants
0:47:55 > 0:47:58to grow in the UK is the Chusan palm.
0:47:58 > 0:48:00It comes from southern China.
0:48:00 > 0:48:04You would never imagine that this is as hardy as it was.
0:48:04 > 0:48:07Trachycarpus palms are the kind of thing that you see
0:48:07 > 0:48:11on seaside locations and people say that you can't grow them in the UK
0:48:11 > 0:48:13and they always look tatty.
0:48:13 > 0:48:17You can't grow them on the seaside if you expect them to look good
0:48:17 > 0:48:20because wind tears through all these leaves making them look
0:48:20 > 0:48:23a little but yellow, a little bit dog-eared on the ends.
0:48:23 > 0:48:27Plant them in shade, in a sheltered location
0:48:27 > 0:48:29and the leaves double in size.
0:48:29 > 0:48:32The petioles, the leaf stem, this bit here, doubles in length,
0:48:32 > 0:48:34spreading them out in all directions
0:48:34 > 0:48:37and they look like something straight out of the Amazon jungle.
0:48:39 > 0:48:41'The important factor with anything exotic
0:48:41 > 0:48:44'is to know what kind of conditions suit it best.'
0:48:44 > 0:48:49All of these guys over here will relish baking in full sun.
0:48:49 > 0:48:51These guys, will not only put up with shade,
0:48:51 > 0:48:56they actually grow and look actively better in shade
0:48:56 > 0:48:57than they will in sun.
0:48:57 > 0:49:00Things like tree ferns, as you might imagine,
0:49:00 > 0:49:03most ferns look better in shade and this guy will kick out
0:49:03 > 0:49:06enormously much bigger fronds,
0:49:06 > 0:49:08and will look so much more convincingly tropical
0:49:08 > 0:49:12in damp, shady situations, than it will if roasting in full sun.
0:49:12 > 0:49:15Right up at the front here, this guy.
0:49:15 > 0:49:18The Pineapple lily couldn't look more exotic if it tried.
0:49:21 > 0:49:24'Although this tropical beauty will flower better with sunshine,
0:49:24 > 0:49:27'it will happily survive in a partially shaded spot.'
0:49:27 > 0:49:28This guy is the Honey bush.
0:49:28 > 0:49:31Proper enormous shrub if you can keep it over the winter
0:49:31 > 0:49:34but, usually, it dies back down to the ground
0:49:34 > 0:49:36and pops up every year in the spring.
0:49:36 > 0:49:39Right at the front, a native to the Amazon.
0:49:39 > 0:49:41It's what they call Queensland arrowroot.
0:49:41 > 0:49:44It has these enormous rhizomes underground
0:49:44 > 0:49:47which means, in milder parts of the UK with a little bit of mulch,
0:49:47 > 0:49:51you can keep them in the ground and they pop back every year.
0:49:51 > 0:49:53And those rhizomes are used in places like Vietnam
0:49:53 > 0:49:55as a source of starch.
0:49:55 > 0:49:57If you've ever been to a Vietnamese restaurant
0:49:57 > 0:49:59and eaten those glass noodles,
0:49:59 > 0:50:04those transparent slightly elastic noodles, they're often made out of the root that this comes from.
0:50:04 > 0:50:08So whether you've got a shady patio, or a sun-drenched border,
0:50:08 > 0:50:11pick the right tropical plant and you're good to go.
0:50:15 > 0:50:19'Less hardy, or tender exotic plants, can be beautiful
0:50:19 > 0:50:22'but will require more care and attention.
0:50:22 > 0:50:26'Some of the larger specimens can also be rather pricey.
0:50:26 > 0:50:30'It is possible, however, to achieve that tropical look on a budget
0:50:30 > 0:50:31'and without the hard work.
0:50:31 > 0:50:34'I'm in a garden centre in Cambridge
0:50:34 > 0:50:38'to show you some of my inexpensive hardy favourites.'
0:50:38 > 0:50:40People think that rain forests are all about bright flowers
0:50:40 > 0:50:42pouring out of everywhere.
0:50:42 > 0:50:46Really there are very few. It's mainly about foliage colour.
0:50:46 > 0:50:49So I love this guy, Nandina, heavenly bamboo.
0:50:49 > 0:50:51Incredible pink new growth
0:50:51 > 0:50:54and this greying foliage as you go underneath.
0:50:54 > 0:50:59You can even take unusual looking forms of common garden plants.
0:50:59 > 0:51:01This beauty, believe it or not, is a hydrangea.
0:51:01 > 0:51:04It looks like something you'd get in the jungles of Vietnam.
0:51:04 > 0:51:09Form is also important so look for interesting shapes and sizes.
0:51:09 > 0:51:12This little guy over here looks so tropical. He's called a fatsia.
0:51:12 > 0:51:16It's got these enormous, unusual-shaped leaves
0:51:16 > 0:51:17but also a glossy shine to them
0:51:17 > 0:51:20and it holds the water in little beads on its surface,
0:51:20 > 0:51:23just like plants do in the rain forest.
0:51:23 > 0:51:27'Some plants look really exotic and don't even need loads of light.'
0:51:27 > 0:51:31People think about tropical gardens as baking in hot sunshine
0:51:31 > 0:51:33but that's just not true.
0:51:33 > 0:51:37In rainforests, at the lowest layer, it's really quite dark
0:51:37 > 0:51:39and it's all about shade plants.
0:51:39 > 0:51:41All you've got to do in the UK is wander over to the shady
0:51:41 > 0:51:44section of your garden centre and the works done for you.
0:51:44 > 0:51:48You've got this brunnera with really mottled, silvery leaves.
0:51:48 > 0:51:50You've got an incredible hellebore over here
0:51:50 > 0:51:53with these crocodiley leaves.
0:51:53 > 0:51:57You've got some fantastic hostas and even some ferns all in the mix.
0:51:57 > 0:52:00'By choosing the right hardy plant you can achieve a tropical look
0:52:00 > 0:52:04'without the tropical climate and no-one would be the wiser.'
0:52:04 > 0:52:07Come on in, guys.
0:52:08 > 0:52:10'I've invited some local students to check out these
0:52:10 > 0:52:14'tropical-looking plants to see if they can tell the difference between
0:52:14 > 0:52:16'those that are hardy and those that are tender.'
0:52:16 > 0:52:19One of them is from the jungles of Japan
0:52:19 > 0:52:22and another one is from the UK and will handle down to -20 degrees.
0:52:22 > 0:52:24Can you tell the difference?
0:52:24 > 0:52:26- I think... - That's very well watered.
0:52:26 > 0:52:28'Because these plants look very similar,
0:52:28 > 0:52:31I think these guys may find it a bit tricky.'
0:52:31 > 0:52:35- It looks very..- foreign and.. - Japanese.- Waxy.
0:52:35 > 0:52:38- I think this one looks more common. - This one looks quite woody.
0:52:38 > 0:52:41OK, why does woody mean cold?
0:52:41 > 0:52:44Maybe so the water doesn't freeze as it's coming up the stem.
0:52:44 > 0:52:46Oh, OK, I like it, yeah.
0:52:46 > 0:52:49'They're having a go but because a plant has a woody stem
0:52:49 > 0:52:51does not mean it's hardy.'
0:52:53 > 0:52:56These two, one comes from the jungles of Taiwan
0:52:56 > 0:52:58and another one really cold areas of Mexico.
0:52:58 > 0:53:01So which one would you put outdoors in a freezing cold winter?
0:53:01 > 0:53:05- Er...- That one.- Oh, hang on.
0:53:05 > 0:53:06I think this one is cold.
0:53:06 > 0:53:10- I think they're both the same otherwise they wouldn't...- Do you?
0:53:10 > 0:53:12'I think their confusion proves my point,
0:53:12 > 0:53:15'that differentiating between the hardy
0:53:15 > 0:53:17'and the tender plants can be tough,
0:53:17 > 0:53:19'but they have made some lucky guesses.'
0:53:19 > 0:53:22Well, I've got some very bad news for me.
0:53:22 > 0:53:24You got eight out of 12 and, statistically,
0:53:24 > 0:53:27if you guessed you should have got six out of 12.
0:53:27 > 0:53:30- You're obviously botany geeks, you just don't know it. - THEY LAUGH
0:53:30 > 0:53:34'The truth is that all of these plants look fabulously exotic
0:53:34 > 0:53:36'but, by choosing the hardy ones,
0:53:36 > 0:53:40'you can have the tropical look with very little effort.
0:53:40 > 0:53:43'The key here is to do your research.
0:53:43 > 0:53:45'Your garden centre will be happy to help.'
0:53:45 > 0:53:46Come on up and grab one.
0:53:46 > 0:53:48You're all too polite and English about this.
0:53:48 > 0:53:51See in Malaysia we'd just be pouring in and picking them up.
0:53:51 > 0:53:54So they managed to see through a lot of my trickery
0:53:54 > 0:53:56but I'm sticking to my guns.
0:53:56 > 0:53:58They found it tricky.
0:53:58 > 0:54:02In combination, in a garden, you can totally pull off a tropical look
0:54:02 > 0:54:05with hardy plants that's really hard to tell the difference.
0:54:22 > 0:54:25'A tropical garden wouldn't be complete without some
0:54:25 > 0:54:27'beautiful, tender exotic plants,
0:54:27 > 0:54:31'so here are my tips to get them through those winter months.'
0:54:35 > 0:54:38Cold winters need not scupper your plans.
0:54:38 > 0:54:42Beautiful house plants like this aeonium from the Canary Islands
0:54:42 > 0:54:45can be sunk into the beds to cheat that tropical look.
0:54:45 > 0:54:48That's what they do with a lot of things here at Abbotsbury.
0:54:48 > 0:54:50All you need to do, when winter threatens and frost's on the way,
0:54:50 > 0:54:53is dig the guy up, instant house plant.
0:54:53 > 0:54:55Back out next spring.
0:54:55 > 0:54:58'Some exotics do need a warm home in the winter,
0:54:58 > 0:55:01'but it may surprise you that with some handy tips even the less
0:55:01 > 0:55:04'hardy tropicals can survive in the garden.'
0:55:05 > 0:55:07This little guy is a baby banana plant.
0:55:07 > 0:55:11One of my favourite tropicals and, a great way to take
0:55:11 > 0:55:14the edge off winter for him, is basically to wrap him up
0:55:14 > 0:55:15in a little furry jumper
0:55:15 > 0:55:19that will allow him to get bigger and bigger every year.
0:55:19 > 0:55:22The first thing I need to do, though, is snip off its leaves
0:55:22 > 0:55:25and this may look a little harsh but, effectively,
0:55:25 > 0:55:28they're just going to rot inside of this soggy jumper,
0:55:28 > 0:55:31so I'm going to go for it.
0:55:31 > 0:55:34It always pains me to do that but now you're gone.
0:55:34 > 0:55:38The next thing I'm going to do is pop over this chimney pot.
0:55:38 > 0:55:41You can pick them up in any builders' merchants
0:55:41 > 0:55:45and they effectively work like a big, insulating chamber.
0:55:45 > 0:55:49And to make that even more insulating,
0:55:49 > 0:55:52a couple of fist fulls of straw.
0:55:52 > 0:55:56As this little guy gets bigger you can stack up these chimney pots.
0:55:56 > 0:55:59All you need to do is shove a couple of bamboo canes round the edge just
0:55:59 > 0:56:01to keep them together against harsh winds
0:56:01 > 0:56:04and really all you need to do is do this for two or three years
0:56:04 > 0:56:06and you may never have to do it again.
0:56:06 > 0:56:10A little lid on to keep out the worst of the winter wet.
0:56:10 > 0:56:14If you get this bit right, this plant will eventually form
0:56:14 > 0:56:16your own little banana grove
0:56:16 > 0:56:19and each one of those can kick out a six-foot long paddle shaped leaf
0:56:19 > 0:56:21throughout the summer.
0:56:21 > 0:56:24You don't get any more tropical than that.
0:56:24 > 0:56:28Another way to protect your plants from the ravages of frost
0:56:28 > 0:56:29is with a bit of a mulch.
0:56:29 > 0:56:31Basically, a mulch is anything, a bit like this.
0:56:31 > 0:56:35It can be compost. It can be chopped-up bark.
0:56:35 > 0:56:37Whatever you want to use, organic matter,
0:56:37 > 0:56:39and you just chuck it on the base of them.
0:56:41 > 0:56:44There you go, that helps bulk up fertility.
0:56:44 > 0:56:47It helps keep the water in, in the summer and protects them
0:56:47 > 0:56:49from the worst of the winter cold.
0:56:49 > 0:56:50It can't be easier than that.
0:56:55 > 0:56:59'In the heart of Yorkshire lives a man who is a true
0:56:59 > 0:57:01'ambassador for my revival.
0:57:01 > 0:57:05'He's crafted his very own tropical paradise in northern suburbia.'
0:57:05 > 0:57:08Tropical gardening, it's an attitude.
0:57:08 > 0:57:11It's all about mad, big, huge leaves
0:57:11 > 0:57:15with searing spots of colour to give you a highlight.
0:57:15 > 0:57:18'Nick Wilson's day job is as a software consultant
0:57:18 > 0:57:21'but in his spare time he's turned the back garden
0:57:21 > 0:57:25of his Leeds semidetached home into a veritable urban jungle.
0:57:25 > 0:57:28When you actually step through the back gate
0:57:28 > 0:57:30and you're greeted by this, it's quite incredible.
0:57:30 > 0:57:33You've entered another world.
0:57:33 > 0:57:34It's not north Leeds suburbs anymore,
0:57:34 > 0:57:36you're actually out in the jungle.
0:57:36 > 0:57:40The inspiration for this garden was Canal Gardens,
0:57:40 > 0:57:42at Tropical World in Leeds.
0:57:42 > 0:57:45It's all wooden deck board, walk ways over deep black ponds
0:57:45 > 0:57:48with koi carp and huge tropical plants.
0:57:48 > 0:57:50Obviously theirs is under glass.
0:57:50 > 0:57:53I came away with the idea I wanted to do it outside in my own garden.
0:57:53 > 0:57:56'Because Nick has chosen lots of hardy plants,
0:57:56 > 0:57:59'his 30 by 85 foot plot unbelievably
0:57:59 > 0:58:04'is no more work than a typical garden with a perfect lawn
0:58:04 > 0:58:05'and immaculate flower beds.'
0:58:05 > 0:58:08It's about fooling the eye to create a jungle garden.
0:58:08 > 0:58:11There's standard ferns, hostas...
0:58:11 > 0:58:12There's black bamboo.
0:58:12 > 0:58:14If I can do it, anybody can do this.
0:58:14 > 0:58:16It's dead easy.
0:58:21 > 0:58:25If you would like a space where you could leave reality behind,
0:58:25 > 0:58:27even if it's just for ten minutes,
0:58:27 > 0:58:30then make like a Victorian plant hunter
0:58:30 > 0:58:32and bring paradise to your own doorstep.
0:58:32 > 0:58:35That is what exotic gardens can give you.
0:58:35 > 0:58:38Now it's time to put the Great British tropical garden
0:58:38 > 0:58:40back on the map.