0:00:02 > 0:00:06There's no doubt that Britain is a nation of very proud gardeners.
0:00:06 > 0:00:10Our love of flowers and plants goes back centuries.
0:00:10 > 0:00:15But there's a problem. Not everything is rosy in our gardens.
0:00:15 > 0:00:19Our iconic plants are under attack from foreign invaders.
0:00:19 > 0:00:23Ancient woodlands are at risk of being lost for ever.
0:00:23 > 0:00:27And our favourite flowers are disappearing right before our eyes.
0:00:28 > 0:00:31So we need you, to help us, in our revival campaign.
0:00:33 > 0:00:37We'll be inspiring you to dig deep and celebrate the best of British.
0:00:37 > 0:00:40As we reveal the country's most stunning gardens.
0:00:42 > 0:00:45And sharing our top gardening tips.
0:00:46 > 0:00:50It's time to rediscover our passion for plants.
0:00:50 > 0:00:53And breathe new life into our gardens.
0:01:25 > 0:01:27The great British daffodil.
0:01:27 > 0:01:32Could there be any louder fanfare for the onset of spring
0:01:32 > 0:01:36than their golden trumpets and glowing yellow flowers?
0:01:39 > 0:01:43This is what most of us think of as being a traditional daffodil.
0:01:43 > 0:01:47In actual fact, they're quite modern hybrids.
0:01:47 > 0:01:51But it's their popularity that has meant that some of our older
0:01:51 > 0:01:54daffodils are in danger of being overlooked
0:01:54 > 0:01:58and may disappear completely from our gardens.
0:01:58 > 0:02:01I think that it's high time that we give the delightful
0:02:01 > 0:02:05daffodil, in all its forms, a new lease of life.
0:02:05 > 0:02:09So, join me, as I celebrate this wondrous plant.
0:02:15 > 0:02:19On my revival, I'll be discovering some of our most historic
0:02:19 > 0:02:22and endangered daffodil varieties.
0:02:22 > 0:02:24I rather think it's a living museum.
0:02:24 > 0:02:28I take to the streets of Falmouth to paint the town yellow with
0:02:28 > 0:02:31some glorious heritage daffodils...
0:02:31 > 0:02:33What do you think of mine?
0:02:33 > 0:02:37I actually like yours better than I like mine.
0:02:37 > 0:02:41..and show you how easy daffs are to grow, as well as creating
0:02:41 > 0:02:42one of my very own.
0:02:43 > 0:02:47What a treat. I never thought we'd be having children, Alan.
0:02:47 > 0:02:49At our age. It's never too late to try.
0:02:56 > 0:03:00This is Spetchley Park in Worcestershire,
0:03:00 > 0:03:04and it's one of the few places in the country where you can see
0:03:04 > 0:03:07heritage daffodils in abundance.
0:03:07 > 0:03:10This is the way they ought to be seen.
0:03:10 > 0:03:14Spetchley has a really special relationship with the daffodil.
0:03:14 > 0:03:15It's part of its history.
0:03:22 > 0:03:25Aren't they magnificent?
0:03:25 > 0:03:31This daffodil is called Spetchley. It's unique to this place.
0:03:31 > 0:03:36It was bred here by Rose Barclay, nee Rose Willmott,
0:03:36 > 0:03:40sister of the daffodil fancier, power extraordinaire,
0:03:40 > 0:03:41Ellen Willmott.
0:03:44 > 0:03:47She's one of my gardening heroines.
0:03:47 > 0:03:49She's considered to be one of the finest
0:03:49 > 0:03:52horticulturalists of the late 19th century.
0:03:52 > 0:03:55But her love for high-end gardening led to bankruptcy
0:03:55 > 0:03:58and the sale of her family home.
0:03:58 > 0:03:59But all was not lost.
0:03:59 > 0:04:03She moved all her daffodils to her sister's garden here at Spetchley.
0:04:07 > 0:04:11It makes me feel very special to think that I might be kneeling down
0:04:11 > 0:04:16in the midst of the only clump of this daffodil in the entire world.
0:04:18 > 0:04:22In order to ensure a future for all the wonderful varieties
0:04:22 > 0:04:25of this flower, we need to bring them back to our gardens at home.
0:04:27 > 0:04:30To understand the demise of the great British daffodil,
0:04:30 > 0:04:34I'm heading to the Tamar Valley in Cornwall, where a thriving cut
0:04:34 > 0:04:36flower industry once existed.
0:04:37 > 0:04:41Daffodils were farmed, picked and packed in abundance here
0:04:41 > 0:04:43until the First World War.
0:04:43 > 0:04:46When a large part of the workforce were sent to the front,
0:04:46 > 0:04:49the demise continued during the Second World War,
0:04:49 > 0:04:52when flower growing fields were taken over for vital
0:04:52 > 0:04:56food production, forcing farmers to dig up their daffs
0:04:56 > 0:04:59and ditch them in the hedgerows.
0:04:59 > 0:05:02Dr Frances Howard is a local daffodil expert.
0:05:03 > 0:05:06We've seen so many of these wonderful daffodils just
0:05:06 > 0:05:08tumbling down the banks.
0:05:08 > 0:05:11Yes, it's exactly where they've been chucked out of the field.
0:05:11 > 0:05:14In fact, I rather think it's a living museum.
0:05:14 > 0:05:15It is, isn't it?
0:05:15 > 0:05:17It tells you the story of what was grown
0:05:17 > 0:05:19and also what happened to them.
0:05:19 > 0:05:20What's this, Frances?
0:05:20 > 0:05:22Well, that'll be a dappled "Bath's Flame".
0:05:22 > 0:05:24There are various names for them.
0:05:24 > 0:05:27There are "Bacon and Eggs" and "Bacon and Yolk",
0:05:27 > 0:05:29and the heritage ones if you can see,
0:05:29 > 0:05:34has got single thin papery petals set round like a windmill.
0:05:34 > 0:05:35- Yes. - A whirligig.
0:05:35 > 0:05:37- With a bit of a twirl to them. - Yes.
0:05:37 > 0:05:40And they're light and they dance in the breeze
0:05:40 > 0:05:44while if you look at the more recent ones... Yes, look.
0:05:44 > 0:05:47Oh, yes, look at that. That's definitely a modern hybrid.
0:05:47 > 0:05:48Ha-ha-ha.
0:05:48 > 0:05:53It's got thick, over-lapping petals and it's a much more solid thing.
0:05:53 > 0:05:54There's something sort of sturdy
0:05:54 > 0:05:58and a bit coarse about it compared to these dainty things.
0:05:58 > 0:06:01INDISTINCT CHATTER
0:06:01 > 0:06:04- Aren't they wonderful, these daffodils?- ALL: They are, yes.
0:06:04 > 0:06:07You must have seen a few on your travels.
0:06:07 > 0:06:08There's a lot on the path up there.
0:06:08 > 0:06:11Have you noticed the difference between any of the daffodils
0:06:11 > 0:06:12that have been chucked out?
0:06:12 > 0:06:17Yes. Some are blousy and obviously for the market.
0:06:17 > 0:06:19Those are exquisite.
0:06:19 > 0:06:21- These beautiful dainty ones? - Yeah.
0:06:21 > 0:06:22Well, I'm so glad you said that
0:06:22 > 0:06:25- cos that's what we're trying to do, persuade everybody.- Brilliant.
0:06:25 > 0:06:28So if you're growing daffodils in your own garden,
0:06:28 > 0:06:30how about trying a few of these?
0:06:30 > 0:06:33- Do you think you can get them? - You definitely can get them, yes,
0:06:33 > 0:06:36and the more demand there is, the more supply there'll be.
0:06:36 > 0:06:38Well, I would grow those, yeah.
0:06:38 > 0:06:41- Well, happy walking and happy daffodils.- Thank you.
0:06:41 > 0:06:43- Lovely to meet you, too.- Bye. - ALL: Bye.
0:06:43 > 0:06:46Fancy a drink? Is there a bar down here or not?
0:06:46 > 0:06:48Ha-ha!
0:06:48 > 0:06:49Is that an offer?
0:06:51 > 0:06:55The fact that these flowers have survived for so long here
0:06:55 > 0:06:59in the hedgerows, demonstrates how low maintenance they are.
0:06:59 > 0:07:01They really are such stalwart bulbs.
0:07:01 > 0:07:04And there's really no excuse not to grow them.
0:07:05 > 0:07:07Well, the daffodils in the hedgerow aren't the only
0:07:07 > 0:07:11remnants of what's left of the industry here in the Tamar Valley.
0:07:15 > 0:07:19Hiya, Roy. Is this where you packed your daffodils up?
0:07:19 > 0:07:22This is where the daffodils used to get packed and bunched.
0:07:22 > 0:07:26'Roy Clarke started working on daffodil farms at the age of 14
0:07:26 > 0:07:30'and he's going to give me a glimpse into their intriguing past.'
0:07:30 > 0:07:32All the family would bunch.
0:07:32 > 0:07:34You'd get anybody out to bunch. Everybody done it.
0:07:34 > 0:07:38You could walk down the road and your neighbour, he'd be doing the same, and his missus.
0:07:38 > 0:07:40And wherever you went, that's what they'd do.
0:07:40 > 0:07:42And what about stuff like this? What are these for?
0:07:42 > 0:07:46When they were packed in the boxes, this stem stick would go in the box on the stems.
0:07:46 > 0:07:49So if the stems were running that way, it would
0:07:49 > 0:07:52- go across like that to keep them in place?- Yep.
0:07:52 > 0:07:55You'd have your ink pad and when you were going to send them
0:07:55 > 0:07:57you'd give your box a couple of smacks like that where they was
0:07:57 > 0:08:02going to, and then there'd be labels that you could tie on as well.
0:08:02 > 0:08:04About where they were going?
0:08:04 > 0:08:05And do you like daffodils?
0:08:05 > 0:08:08- I do, yes. - Have you got them in your garden?
0:08:08 > 0:08:09I've got them in the hedges.
0:08:09 > 0:08:12I don't need them in my garden.
0:08:12 > 0:08:14And herein lies the problem.
0:08:14 > 0:08:18We see daffodils in our parks and roundabouts and roadsides
0:08:18 > 0:08:21but they've somehow lost their place in our gardens.
0:08:21 > 0:08:24I think it's high time we brought them back.
0:08:30 > 0:08:34A lot of the daffodils that we saw growing in the Tamar Valley
0:08:34 > 0:08:37are represented here at Spetchley, too.
0:08:37 > 0:08:41There's such a diversity and I want to introduce you to a few
0:08:41 > 0:08:46of them in more detail and tempt you to grow them in your own gardens.
0:08:52 > 0:08:59Now, I suppose to everybody this IS a daffodil.
0:08:59 > 0:09:01It has outer petals.
0:09:01 > 0:09:04It has a long, long trumpet
0:09:04 > 0:09:11but in actual fact, this is just one of 25,000-plus daffodils.
0:09:11 > 0:09:14There are so many varieties of daffodils, or as we should say,
0:09:14 > 0:09:19narcissi, that they've been split into 13 different divisions.
0:09:19 > 0:09:23The sort of factors that they took into consideration when
0:09:23 > 0:09:26they were deciding on these divisions were things like,
0:09:26 > 0:09:29was there a single flower to a stem
0:09:29 > 0:09:33or were they multi-headed like these tazettas?
0:09:33 > 0:09:35What sort of colour were they?
0:09:35 > 0:09:38Were they, perhaps, species daffodils?
0:09:38 > 0:09:41Things like this lovely little bulbocodium.
0:09:41 > 0:09:46Wild daffodils or their very close relatives?
0:09:46 > 0:09:50This is one of my favourite daffodils of all time,
0:09:50 > 0:09:51called "Thalia".
0:09:51 > 0:09:54It belongs to the triandrus section
0:09:54 > 0:09:58and it usually has two or more flowers to each head.
0:09:58 > 0:10:03It's the most beautiful daffodil when you see it growing outside.
0:10:03 > 0:10:06It mixes and mingles with everything.
0:10:06 > 0:10:08It never pushes itself forward
0:10:08 > 0:10:11and yet at the same time you always notice it.
0:10:12 > 0:10:14I love this, too. This is a jonquill.
0:10:16 > 0:10:20Now, unlike some other daffodils which prefer damp heavy soil,
0:10:20 > 0:10:22jonquills come from very sunny slopes
0:10:22 > 0:10:25and they appreciate good drainage.
0:10:25 > 0:10:28They've also got, and I'm sorry you can't enjoy this,
0:10:28 > 0:10:31the most exquisite perfume.
0:10:31 > 0:10:36Plant it in a sunny, sunny site and it will come back year after year.
0:10:36 > 0:10:39Superb in pots, too.
0:10:39 > 0:10:44In my campaign, I want to champion all the wonderful older breeds of daffodils
0:10:44 > 0:10:49as well as the new and exciting varieties that are currently being created.
0:10:50 > 0:10:54Now, daffodil breeders are a race apart.
0:10:54 > 0:10:58They're always looking for a new colour, a new shape, a new form.
0:10:58 > 0:11:04Just look at this as an example as the sort of thing that people try and do.
0:11:04 > 0:11:06This is a split corona.
0:11:06 > 0:11:09Instead of the cup or the trumpet just being entire,
0:11:09 > 0:11:14it's all taken back in pieces and it lies flat against the petals.
0:11:14 > 0:11:17It's one called "Maria Peer".
0:11:17 > 0:11:20It was registered in 2006
0:11:20 > 0:11:22so is right at the other end of the spectrum
0:11:22 > 0:11:24to the older heritage varieties.
0:11:24 > 0:11:29But old or new, these flowers could brighten up any garden,
0:11:29 > 0:11:32pot or window box, so get planting.
0:11:35 > 0:11:37Now, if you want to get hold of some bulbs
0:11:37 > 0:11:40for some of these heritage varieties,
0:11:40 > 0:11:43you're going to have to go to a specialist bulb merchant.
0:11:44 > 0:11:46There are growers up and down the country
0:11:46 > 0:11:48and you can even order online
0:11:48 > 0:11:50but I wanted to come and meet one for myself.
0:11:52 > 0:11:53What a magical place!
0:11:53 > 0:11:56Well, it's a little bit like Ali Baba's cave, really.
0:11:56 > 0:12:00All the golden oldies are here so you'll fit in perfectly well.
0:12:00 > 0:12:02I'll fit in perfectly!
0:12:02 > 0:12:06Alan Street is head nurseryman at Avon Bulbs, in Somerset.
0:12:07 > 0:12:09- What?! Ah. Whoo.- Look at this, Carol.
0:12:09 > 0:12:13This is one of my favourite things ever in the world.
0:12:13 > 0:12:15This is what they did 400 years ago.
0:12:15 > 0:12:18Somebody found this in France but isn't that lovely?
0:12:18 > 0:12:20It's known as the Queen Anne's double daffodil.
0:12:20 > 0:12:21It's perfect.
0:12:21 > 0:12:24It's got the six petals on each, er, in rows.
0:12:24 > 0:12:27One on top of each other and that never sets seed
0:12:27 > 0:12:28because that's sterile.
0:12:28 > 0:12:33- So the only way you can do it is vegetatively just by dividing those bulbs?- Yeah.
0:12:33 > 0:12:35- And passing them around? - By love.
0:12:35 > 0:12:37Yeah. Do you want to pass a few this way?
0:12:37 > 0:12:38Of course I will.
0:12:38 > 0:12:41'The nursery has won 26 gold medals at Chelsea
0:12:41 > 0:12:44'and daffodils have always played a major part.'
0:12:44 > 0:12:48I mean, actually, Alan, you're one of the people who's
0:12:48 > 0:12:51responsible for this resurgence and interest in this.
0:12:51 > 0:12:53I mean, you really believe
0:12:53 > 0:12:55that we should all be growing these lovely things.
0:12:55 > 0:12:57Well, you can get interested in them if you love them
0:12:57 > 0:12:59and I really do love these flowers.
0:12:59 > 0:13:02I've been growing them for about 20-30 years now and I've been
0:13:02 > 0:13:05showing them up in London at the other flower shows as well.
0:13:05 > 0:13:08I mean, but when you look at them, no two flowers are exactly the same
0:13:08 > 0:13:12- and I always say their perfection is their imperfection.- Exactly.
0:13:12 > 0:13:15Don't you think it's about time people really started growing
0:13:15 > 0:13:16these things themselves?
0:13:16 > 0:13:19I think when they look at them compared with the modern ones,
0:13:19 > 0:13:22these older ones have a charm and a beauty and a grace, I think, which
0:13:22 > 0:13:25when people really look at them they will fall in love with them.
0:13:25 > 0:13:27They will and once you're smitten that's it, isn't it?
0:13:27 > 0:13:29There's no way back then, Carol.
0:13:30 > 0:13:34'Alan reckons that for true daffodil lovers there's no greater joy
0:13:34 > 0:13:37'than creating a hybrid of your very own.
0:13:37 > 0:13:41'So I'm about to try my hand at some daffodil hanky panky with
0:13:41 > 0:13:43'the help of a glorious old Tipperary.'
0:13:43 > 0:13:45Well, shall we try and get some pollen off it, Carol,
0:13:45 > 0:13:48and cross it onto another heritage daffodil?
0:13:48 > 0:13:50- What? Ooh.- And make something new and wonderful?
0:13:50 > 0:13:54Wow, what a treat. I never thought we'd be having children, Alan.
0:13:54 > 0:13:57At our age. It's never too late to try.
0:13:57 > 0:13:59- Right, shall we try and get some pollen off it?- Yeah.
0:13:59 > 0:14:01I've got a little cotton bud here.
0:14:01 > 0:14:03- That looks ideal.- I think there's a little bit of pollen on there.
0:14:03 > 0:14:06Yeah, there is. It's definitely sort of yellow on the end.
0:14:06 > 0:14:09And I thought we'd put it onto this other heritage one
0:14:09 > 0:14:12here from the 19th century, and that one's called Lucipher.
0:14:12 > 0:14:15One of my favourites. Just touch that one. The end.
0:14:15 > 0:14:18There you go. There, and now it's a virgin flower.
0:14:18 > 0:14:20It hasn't been, nothing's happened to it.
0:14:20 > 0:14:22If you get that pollen on there.
0:14:22 > 0:14:25- And I just dust this onto the stigma in the centre?- Yeah.
0:14:28 > 0:14:30And you'd mark this flower so you know that.
0:14:30 > 0:14:32I would mark it. I've got a little hood we can put on it.
0:14:32 > 0:14:33Do you want to put it on?
0:14:33 > 0:14:34Ooh, yes, please.
0:14:34 > 0:14:36Well, I can staple it up later.
0:14:38 > 0:14:40That's it. That'll stop any insects coming on.
0:14:40 > 0:14:44'After you've pollenated your flowers, you should have a ripened
0:14:44 > 0:14:47'seed pod ready to sow by June.'
0:14:47 > 0:14:49- Are they quite big seeds? - They are.
0:14:49 > 0:14:53They're black when they're ripe and they're quite easy to work with.
0:14:53 > 0:14:55Do you sow them on the surface of some compost?
0:14:55 > 0:14:57A little bit of grit on top of them.
0:14:57 > 0:15:00It will germinate next spring when the daffodil leaves come up
0:15:00 > 0:15:04but then it will be another three or four growing seasons at least before
0:15:04 > 0:15:06they flower so we know what the children, the colour of their eyes.
0:15:06 > 0:15:10We know our progeny and we can recognise them instantly.
0:15:10 > 0:15:13- How wonderful. - It'll be worth the wait, I'm sure.
0:15:13 > 0:15:17'It's a surprisingly low tech way of playing a part in the future
0:15:17 > 0:15:20'of the heritage daffodil, plus it's great fun.
0:15:20 > 0:15:23'Why not have a go? Who knows what you could create?'
0:15:31 > 0:15:33I'm daft about daffodils.
0:15:33 > 0:15:35I always have been.
0:15:35 > 0:15:39And I can remember buying bunches of them for my mum for Mother's Day
0:15:39 > 0:15:43and the delight on her face.
0:15:43 > 0:15:45And as a mum, my daughters when they
0:15:45 > 0:15:50were really little, they used to bring me bunches of daffodils for Mother's Day.
0:15:50 > 0:15:52But they weren't from the shop.
0:15:52 > 0:15:56They used to go out into our garden and pick them and bring them inside.
0:15:56 > 0:15:59I didn't mind. I just loved it.
0:15:59 > 0:16:00That's the thing about daffodils.
0:16:00 > 0:16:02They just make you happy.
0:16:03 > 0:16:06And I'm going to show you how easy it is to plant your own
0:16:06 > 0:16:09here, in the gardens at Spetchley Park.
0:16:12 > 0:16:16When I plant bulbs, I don't like to plant them in lines.
0:16:16 > 0:16:18I hate that sort of symmetry.
0:16:18 > 0:16:22I think the whole idea is that you make them look as informal,
0:16:22 > 0:16:25as natural, as if they've always been there.
0:16:25 > 0:16:30And the best way to do that is to just get your bulbs...
0:16:30 > 0:16:33Having already just loosened this soil.
0:16:33 > 0:16:35I've done that with a big fork.
0:16:37 > 0:16:41I literally, I don't even look, up in the air and it's very
0:16:41 > 0:16:44tempting to move them and straighten them up and put them together
0:16:44 > 0:16:48but don't, because this is the way you'll achieve the right effect.
0:16:48 > 0:16:52Now, when it comes to planting them the wisdom is that always put twice
0:16:52 > 0:16:56the depth of the bulb of soil above the bulb
0:16:56 > 0:17:02and the major cause of daffodils not flowering is because they're planted to shallowly.
0:17:02 > 0:17:05And then, obviously, you're going to plant them
0:17:05 > 0:17:07with the base plate downwards.
0:17:07 > 0:17:11And then into the hole... and really firm them in.
0:17:11 > 0:17:15You want intimate contact between that bulb and the soil underneath.
0:17:17 > 0:17:21I can hardly remember the first time I planted daffodil bulbs.
0:17:21 > 0:17:25I must have been very, very small and it must have been with my mum.
0:17:25 > 0:17:27She was a keen gardener
0:17:27 > 0:17:29but she didn't get much time to garden
0:17:29 > 0:17:34but the kind of results she got from doing such a simple thing
0:17:34 > 0:17:39as planting these bulbs was so, so worthwhile.
0:17:39 > 0:17:41I bet some of those bulbs are still there now.
0:17:46 > 0:17:50The best time to plant your bulbs is September or early October -
0:17:50 > 0:17:52ideal for daffodils,
0:17:52 > 0:17:55and make sure when you buy your bulbs that you test them.
0:17:55 > 0:18:00Make sure they're firm and robust and that they've got no roots
0:18:00 > 0:18:03coming from the base and then you know that they're completely
0:18:03 > 0:18:06dormant but they're full of all that hope and promise.
0:18:12 > 0:18:15The daffodils here have been returning year after year
0:18:15 > 0:18:18for nearly a century without any special treatment,
0:18:18 > 0:18:22so if you choose these beautiful flowers to brighten up your garden,
0:18:22 > 0:18:25maintaining them couldn't be easier.
0:18:25 > 0:18:30Nothing could be more exquisite than a daffodil in its prime.
0:18:30 > 0:18:35It's at this stage that you can pick them and take them indoors
0:18:35 > 0:18:39into the kitchen, but don't mix them up with other flowers because
0:18:39 > 0:18:43they contain a poison and the other flowers will die and shrivel away.
0:18:43 > 0:18:46But when the daffodils themselves have started to
0:18:46 > 0:18:51shrivel, it's really vital that you deadhead them.
0:18:51 > 0:18:55A lot of people would do it by just nipping off the top like this,
0:18:55 > 0:19:00but what I like to do is go right down to the bottom of the stem
0:19:00 > 0:19:01and take it off.
0:19:01 > 0:19:06That stops the plant expending all its energy producing seed.
0:19:06 > 0:19:11Energy that's vital to the formation of those new bulbs and to swell
0:19:11 > 0:19:15in the bulbs that are already there, and for that very same reason
0:19:15 > 0:19:19don't tie your daffodil leaves up in knots
0:19:19 > 0:19:21or be tempted to chop them down.
0:19:21 > 0:19:26They're vital in supplying that source of food for your bulbs later on.
0:19:26 > 0:19:29If your daffodils have got into congested clumps
0:19:29 > 0:19:33and it's started to impair their flowering, then don't be scared,
0:19:33 > 0:19:37just dig the whole lot up, divide them up and replant them
0:19:37 > 0:19:41with a bit of good compost just a few inches apart.
0:19:53 > 0:19:58This is Falmouth in the heart of daffodil growing country.
0:19:58 > 0:20:01I want to take my revival campaign to the streets
0:20:01 > 0:20:04but the first step is to get hold of some heritage varieties.
0:20:05 > 0:20:09'Ron Scamp has been growing heritage daffodils here in Falmouth
0:20:09 > 0:20:11'for over 40 years,
0:20:11 > 0:20:15'and his beautiful blooms are sure to wow the locals.'
0:20:15 > 0:20:17This is a lovely one, isn't it?
0:20:17 > 0:20:19Yes. It's beautiful. It's "Bath's Flame",
0:20:19 > 0:20:23the one I used to pick as a boy on my uncle's flower farm
0:20:23 > 0:20:25in the Tamar Valley.
0:20:25 > 0:20:28You are renowned to have the largest collection of daffodils
0:20:28 > 0:20:30in the world, bar none,
0:20:30 > 0:20:33so that's a sure sign you're pretty keen on them.
0:20:33 > 0:20:36Well, yeah, we've got... Very nearly in this patch here
0:20:36 > 0:20:40- there's very nearly 3,000 different named varieties...- Wow.
0:20:40 > 0:20:46..and we have two acres of unnamed seedlings that we've bred as well.
0:20:46 > 0:20:48Whoa. New ones are very exciting, aren't they?
0:20:48 > 0:20:50Yeah, I've been known to break into a run
0:20:50 > 0:20:53when I've seen something really good, so...
0:20:53 > 0:20:55But, yes, that is a very exciting time.
0:20:55 > 0:20:56But on the other hand,
0:20:56 > 0:20:59you're just as passionate about these old varieties.
0:20:59 > 0:21:02They've got a soft spot in my heart.
0:21:02 > 0:21:05I really do like the real old-fashioned ones.
0:21:05 > 0:21:08I'd love everybody to see this. Can we pick some of these?
0:21:08 > 0:21:09Of course, yes.
0:21:09 > 0:21:12I know it sounds daft, but I'm not really sure how to do it.
0:21:12 > 0:21:16If you're going to pick something for indoor decoration right away,
0:21:16 > 0:21:18pick a flower that's fresh open.
0:21:18 > 0:21:23Make sure that it's a nice, clean flower and not burnt or aged.
0:21:23 > 0:21:24So, inspect it first.
0:21:24 > 0:21:27Just finger and thumb.
0:21:27 > 0:21:28That's it.
0:21:28 > 0:21:30That's absolutely perfect.
0:21:30 > 0:21:33'So, armed with some beautiful heritage daffodils,
0:21:33 > 0:21:36'it's time to show the people of Falmouth what they're missing.
0:21:36 > 0:21:38'In this Cornish seaside town,
0:21:38 > 0:21:42'they've got a unique way of heralding the start of spring.'
0:21:44 > 0:21:45It looks wonderful!
0:21:45 > 0:21:48We organise a day called Paint The Town Yellow Day,
0:21:48 > 0:21:51which really gets the community and businesses and schools together,
0:21:51 > 0:21:54and we hand out daffodils, decorate shops...
0:21:54 > 0:21:56- What better way to do it! - Ah, I mean the daffodil...
0:21:56 > 0:21:58What a symbolic flower, isn't it?
0:21:58 > 0:22:02Well, the daffodil is so important to Falmouth and to Cornwall,
0:22:02 > 0:22:05and we can think of no better flower that really symbolises
0:22:05 > 0:22:08colour, vibrancy and, sort of, a uniting spirit
0:22:08 > 0:22:10of bringing people together in the town.
0:22:10 > 0:22:12Celebrating spring.
0:22:13 > 0:22:15Do you want some daffodils?!
0:22:20 > 0:22:23'So, along with my fellow daffodil enthusiasts,
0:22:23 > 0:22:28'I'm taking to the streets in support of these fabulous flowers.'
0:22:28 > 0:22:32I love your daffodil, Constable. What do you think of mine?
0:22:32 > 0:22:35Well, I actually like yours better than I like mine.
0:22:35 > 0:22:38- What do you think of them?- They're gorgeous. They're really pretty.
0:22:38 > 0:22:42'And my heritage daffs seem to be a firm favourite.'
0:22:42 > 0:22:44That's "Maximus Superbus".
0:22:44 > 0:22:48I do enjoy the ones with different colours in them.
0:22:48 > 0:22:51These are the ones I used to know when I was a child.
0:22:51 > 0:22:53- Aren't they beautiful?! - Do you like them?- Yes.
0:22:53 > 0:22:55Oh, good.
0:22:55 > 0:22:57They seem more intimate, more...
0:22:57 > 0:22:59"More intimate." I like that!
0:22:59 > 0:23:03But they're on the decrease and we want to persuade people...
0:23:03 > 0:23:05- Oh, you can persuade me instantly. - Yes?
0:23:05 > 0:23:07Next time you're planting daffodils,
0:23:07 > 0:23:09- how about trying a few of these heritage varieties?- Lovely.
0:23:09 > 0:23:13I've crocheted them, I've stitched them, I've cross-stitched them,
0:23:13 > 0:23:16and I'm only going to have a wreath of daffodils on my coffin.
0:23:16 > 0:23:17So you've got to die in spring.
0:23:17 > 0:23:19I've got to die in spring, so I've missed this year!
0:23:19 > 0:23:21- Would you support that whole idea... - Definitely.
0:23:21 > 0:23:24- ..of us reintroducing these wonderful things?- Oh, definitely.
0:23:24 > 0:23:28- Definitely.- And growing them?- Yes, I'd be lost without my daffodils!
0:23:28 > 0:23:33And I hope it's many, many years before you have them on your wreath!
0:23:33 > 0:23:38'Our heritage daffodils have brightened up everyone's day.
0:23:38 > 0:23:40'They're like little rays of sunshine.'
0:23:42 > 0:23:44Daffodils?
0:23:44 > 0:23:47I don't think even THESE would make her smile, would they?
0:23:51 > 0:23:54'The aim of my campaign is to encourage you
0:23:54 > 0:23:57'to grow your own heritage daffodils at home.
0:23:57 > 0:24:00'So I'm back at Spetchley Park to show YOU
0:24:00 > 0:24:03'how you can get the most from your daffodil bulbs.'
0:24:04 > 0:24:08Now, you can make more daffodils by growing them from seed,
0:24:08 > 0:24:10but it takes quite a long time.
0:24:10 > 0:24:12Normally, we buy these dry bulbs,
0:24:12 > 0:24:16but instead of just putting them straight into the ground,
0:24:16 > 0:24:18there's a way you can make more.
0:24:18 > 0:24:20This is a process called chipping.
0:24:20 > 0:24:22It has to be one of the most simple ways
0:24:22 > 0:24:25of making more bulbs, more plants, that there is.
0:24:25 > 0:24:29It's cheap, it's easy and it's such good fun.
0:24:29 > 0:24:33All you've got to do is take your dry bulb,
0:24:33 > 0:24:36go to the base plate, which is the bit at the bottom of the bulb,
0:24:36 > 0:24:39and remove any old roots,
0:24:39 > 0:24:43and then just strip a bit of this tunic -
0:24:43 > 0:24:44the outside layer -
0:24:44 > 0:24:49cos daffodil bulbs are made up of layer upon layer,
0:24:49 > 0:24:53just like an onion, of fleshy bits.
0:24:53 > 0:24:56So when you've got a clean-looking bulb like that,
0:24:56 > 0:24:59take a very, very sharp knife
0:24:59 > 0:25:03and just go right across the top
0:25:03 > 0:25:05of the nose of the bulb.
0:25:05 > 0:25:07You chop its nose off.
0:25:07 > 0:25:09Stand it upright,
0:25:09 > 0:25:11and take your knife again
0:25:11 > 0:25:14and go right through the centre.
0:25:14 > 0:25:19Now, I'm chopping that down into four separate bits.
0:25:19 > 0:25:23Now, the whole idea is that each piece you're going to make
0:25:23 > 0:25:25has got a bit of that base plate,
0:25:25 > 0:25:28but it's no good if I just leave it out in the fresh air.
0:25:28 > 0:25:30What I've got to do is subject it
0:25:30 > 0:25:34to darkness, warmth and moisture.
0:25:36 > 0:25:37Take a plastic bag,
0:25:37 > 0:25:40grab hold of some of this damp vermiculite.
0:25:40 > 0:25:43It's just a sort of mineral rock,
0:25:43 > 0:25:46completely inorganic.
0:25:46 > 0:25:48It won't supply any kind of nutrient,
0:25:48 > 0:25:50any food to this bulb at all.
0:25:50 > 0:25:52Seal the bag up.
0:25:52 > 0:25:54Put it into your airing cupboard
0:25:54 > 0:25:56and wait for about four to six weeks.
0:25:56 > 0:25:58You'll want to be looking in there every day
0:25:58 > 0:26:00but resist the temptation.
0:26:00 > 0:26:02When at last you see
0:26:02 > 0:26:06on one of those pieces a new little bulb
0:26:06 > 0:26:09forming at the base by this base plate,
0:26:09 > 0:26:11that's the stage at which you can
0:26:11 > 0:26:13put them into a tray of good compost.
0:26:13 > 0:26:16They are going to grow for you.
0:26:16 > 0:26:19It's a great way to make more daffodils,
0:26:19 > 0:26:22especially when you've only got a few or they're very special.
0:26:22 > 0:26:25So, of course, it's ideal for increasing your numbers
0:26:25 > 0:26:27of heritage daffodils.
0:26:29 > 0:26:32'The best time to do this is when your bulbs are dormant,
0:26:32 > 0:26:35'without shoots or roots.
0:26:35 > 0:26:38'And when your new bulbs are ready to plant, why not share them?
0:26:38 > 0:26:41'Give a couple to a friend or a neighbour
0:26:41 > 0:26:43'and get your gardens blooming!'
0:26:51 > 0:26:54The Daffodil Society show is an annual event,
0:26:54 > 0:26:58showcasing flowers from across the UK.
0:26:58 > 0:27:00This year it's being held in Warwickshire,
0:27:00 > 0:27:03and in the efforts to have the best blooms,
0:27:03 > 0:27:05nothing is left to chance.
0:27:05 > 0:27:08Well, the Daffodil Society has been going for over 100 years.
0:27:08 > 0:27:101898 was the start of it.
0:27:10 > 0:27:13We want to encourage people to grow it, to enjoy it
0:27:13 > 0:27:17and, in this case, today obviously we want people to show it.
0:27:17 > 0:27:20Richard Gillings is a previous winner,
0:27:20 > 0:27:24and, for him, today is the pinnacle of a whole year's work.
0:27:24 > 0:27:25I'm feeling...buzzing.
0:27:25 > 0:27:28The adrenaline is going, everything. I love it.
0:27:28 > 0:27:31I love every minute of showing my daffodils.
0:27:31 > 0:27:35But these daffodil fanciers are a competitive bunch!
0:27:35 > 0:27:38- When are you bringing the decent ones out, Alan?- When you've gone!
0:27:38 > 0:27:41HE LAUGHS
0:27:42 > 0:27:43It's touch and go...
0:27:43 > 0:27:45so far. It's touch and go.
0:27:45 > 0:27:48I wouldn't like to say. It's like our front room.
0:27:48 > 0:27:49Not a lot in it!
0:27:49 > 0:27:52In Richard's category, each competitor must show
0:27:52 > 0:27:53nine different varieties,
0:27:53 > 0:27:57and each variety vase must contain three brilliant blooms.
0:27:57 > 0:28:01Perfect flowers are required,
0:28:01 > 0:28:05and, to do that, you must grow many hundreds of flowers
0:28:05 > 0:28:08and then you've got to present them all looking at the judge,
0:28:08 > 0:28:10the flowers saying, "Pick me."
0:28:10 > 0:28:14But will they pick Richard for the third year in a row,
0:28:14 > 0:28:18or will his biggest rival take the crown?
0:28:18 > 0:28:20This is now the time, the moment of truth.
0:28:20 > 0:28:22I think he's just pipped me,
0:28:22 > 0:28:26because I think my faults look more than his faults,
0:28:26 > 0:28:28what I can see,
0:28:28 > 0:28:30so I think he's just pipped me.
0:28:30 > 0:28:33And Richard's fears are confirmed,
0:28:33 > 0:28:35but he's remaining upbeat.
0:28:36 > 0:28:38I'll be back next year all guns blazing,
0:28:38 > 0:28:40and it'll take another good man to beat me.
0:28:42 > 0:28:44And despite his loss,
0:28:44 > 0:28:47he's sure you're on to a winner with daffodils.
0:28:47 > 0:28:51People should grow daffodils because they're beautiful flowers
0:28:51 > 0:28:53and they're easy to grow.
0:28:53 > 0:28:56Buy yourself a few bulbs, put them in the garden,
0:28:56 > 0:28:59and I can guarantee you'll have a lovely display next year,
0:28:59 > 0:29:02but you're not going to beat me!
0:29:11 > 0:29:15For too long, these flowers, with all their history,
0:29:15 > 0:29:18have remained neglected.
0:29:18 > 0:29:21It's time for us all to rally to the call
0:29:21 > 0:29:25and join the great British daffodil revival.
0:29:25 > 0:29:28'But perhaps one of our greatest daffodil lovers,
0:29:28 > 0:29:30'William Wordsworth, should have the final word.'
0:29:30 > 0:29:34For oft, when on my couch I lie
0:29:34 > 0:29:37In vacant or in pensive mood,
0:29:37 > 0:29:39They flash upon that inward eye,
0:29:39 > 0:29:42Which is a bliss of solitude;
0:29:42 > 0:29:46And then my heart with pleasure fills,
0:29:46 > 0:29:48And dances with the daffodils.
0:29:51 > 0:29:53Across the series, our revival team
0:29:53 > 0:29:56are travelling the length and breadth of Britain
0:29:56 > 0:30:00celebrating our gardens, flowers and plants
0:30:00 > 0:30:02in all their glory,
0:30:02 > 0:30:04with one important mission -
0:30:04 > 0:30:07to champion our rich gardening heritage.
0:30:08 > 0:30:12Next, Chris Beardshaw is on the blossom campaign trail.
0:30:17 > 0:30:22From cherry blossom and magnolia to laburnum and wisteria.
0:30:22 > 0:30:26For me, the blossoming of our trees and shrubs
0:30:26 > 0:30:29provides the perfect vision of spring.
0:30:33 > 0:30:36But blossom doesn't last long,
0:30:36 > 0:30:40and, if that's not enough, we're felling and removing
0:30:40 > 0:30:43many of our blossoming trees from landscapes and gardens.
0:30:46 > 0:30:49I believe it's time for us to stop
0:30:49 > 0:30:54and appreciate blossoming trees and shrubs in our gardens,
0:30:54 > 0:30:58no matter how fleetingly they're present in our lives.
0:31:02 > 0:31:05'On my revival campaign I'll find out how blossoming trees
0:31:05 > 0:31:08'are being lost from our streets and gardens.'
0:31:08 > 0:31:11It was quite upsetting to look out from my window
0:31:11 > 0:31:12to the sound of chain saws.
0:31:14 > 0:31:17'I take to my bike on the Blossom Trail in Worcestershire.'
0:31:17 > 0:31:22If you have blossom, you're guaranteed fruit to eat.
0:31:22 > 0:31:24It literally was life and death.
0:31:24 > 0:31:27'And I'll be sharing my top planting tips
0:31:27 > 0:31:30'on just how easy it is for all of us to embrace
0:31:30 > 0:31:33'blossoming trees and shrubs in our gardens.'
0:31:33 > 0:31:34This plant is perfect.
0:31:34 > 0:31:36Evenly distributed.
0:31:36 > 0:31:38That's going to get off to a great start.
0:31:49 > 0:31:52To start my blossom revival campaign,
0:31:52 > 0:31:56I'm at Bodnant Gardens near Colwyn Bay in north Wales.
0:31:56 > 0:32:01It's an area known for the imposing Snowdonia landscape
0:32:01 > 0:32:06and a garden famed for camellias and magnolias,
0:32:06 > 0:32:11not to mention the ravishing 55-metre-long laburnum arch.
0:32:12 > 0:32:15'With a phenomenal cascade of flowers
0:32:15 > 0:32:17'and the spectacular displays of blossom
0:32:17 > 0:32:20'that bring these gardens to life every spring,
0:32:20 > 0:32:22'it's easy to see why people flock here.'
0:32:22 > 0:32:25"Blossom" is a term that was originally used to define
0:32:25 > 0:32:28a very specific group of plants,
0:32:28 > 0:32:30namely those that generated fruit -
0:32:30 > 0:32:33apples, pears, cherries and so on.
0:32:33 > 0:32:36But today we use it much more broadly
0:32:36 > 0:32:41to encompass flowering trees and shrubs from around the world
0:32:41 > 0:32:44in all their kaleidoscopic colour.
0:32:47 > 0:32:52Sadly, many of our blossoming trees and shrubs are becoming vulnerable.
0:32:52 > 0:32:55They're being replaced in favour of plants that are perceived
0:32:55 > 0:33:00as having lower maintenance and a longer season of interest.
0:33:00 > 0:33:02'We're in danger of losing,
0:33:02 > 0:33:05'not only the visual spectacle it provides every spring,
0:33:05 > 0:33:09'but also the biodiversity that the blossom brings to our gardens,
0:33:09 > 0:33:11'streets and cities.'
0:33:18 > 0:33:21When we think of ornamental blossom trees in the street,
0:33:21 > 0:33:26so often the picture that's conjured up is of apples and cherries,
0:33:26 > 0:33:30with their fantastic pink, cerise and white petals
0:33:30 > 0:33:32enlivening our neighbourhoods.
0:33:34 > 0:33:36'But all is not well.
0:33:36 > 0:33:39'Cherry blossom trees have shallow, vigorous roots
0:33:39 > 0:33:42'and a reputation for causing damage to pavements and roads,
0:33:42 > 0:33:44'so they're more likely to be removed
0:33:44 > 0:33:47'and replaced with less problematic species,
0:33:47 > 0:33:50'and that's even if they're even replaced at all.
0:33:50 > 0:33:52'A recent report from Edinburgh Council
0:33:52 > 0:33:57'shows around a 20% decline in street trees since the 1990s.
0:33:57 > 0:34:01'Gail Bryden lives in Gardner's Crescent in Edinburgh.
0:34:01 > 0:34:04'She's passionate about the mature cherry trees on the communal green,
0:34:04 > 0:34:08'so when the council came to chop them down she decided to fight back.'
0:34:08 > 0:34:11That's right. We used to have ten cherry trees within the Crescent
0:34:11 > 0:34:13and now we're down to four and a half,
0:34:13 > 0:34:15so it was quite upsetting a couple of months ago
0:34:15 > 0:34:18to look out from my window to the sound of chain saws.
0:34:18 > 0:34:20How do you go about stopping someone
0:34:20 > 0:34:23cutting down, you know, the community's trees?
0:34:23 > 0:34:25I came out, phoned the Evening News, the local paper,
0:34:25 > 0:34:28who were here within about five minutes,
0:34:28 > 0:34:30and from there on in the work stopped.
0:34:30 > 0:34:33It was really upsetting, and, actually, some neighbours were in tears.
0:34:33 > 0:34:37Erm, it's amazing, the outpouring of emotions towards these trees.
0:34:40 > 0:34:44Is the battle won? Are the cherry trees going to stay?
0:34:44 > 0:34:47We're in discussions at the moment, so it would be great if they can,
0:34:47 > 0:34:50but by no means are they out of the danger just yet.
0:34:50 > 0:34:52'Edinburgh Council say that the felling of the trees
0:34:52 > 0:34:56'is part of an ongoing project to restore Gardner's Crescent
0:34:56 > 0:34:59'to its former 19th-century glory.
0:34:59 > 0:35:01'While further felling has been postponed,
0:35:01 > 0:35:04'they do plan to replace the trees
0:35:04 > 0:35:07'with a variety of blossomless species.'
0:35:07 > 0:35:11And when you consider that for as long as we've been creating
0:35:11 > 0:35:14sophisticated cities, as Edinburgh is,
0:35:14 > 0:35:18we've been populating those cities with green space
0:35:18 > 0:35:21and trees of the right scale and proportion.
0:35:21 > 0:35:25So why cut down cherry trees like that in their prime
0:35:25 > 0:35:29and end up with naked buildings and empty space like that?
0:35:29 > 0:35:31It doesn't make any sense.
0:35:37 > 0:35:41'When blossom trees are felled in our own areas, emotions can run high,
0:35:41 > 0:35:45'but perhaps, as a society, we don't place enough value
0:35:45 > 0:35:48'on the fleeting joy that blossom can bring.'
0:35:48 > 0:35:54One country that really knows how to celebrate its blossom is Japan.
0:35:54 > 0:35:59For centuries, people have picnicked under the sacred sakura,
0:35:59 > 0:36:03or cherry tree, in a ritual known as hanami,
0:36:03 > 0:36:06and, for me, there's much we could learn
0:36:06 > 0:36:08from that ancient Japanese festival.
0:36:12 > 0:36:17'Sayaka Kurata is from Edinburgh University's Japanese Society.'
0:36:17 > 0:36:21At the hanami festival in Japan, what happens?
0:36:21 > 0:36:24What happens in the hanami festival is two things.
0:36:24 > 0:36:26One is appreciating the flowers,
0:36:26 > 0:36:28and the second thing is the food.
0:36:28 > 0:36:31Everyone's having picnic. Everyone enjoying themselves.
0:36:31 > 0:36:34I always remember it as something I look forward to.
0:36:34 > 0:36:37Every time the cherry blossom starts to bloom,
0:36:37 > 0:36:39me and my friends get excited,
0:36:39 > 0:36:42tell Mum and Dad, "We shall have to go to hanami
0:36:42 > 0:36:44"because we only have two weeks."
0:36:44 > 0:36:49It's a very limited time. So it's just something we can't miss.
0:36:49 > 0:36:52What is it, do you think, about the blossom that makes it
0:36:52 > 0:36:57so special to the Japanese culture and to the hanami festival?
0:36:57 > 0:37:01It's to do with cherry blossom being the national flower,
0:37:01 > 0:37:05but also it reflects the transience of life,
0:37:05 > 0:37:07to how our life...is.
0:37:07 > 0:37:11So hanami is seen as a celebration of beginning,
0:37:11 > 0:37:13celebration of spring.
0:37:19 > 0:37:23'As a society, what's important for us to take from hanami
0:37:23 > 0:37:27'is that we must value and cherish our blossom trees.
0:37:27 > 0:37:31'Keep a close eye on the blossom trees in YOUR area
0:37:31 > 0:37:33'and get planting in your own gardens
0:37:33 > 0:37:37'to safeguard the beauty of blossom for future generations,
0:37:37 > 0:37:40'or we risk losing the joy it brings for ever.'
0:37:48 > 0:37:51Growing up in rural Worcestershire, blossom, for me,
0:37:51 > 0:37:56meant the commercial orchards of apples, damsons and cherries.
0:37:56 > 0:38:00There was one group of plants that I just simply couldn't grow
0:38:00 > 0:38:04in the grounds that I had, and that's the rhododendrons,
0:38:04 > 0:38:06the camellias and the magnolias.
0:38:06 > 0:38:10So I had to make a pilgrimage to places like this, to Bodnant,
0:38:10 > 0:38:12to witness the arrival of spring,
0:38:12 > 0:38:16and, I have to say, it's a pilgrimage that's well worth making.
0:38:18 > 0:38:23Queen of the spring blossom is the magnolia,
0:38:23 > 0:38:26a curious group of plants.
0:38:26 > 0:38:29They evolved 75 million years ago,
0:38:29 > 0:38:34long before specialised winged pollinating insects,
0:38:34 > 0:38:37and this is amongst the finest of examples.
0:38:37 > 0:38:39It's Magnolia sieboldii.
0:38:39 > 0:38:41It sits glamorous,
0:38:41 > 0:38:44defying anyone to not fall in love with it.
0:38:47 > 0:38:50'Magnolias are native to the Americas, the Himalayas
0:38:50 > 0:38:52'and East Asia,
0:38:52 > 0:38:55'but in the wild, many species are under threat.
0:38:55 > 0:38:57'So there's more reason than ever
0:38:57 > 0:39:00'to plant these stunning icons of spring and summer
0:39:00 > 0:39:02'and I'm going to show you how.'
0:39:07 > 0:39:11Magnolias are woodland and woodland-edge dwellers
0:39:11 > 0:39:13in their native habitat,
0:39:13 > 0:39:16and that really is the secret to their success
0:39:16 > 0:39:18when they're transferred to a garden.
0:39:18 > 0:39:22Underneath the tree canopy here, surrounded by shrubbery,
0:39:22 > 0:39:24is absolutely perfect for them.
0:39:24 > 0:39:28It provides them with the necessary shelter from cold winds
0:39:28 > 0:39:30but also a very rich soil.
0:39:30 > 0:39:34The next thing to think about is which magnolia to go for.
0:39:34 > 0:39:36Some are very large,
0:39:36 > 0:39:38others are much more shrub-like.
0:39:38 > 0:39:40This is Magnolia kobus,
0:39:40 > 0:39:42which is a kind of halfway house.
0:39:42 > 0:39:44But before you buy,
0:39:44 > 0:39:47don't be afraid to knock the plant out of the pot,
0:39:47 > 0:39:50because if this is healthy,
0:39:50 > 0:39:52then you're sure of getting a healthy plant
0:39:52 > 0:39:54that establishes and flowers well.
0:39:54 > 0:39:59What we're looking for is these succulent roots around the root ball.
0:39:59 > 0:40:02Not a woody array that's spiralling around.
0:40:02 > 0:40:06Certainly not blackness within the roots, which indicates dying off.
0:40:06 > 0:40:09This plant is perfect. Evenly distributed.
0:40:09 > 0:40:11That's going to get off to a great start.
0:40:11 > 0:40:15But before you plant, think about the hole that you're planting in.
0:40:15 > 0:40:16Make it sufficiently large,
0:40:16 > 0:40:19three or four times larger than the size of the pot.
0:40:19 > 0:40:22Make sure the bottom is well dug over and loose.
0:40:23 > 0:40:24As far as depth is concerned,
0:40:24 > 0:40:27what we're looking for is a mark
0:40:27 > 0:40:30just a little deeper
0:40:30 > 0:40:33than the plant was growing in the pot in the nursery.
0:40:33 > 0:40:36Put your spade across the surface, and you can see that's perfect.
0:40:38 > 0:40:41'Next, add some organic matter or compost
0:40:41 > 0:40:45'before filling with soil, firming it in as you go.'
0:40:45 > 0:40:46If you don't firm it in,
0:40:46 > 0:40:49what happens is that any breeze that's going by
0:40:49 > 0:40:51will wag the top of the plant,
0:40:51 > 0:40:53and that means the root ball will be moving around.
0:40:53 > 0:40:56Now, those roots are trying to get out into the ground.
0:40:56 > 0:40:58The more they move, the more they get severed and broken.
0:40:58 > 0:41:01A secure plant allows those roots to migrate out
0:41:01 > 0:41:04and then the plant establishes very well.
0:41:06 > 0:41:07What's generally a good idea
0:41:07 > 0:41:11is to give yourself a bit of a mound
0:41:11 > 0:41:14around the plant,
0:41:14 > 0:41:18and what you're looking for is a kind of doughnut structure.
0:41:18 > 0:41:21And that means when it comes to watering the plant in,
0:41:21 > 0:41:25which is key to establish it in the early weeks and months,
0:41:25 > 0:41:27all the water is kept exactly where you need it -
0:41:27 > 0:41:29right on top of that root ball.
0:41:29 > 0:41:33And, as far as the timing of planting is concerned,
0:41:33 > 0:41:36well, if you're buying a plant in a container,
0:41:36 > 0:41:38it doesn't really matter what time of the year you are planting
0:41:38 > 0:41:40as long as you keep it well watered.
0:41:40 > 0:41:43And, finally, do you want it to branch out
0:41:43 > 0:41:46or do you want it to go up as a standard tree?
0:41:46 > 0:41:47If you want a standard tree,
0:41:47 > 0:41:49you could go in to these buds at the side
0:41:49 > 0:41:51and just knock them off with your thumb.
0:41:51 > 0:41:53That will encourage upward growth.
0:41:53 > 0:41:55But in this case, I definitely want
0:41:55 > 0:41:59those really languid and lavish horizontal branches.
0:42:00 > 0:42:03Magnolia kobus is a beautiful tree to have in the garden -
0:42:03 > 0:42:05well worth planting,
0:42:05 > 0:42:07guaranteed of spring blossom.
0:42:12 > 0:42:15'The magnolia is undoubtedly one of the greatest
0:42:15 > 0:42:17'of our ornamental blossom trees,
0:42:17 > 0:42:21'but, of course, blossom didn't evolve purely for its looks.
0:42:21 > 0:42:24'It has an important function - fruit production.
0:42:30 > 0:42:34'Our orchards have traditionally been based in central and southern England,
0:42:34 > 0:42:38'but there's evidence to suggest that long-term climate change
0:42:38 > 0:42:40'could affect what we grow and where we can grow it,
0:42:40 > 0:42:44'which could pose a threat to our blossoming orchards.
0:42:46 > 0:42:49'Here in Coldstream in the Scottish Borders,
0:42:49 > 0:42:52'a forward-thinking man is on a mission to secure the future
0:42:52 > 0:42:56'of our heritage fruit trees and the blossom they produce.'
0:42:56 > 0:42:59Hi, Alec. A gardener's work - never done!
0:42:59 > 0:43:02No, I'm afraid not. There's always weeds.
0:43:02 > 0:43:05'Alec West happened upon a house with a disused walled garden
0:43:05 > 0:43:07'when house-hunting and fell in love with it.'
0:43:07 > 0:43:10Garden's looking great, though, and what a wonderful time of year!
0:43:10 > 0:43:12It's just an absolute riot of colour, isn't it?
0:43:12 > 0:43:14- Lots of blossom.- Yeah.
0:43:14 > 0:43:16We looked around and found this place,
0:43:16 > 0:43:18and I walked through that gate,
0:43:18 > 0:43:20and it was just overgrown,
0:43:20 > 0:43:23but I put my hand in the soil and I thought, "Wow!"
0:43:23 > 0:43:27And then we found and counted 56 fruit trees.
0:43:27 > 0:43:29All the apples were on the ground
0:43:29 > 0:43:31and so you could see it was productive.
0:43:31 > 0:43:36'Alec's spent the last 18 years reviving this abandoned garden
0:43:36 > 0:43:38'and its forgotten fruits.
0:43:38 > 0:43:41'He learned how to graft from heritage varieties
0:43:41 > 0:43:46'onto modern root stocks and trained the fruit trees as cordons,
0:43:46 > 0:43:50'a method that maximises productivity in a limited space.'
0:43:50 > 0:43:52So, how brutal are you with them?
0:43:52 > 0:43:55How relentless are you with the secateurs?
0:43:55 > 0:43:58The tree is under stress because it's on at an angle,
0:43:58 > 0:44:02so it's reducing the sap flow, therefore it says,
0:44:02 > 0:44:05"I'm going to die. I've got to produce more young."
0:44:05 > 0:44:07So it wants to produce a lot of flowers.
0:44:07 > 0:44:12If you do it in the summer, it produces more growth,
0:44:12 > 0:44:13because it's like...
0:44:13 > 0:44:16it's wide awake and you chop its arm off and it goes, "Ow!"
0:44:16 > 0:44:18And it puts up more growth.
0:44:18 > 0:44:20When it's asleep, it doesn't realise.
0:44:20 > 0:44:23When the sap starts to rise in the spring, the sap comes up -
0:44:23 > 0:44:26nowhere to go. "Better get some fruit."
0:44:26 > 0:44:29And this is the perfect way of growing trees in close proximity.
0:44:29 > 0:44:32I mean, there's no better way of growing something like a pear tree
0:44:32 > 0:44:36in a small garden in containers, in pots.
0:44:38 > 0:44:42'Over the last 50 years, Scotland has seen a steady decline
0:44:42 > 0:44:43'in its fruit tree numbers,
0:44:43 > 0:44:47'and so Alec's vast collection of over 240 varieties
0:44:47 > 0:44:51'of apples, pears, figs and apricots is of real value.
0:44:51 > 0:44:55'And he has a unique way of getting around his garden to tend his crops.
0:45:03 > 0:45:07'Alec's success in reviving near-extinct fruit varieties
0:45:07 > 0:45:11'may well play a part in an uncertain climatic future.'
0:45:11 > 0:45:15What do you see is the legacy of a garden like this?
0:45:15 > 0:45:18I do believe that if global warming continues
0:45:18 > 0:45:21as we expect it will,
0:45:21 > 0:45:25that this area will once again become a big fruit-growing area.
0:45:25 > 0:45:28Er, and if that's the case, people will be able to come to this garden
0:45:28 > 0:45:31and say, "Well, this one works," or, "That one doesn't work."
0:45:31 > 0:45:35In a way, it becomes a bit of a fruit museum, if you like.
0:45:35 > 0:45:39I think that's very true. I think we need that total diversity.
0:45:39 > 0:45:40The more we've got, the better.
0:45:40 > 0:45:44So, hopefully, this little garden is a tree bank for this area.
0:45:47 > 0:45:51A garden like this is a reminder of the importance of the work
0:45:51 > 0:45:54of enthusiasts like Alec.
0:45:54 > 0:45:58By planting fruit trees, you're helping save rare heritage varieties
0:45:58 > 0:46:00from being lost for ever,
0:46:00 > 0:46:03and you'll not only have beautiful blossom in spring
0:46:03 > 0:46:07but rich fruits to enjoy later in the year.
0:46:18 > 0:46:21In springtime it seems that at Bodnant Garden
0:46:21 > 0:46:25everywhere you look is a riot of colour.
0:46:25 > 0:46:27But there's one blossoming plant
0:46:27 > 0:46:32the timing of which keeps gardeners and visitors alike guessing.
0:46:38 > 0:46:39When in full bloom,
0:46:39 > 0:46:43Bodnant's world-famous, 55-metre-long laburnum arch
0:46:43 > 0:46:47produces a magnificent cascade of golden blooms.
0:46:47 > 0:46:51But before the plants peak, gardener Fran Llewellyn
0:46:51 > 0:46:55is going to tell me more about this glorious historic feature.
0:46:55 > 0:46:59And this was something of a trendsetter when it was planted in the 1880s.
0:46:59 > 0:47:01People were allowing laburnums to grow as trees
0:47:01 > 0:47:04and no-one had contemplated the idea of strapping them to a structure.
0:47:04 > 0:47:06So what was it that instigated that idea?
0:47:06 > 0:47:09Well, pergola walkways were really very fashionable
0:47:09 > 0:47:11in the 16th and 17th centuries,
0:47:11 > 0:47:14and became fashionable again in the Victorian era,
0:47:14 > 0:47:17and Henry Pochin was at the forefront of that.
0:47:17 > 0:47:21It was his idea to design and plan this fantastic walkway.
0:47:21 > 0:47:24Over the years the 48 laburnum trees
0:47:24 > 0:47:27have been meticulously trained and shaped
0:47:27 > 0:47:29to create this arch,
0:47:29 > 0:47:31and it's no mean feat to keep it maintained.
0:47:31 > 0:47:36Every winter two specialist gardeners spend five weeks untying each plant
0:47:36 > 0:47:40before pruning and retraining new growth into the structure.
0:47:40 > 0:47:44I mean, what's curious is that at this end of the archway,
0:47:44 > 0:47:47the flowers are starting to come, but why is it just here
0:47:47 > 0:47:48and not occurring further up?
0:47:48 > 0:47:50This end of the arch gets more sunlight.
0:47:50 > 0:47:52It's as simple as that.
0:47:52 > 0:47:55So when we see the blossom appearing this end,
0:47:55 > 0:47:58we know that we're on the countdown to the laburnum arch.
0:47:58 > 0:48:02What do you think Pochin would have made of the display today?
0:48:02 > 0:48:03Well, that's the fascinating thing.
0:48:03 > 0:48:07I mean, he was a Victorian entrepreneur, a man of great vision,
0:48:07 > 0:48:09so to have designed and planted this
0:48:09 > 0:48:12when he wouldn't actually have seen what the end result was,
0:48:12 > 0:48:15I think he'd be absolutely... he'd be delighted.
0:48:25 > 0:48:29There's no doubt that Bodnant is a blossom sanctuary,
0:48:29 > 0:48:33but, sadly, this isn't always the case in our own gardens.
0:48:33 > 0:48:34But all is not lost.
0:48:34 > 0:48:37We can help guarantee the future of blossom
0:48:37 > 0:48:41by taking inspiration and planting some of the beauties thriving here.
0:48:41 > 0:48:44Enkianthus is a plant that originates from the woodlands
0:48:44 > 0:48:47of China and Japan.
0:48:47 > 0:48:49It has a species name which tells you everything
0:48:49 > 0:48:51you need to know about the shape of the flower.
0:48:51 > 0:48:54It's Enkianthus campanulatus,
0:48:54 > 0:48:57after campanology, the art of ringing bells.
0:48:57 > 0:48:59Well, just look at the shape of the flowers.
0:48:59 > 0:49:01A perfect pendant bell.
0:49:01 > 0:49:03This is one of those plants that delivers
0:49:03 > 0:49:07not just an initial hit of impressive colour during spring.
0:49:07 > 0:49:11Come autumn, these leaves turn a fiery bronze.
0:49:18 > 0:49:22Spectacular as it is, this shrub is actually very low maintenance
0:49:22 > 0:49:27and grows well anywhere the blossoms are warmed by dappled sunlight.
0:49:27 > 0:49:29Just ensure it's protected from the wind,
0:49:29 > 0:49:33as this way the flowers will persist.
0:49:33 > 0:49:36Blossom is not just about an aesthetic treat.
0:49:36 > 0:49:39There are other senses to be titillated.
0:49:39 > 0:49:41This is a dwarf lilac,
0:49:41 > 0:49:45and the fragrance is just so exquisite.
0:49:45 > 0:49:47It's sweet and elegant.
0:49:47 > 0:49:50It's a shrub which is perfect for a small garden.
0:49:50 > 0:49:52It will even tolerate being constrained
0:49:52 > 0:49:54within a large container.
0:49:54 > 0:49:57And, for me, the best way of exhibiting it is somewhere
0:49:57 > 0:49:59where the warmth of the spring sunshine
0:49:59 > 0:50:02can really excite the nectaries in the flower,
0:50:02 > 0:50:07and also surrounded by other plants that will help to trap and ensnare
0:50:07 > 0:50:10that sweet and delicious fragrance.
0:50:14 > 0:50:17Nobody said blossom was subtle,
0:50:17 > 0:50:20and it doesn't get more garish than this.
0:50:20 > 0:50:22Rhododendron 'Amoena'.
0:50:22 > 0:50:25Just for the briefest of moments
0:50:25 > 0:50:29it is festooned in this wonderful array of blossom.
0:50:38 > 0:50:42For a large and statuesque specimen tree,
0:50:42 > 0:50:46well, I think it's impossible to beat the glories of this.
0:50:46 > 0:50:49It has a common name of the "handkerchief tree",
0:50:49 > 0:50:51which I think is a little bit miserly.
0:50:51 > 0:50:54Much better to go for the Chinese common name,
0:50:54 > 0:50:58which is the "dove tree" - the tree of peace.
0:50:58 > 0:51:01The only problem is that, technically, this isn't a blossoming tree.
0:51:01 > 0:51:06These white appendages are actually bracts, which is a modified leaf.
0:51:06 > 0:51:09The true flower is there.
0:51:09 > 0:51:12It's this spherical construction.
0:51:12 > 0:51:14It's a tree to plant and be proud of,
0:51:14 > 0:51:17perhaps not for you but for your grandchildren.
0:51:27 > 0:51:32'Famous for its orchards bursting with blossoming fruit trees
0:51:32 > 0:51:33'since medieval times,
0:51:33 > 0:51:38'my home county of Worcestershire has developed its very own Blossom Trail.
0:51:38 > 0:51:42'But with 60% of England's orchards disappearing since World War II,
0:51:42 > 0:51:46'this area has seen a decline in its fruit production.
0:51:46 > 0:51:50'I've teamed up with friend and local horticulturalist John Edgeley
0:51:50 > 0:51:52'on our bikes to see what's left
0:51:52 > 0:51:55'of this once beautiful blossoming landscape.'
0:51:55 > 0:52:00It must have been an amazing sight when there was so much orchard.
0:52:00 > 0:52:03I mean, the whole landscape must have just been white with flowers.
0:52:03 > 0:52:05Yes, and around here, if you look at the old maps,
0:52:05 > 0:52:09even in the 1950s it was just orchard still,
0:52:09 > 0:52:11all the way from here to Evesham.
0:52:11 > 0:52:16'A staggering 90% of the fruit we eat in the UK today is imported,
0:52:16 > 0:52:20'which inevitably is bad news for the plight of our blossom.'
0:52:20 > 0:52:23Now we're just coming into Bishampton village.
0:52:23 > 0:52:25This is an old orchard on your right
0:52:25 > 0:52:27and it's being threatened with planning at the moment.
0:52:27 > 0:52:32But you can see there's some very old perry pears in the back there.
0:52:32 > 0:52:34The lilac's really doing well at the moment. Really spectacular.
0:52:34 > 0:52:36Yeah, stunning, isn't it? Yeah.
0:52:38 > 0:52:41It really is difficult to overstress
0:52:41 > 0:52:44the importance of blossom historically.
0:52:44 > 0:52:50May Day, for instance, that wonderful pagan celebration of
0:52:50 > 0:52:55the point at which the spring officially starts.
0:52:55 > 0:52:58The importance was that if you have blossom,
0:52:58 > 0:53:00then you're guaranteed fruit, fruit to eat,
0:53:00 > 0:53:03and that means your life can continue.
0:53:03 > 0:53:05It literally was life and death.
0:53:05 > 0:53:09- New young orchard on our left just coming up.- Oh, yes.
0:53:09 > 0:53:13'Thanks to charitable and government initiatives,
0:53:13 > 0:53:15'some old orchards ARE now being restored.'
0:53:15 > 0:53:18We can come in for a drink now.
0:53:18 > 0:53:20'But progress is slow, so we all need to do our bit
0:53:20 > 0:53:23'to bring blossom back to the forefront,
0:53:23 > 0:53:25'like Lucy Rollett, who's helping the cause
0:53:25 > 0:53:28'by reviving the fruit-growing traditions of this area,
0:53:28 > 0:53:32'making drinks using local produce, including blossom.'
0:53:32 > 0:53:34We've just planted a really small little orchard,
0:53:34 > 0:53:36an elderflower orchard,
0:53:36 > 0:53:38and then we've moved on to plum drinks as well.
0:53:38 > 0:53:40We make a yellow egg plum
0:53:40 > 0:53:42because it's part of the Vale of Evesham's culture.
0:53:42 > 0:53:44It's something that makes this place unique,
0:53:44 > 0:53:47which is what our fruit and veg has to offer, I think,
0:53:47 > 0:53:49and keep it going.
0:53:49 > 0:53:51Well, after a few miles on the bike,
0:53:51 > 0:53:53I can certainly give it my endorsement. It's fantastic.
0:53:53 > 0:53:55Thank you. Safe journey home.
0:53:57 > 0:54:00'You can support my campaign just by getting out there
0:54:00 > 0:54:04'and appreciating the diversity of Britain's blossom.
0:54:04 > 0:54:07'Be inspired to plant your own flowering fruit trees,
0:54:07 > 0:54:11'which will not only give you blossom but great rewards come harvest time.
0:54:16 > 0:54:18'Bodnant Garden is renowned
0:54:18 > 0:54:21'for its scenic flowering trees and shrubs,
0:54:21 > 0:54:25'but a fear of complicated pruning puts many of us off
0:54:25 > 0:54:29'growing these blossoming plants in our own gardens.
0:54:29 > 0:54:31'So I'm going to show you a foolproof technique
0:54:31 > 0:54:33'to guarantee blossom year after year.'
0:54:37 > 0:54:40In common with all woody plants,
0:54:40 > 0:54:44spring blossoming plants will need an occasional prune
0:54:44 > 0:54:46to keep them in check,
0:54:46 > 0:54:48reshape them or encourage flowering.
0:54:48 > 0:54:52Now, this one has finished its flowering flush,
0:54:52 > 0:54:55so we're not going to lose any flowers,
0:54:55 > 0:54:59and we can very clearly see that's this spring's growth.
0:54:59 > 0:55:03It's green in colour. Then the wood changes to a much darker brown.
0:55:03 > 0:55:06This is last summer's growth,
0:55:06 > 0:55:09and the flower would have been carried right there.
0:55:09 > 0:55:13Now, in order to get those flowers to perform next spring,
0:55:13 > 0:55:17what we do is to trace back to a nice fresh shoot,
0:55:17 > 0:55:19like this one, for instance.
0:55:19 > 0:55:21Remember, we're trying to trim it back to contain it
0:55:21 > 0:55:23whilst not losing the flowers.
0:55:23 > 0:55:28So we can go in at this point and if I prune there...
0:55:28 > 0:55:32this side shoot will suddenly produce extra growth this summer,
0:55:32 > 0:55:36and it's on the end of that growth that next spring
0:55:36 > 0:55:37we'll get fabulous blossom.
0:55:39 > 0:55:42But if your evergreens have really got out of control,
0:55:42 > 0:55:47well, don't worry, because, as you can see from this pruning cut,
0:55:47 > 0:55:50a previous gardener has been much more radical.
0:55:50 > 0:55:53You really can hit them hard.
0:55:53 > 0:55:55Encourage plenty of fresh growth
0:55:55 > 0:56:00and what we end up with is a plant that will last generations,
0:56:00 > 0:56:05every spring producing the most glorious blossom displays.
0:56:17 > 0:56:19In an award-winning communal garden
0:56:19 > 0:56:21in Pimlico, central London,
0:56:21 > 0:56:24a revival is already under way
0:56:24 > 0:56:27for a vibrant blossoming shrub native to North America
0:56:27 > 0:56:30that causes a stir every spring.
0:56:30 > 0:56:33We're well known, really, for our ceanothus.
0:56:33 > 0:56:36We've got a national collection of ceanothus,
0:56:36 > 0:56:39some 65, 70 different creatures,
0:56:39 > 0:56:42and most of them are in flower right now.
0:56:42 > 0:56:46In 1980, local resident Roger Phillips MBE
0:56:46 > 0:56:49transformed Eccleston Square's neglected green
0:56:49 > 0:56:51into this magnificent garden,
0:56:51 > 0:56:54and he's championed blossom ever since.
0:56:55 > 0:56:57When I came to tackle the garden,
0:56:57 > 0:57:00I experimented with all sorts of different things
0:57:00 > 0:57:04and one of the most successful of the plants I planted was ceanothus.
0:57:04 > 0:57:07I had planted about six, and from then on,
0:57:07 > 0:57:12I went completely mad over ceanothus and they're everywhere.
0:57:13 > 0:57:16What I love about ceanothus is the rich blue colours
0:57:16 > 0:57:20and a lot of variation in the foliage as well.
0:57:21 > 0:57:25They range from really quite dark purpley blues
0:57:25 > 0:57:28to delicate Air Force blues.
0:57:28 > 0:57:32I mean, actually, I think the white ones are terrific as well.
0:57:32 > 0:57:34This is one called 'Millerton Point'.
0:57:34 > 0:57:36The blue ones are better, I suppose.
0:57:36 > 0:57:40I love the blue ones, but it's great to have a white one as well.
0:57:40 > 0:57:43All of them are very happy in dry conditions -
0:57:43 > 0:57:48as near as we can get in England to California is what it comes down to.
0:57:48 > 0:57:50Yes, here we are in Pimlico,
0:57:50 > 0:57:52or you could call it California, England!
0:58:03 > 0:58:07'From Roger's infectious passion and enthusiasm for blossom
0:58:07 > 0:58:10'to the dazzling array here at Bodnant,
0:58:10 > 0:58:14'I hope you're inspired to get behind my blossom campaign.'
0:58:14 > 0:58:17Blossoming trees and shrubs,
0:58:17 > 0:58:20they mark the passing of the seasons,
0:58:20 > 0:58:23and now is the time to seize the opportunity
0:58:23 > 0:58:28to plant them throughout our gardens and landscapes.
0:58:28 > 0:58:32By doing so, we're guaranteed a display to revel in.