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 forever.
0:00:23 > 0:00:27And our favourite flowers are disappearing right before our eyes.
0:00:27 > 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.
0:01:33 > 0:01:37If you could invent the ultimate garden plant, it would have
0:01:37 > 0:01:40unparalleled colour, incredible scent and at the same time,
0:01:40 > 0:01:45give you maximum bang for your buck and be foolproof to grow.
0:01:47 > 0:01:52There is one plant that ticks every single one of those boxes.
0:01:52 > 0:01:54It's this little guy - the lily,
0:01:54 > 0:01:56and us Brits just don't grow enough of them.
0:01:57 > 0:02:01Sadly, today they are only seen as flowers that belong in vases
0:02:01 > 0:02:05and far too exotic to grow in our Great British climate.
0:02:05 > 0:02:08There is so much more to this horticultural superhero than
0:02:08 > 0:02:11the standard cut flower staple,
0:02:11 > 0:02:14and I believe they deserve a place in all our gardens.
0:02:18 > 0:02:22On my revival, I'll be tracking down some amazing lily varieties.
0:02:22 > 0:02:24Look at this strapping seven-footer.
0:02:24 > 0:02:28Hunting for some tiny terrors that are a real threat to our lilies.
0:02:28 > 0:02:30Oh, wait, I think I've found the culprit.
0:02:30 > 0:02:33And giving you all the tricks of the trade for growing these
0:02:33 > 0:02:35incredible flowers at home.
0:02:35 > 0:02:37You will get a plant that will get bigger
0:02:37 > 0:02:41and better every year for decades, and that's my kind of gardening.
0:02:55 > 0:03:00I want us to rediscover the simple elegance of the lily as one
0:03:00 > 0:03:02of our most valuable garden plants.
0:03:02 > 0:03:05So that's why I've come here to Fullers Mill Garden
0:03:05 > 0:03:08in West Stow, Suffolk, to see how even in the most
0:03:08 > 0:03:10quintessentially English garden,
0:03:10 > 0:03:13this exotic bloom feels right at home.
0:03:14 > 0:03:18This garden is brimming with loads of lilies including
0:03:18 > 0:03:20some of my absolute favourites,
0:03:20 > 0:03:24but I must admit - I haven't always been their biggest fan.
0:03:24 > 0:03:26I used to think, you know, incredibly lurid and tacky
0:03:26 > 0:03:29and all the different colours of the rainbow. I was given
0:03:29 > 0:03:32a packet a few years ago and I felt bad for throwing them away, so
0:03:32 > 0:03:36I just bunged them in the ground and I have been a convert ever since.
0:03:36 > 0:03:38And there are so many varieties.
0:03:38 > 0:03:43If you think all lilies are giant lurid pink trumpets,
0:03:43 > 0:03:45well, this should hopefully change your mind.
0:03:45 > 0:03:48It's a little Turk's-cap type and has these recurved petals.
0:03:48 > 0:03:52A really exotic looking woodland plant that's at home
0:03:52 > 0:03:53in any environment.
0:03:53 > 0:03:57Even in quite deep shade, and just across here just to show you
0:03:57 > 0:04:00the diversity, you've got this guy, Conca d'Or.
0:04:00 > 0:04:02Massive blousy trumpets
0:04:02 > 0:04:05but, at the same time, without losing any of its elegance.
0:04:05 > 0:04:08People will say lilies are tricky to combine in a border,
0:04:08 > 0:04:11and I think this shows you it's totally not true
0:04:11 > 0:04:14in-between the acid greens and the lemon yellows.
0:04:14 > 0:04:17I mean, this could totally belong at Chelsea Flower Show.
0:04:17 > 0:04:20Unfortunately, this dazzling range is just not
0:04:20 > 0:04:24available from our florists and supermarkets, and if we don't start
0:04:24 > 0:04:28planting lilies in our gardens, many varieties could be lost completely.
0:04:30 > 0:04:34To start my revival, I've travelled to Northamptonshire to investigate
0:04:34 > 0:04:39the history of the lily and discover why so many varieties exist today.
0:04:40 > 0:04:43Growing lilies is about all-consuming passion,
0:04:43 > 0:04:48and we've been cultivating them for over 3,000 years all over the world.
0:04:48 > 0:04:50In fact, they were one of the first ever plants to make it
0:04:50 > 0:04:52out of the wild and into our gardens.
0:04:54 > 0:04:58I'm here in this 60-acre woodland to track down one particular
0:04:58 > 0:05:02plant that's played an important role in the diversity of the lily.
0:05:03 > 0:05:05There are so many varieties here that hail
0:05:05 > 0:05:08from almost every major lily group -
0:05:08 > 0:05:13from Asiatics and Orientals to martagons and longiflorums.
0:05:13 > 0:05:16Tim Whiteley is the man behind this spectacular collection that's
0:05:16 > 0:05:18spread across this vast landscape,
0:05:18 > 0:05:22but finding the flower in question may take some time.
0:05:22 > 0:05:24Or maybe not.
0:05:24 > 0:05:25Tim, I need one of these.
0:05:25 > 0:05:27Talk about a civilised way to see a garden.
0:05:30 > 0:05:31Beep-beep!
0:05:31 > 0:05:34Zipping around in Tim's snazzy wheels is a great
0:05:34 > 0:05:37way of admiring his collection of exotic-looking lilies
0:05:37 > 0:05:40and, perhaps surprisingly, they all seem very much at home
0:05:40 > 0:05:43thriving in our climate.
0:05:43 > 0:05:45So when were lilies first brought to the UK?
0:05:45 > 0:05:50Probably the Romans would have brought in the Madonna lily
0:05:50 > 0:05:55which is certainly in pictures going back right into early medieval time.
0:05:55 > 0:05:58Commonly depicted in medieval paintings and being held by the
0:05:58 > 0:06:03Virgin Mary, the Madonna lily became the symbol of purity for Catholics.
0:06:03 > 0:06:07Wall paintings of the flower have even been found in the ruins
0:06:07 > 0:06:11of the Minoan Palace of Knossos that date back to around 2000 BC.
0:06:15 > 0:06:17Oh, look at these ones coming up.
0:06:17 > 0:06:19These are silk road.
0:06:19 > 0:06:23They are an Oriental hybrid and I'm very fond of them.
0:06:23 > 0:06:24Amazing.
0:06:24 > 0:06:28Even though the lily is one of the oldest of all of our garden flowers,
0:06:28 > 0:06:31we have more lilies now than there has ever been in the past.
0:06:31 > 0:06:34I mean, the 20th century just seems like an explosion.
0:06:34 > 0:06:36And this is all down to breeding,
0:06:36 > 0:06:40and one of the most prolific lilies used in breeding is right here.
0:06:41 > 0:06:43This lily is henryi.
0:06:43 > 0:06:50It's a species that comes from China and is very much used for breeding.
0:06:50 > 0:06:53So I know why we've stopped now. Check out this.
0:06:53 > 0:06:54Tell me about him!
0:06:54 > 0:06:58It's a very beautiful lily and certainly it's one that's been
0:06:58 > 0:07:01used in breeding probably more than any others.
0:07:01 > 0:07:04Therefore, it's one of the most important lilies.
0:07:04 > 0:07:09Lilium Henryi is regarded as a strong breeding variety
0:07:09 > 0:07:13because it can confer traits for health and vigour to its offspring
0:07:13 > 0:07:16creating a range of super-charged hybrids.
0:07:17 > 0:07:22Today, people have the advantage of newly-bred lilies which are not
0:07:22 > 0:07:26expensive, they aren't difficult, and I'm hopeful that over the next
0:07:26 > 0:07:32few years you will see an expansion in the growth of lilies in gardens.
0:07:32 > 0:07:36This is the grandfather or great-grandfather of many,
0:07:36 > 0:07:39if not most, of the modern lilies.
0:07:39 > 0:07:41Lilium Henryi, the stud lily.
0:07:46 > 0:07:49Today, we have so many hardy
0:07:49 > 0:07:53and easy-to-grow lilies that have been bred to thrive in our climate,
0:07:53 > 0:07:56so why are people not growing them in their gardens?
0:07:56 > 0:08:00I believe the number one reason why people don't grow lilies
0:08:00 > 0:08:02is a big fear of a small pest,
0:08:02 > 0:08:05so I've come to RHS Wisley, the nexus of all horticultural
0:08:05 > 0:08:08knowledge, to find out if there's any truth behind the hype.
0:08:09 > 0:08:12This is the red lily beetle.
0:08:12 > 0:08:15It was first discovered in Surrey around 70 years ago
0:08:15 > 0:08:17and can now be found across the UK.
0:08:17 > 0:08:20They appear in the garden from around March to May
0:08:20 > 0:08:23and lay their eggs from April to September.
0:08:23 > 0:08:25They not only eat lily foliage
0:08:25 > 0:08:27but their larvae consume even more of the plant.
0:08:29 > 0:08:33Andrew Salisbury is a senior entomologist who knows
0:08:33 > 0:08:35a thing or two about these lily-munching insects.
0:08:37 > 0:08:40Do you feel the lily beetle has put people off growing lilies?
0:08:40 > 0:08:42I feel and I know.
0:08:42 > 0:08:44I did a survey and about a quarter of people who had lily beetle
0:08:44 > 0:08:47said they wouldn't grow it due to that pest.
0:08:47 > 0:08:50I've read so many scare mongering articles about this.
0:08:50 > 0:08:52I imagine it to have tentacles and attack New York.
0:08:52 > 0:08:53Shall we go see some?
0:08:53 > 0:08:56Yes. We'll go and find some, that should be easy.
0:08:56 > 0:08:58OK. So we've got a prime food source here.
0:08:58 > 0:09:02Some amazing botanical ones. Will we be able to spot them easily?
0:09:02 > 0:09:05Well, you should be, yes, yes. They're bright red beetles.
0:09:05 > 0:09:07Oh, wait. I think I've found the culprit.
0:09:08 > 0:09:10Is that two on there?
0:09:10 > 0:09:12That is, yes. Doing what they do all summer.
0:09:12 > 0:09:14Yep. Beetle on beetle action. So look at that.
0:09:14 > 0:09:16You've got a breeding population,
0:09:16 > 0:09:18but you really don't have that much damage.
0:09:18 > 0:09:20It's fairly minor damage there on the leaves
0:09:20 > 0:09:24and the plants will be fine and will probably come up next year as well.
0:09:24 > 0:09:28So the beetles certainly are pests, but they're not the real villains.
0:09:28 > 0:09:30The main thing to watch out for is the grubs.
0:09:30 > 0:09:32That's the thing which can really destroy the plants
0:09:32 > 0:09:35and eat all the foliage, the green on the stems
0:09:35 > 0:09:37and even the flower buds and flowers, occasionally.
0:09:37 > 0:09:38Do they ever kill the plant?
0:09:38 > 0:09:40It does happen. Unfortunately, it does happen.
0:09:40 > 0:09:43So what are we looking with these grubs cos they all look
0:09:43 > 0:09:44completely different from the beetles?
0:09:44 > 0:09:47They do, yes. They're covered in their own excrement.
0:09:47 > 0:09:49So if you turn over some leaves, particularly these leaves
0:09:49 > 0:09:53with a bit of damage on them, you may find one of the grubs.
0:09:53 > 0:09:54Ah, there we go.
0:09:54 > 0:09:56Oh, wow! Oh, look there's quite a few on the other side of them
0:09:56 > 0:09:57stem as well, right?
0:09:57 > 0:09:59- Yes.- Is that them?- Yep, that's them.
0:09:59 > 0:10:03- So that's when they're at their most damaging state?- Yes.- OK.
0:10:03 > 0:10:05And almost all the damage you can see on the leaves
0:10:05 > 0:10:07has been caused by those larvae.
0:10:07 > 0:10:11Once hatched, the larvae set about devouring your plant for the
0:10:11 > 0:10:14next month, and if that wasn't bad enough, they cover themselves
0:10:14 > 0:10:18in their own excrement to discourage predators from eating them.
0:10:18 > 0:10:21I normally say, you know, check your plants maybe once a week
0:10:21 > 0:10:24just to make sure there's not too many grubs there
0:10:24 > 0:10:25and remove the grubs and destroy them.
0:10:30 > 0:10:34The lily beetle has certainly played a role in the decline of lily
0:10:34 > 0:10:35growing in Britain, but for me,
0:10:35 > 0:10:40it's just not an excuse for missing out on these brilliant blooms.
0:10:40 > 0:10:43I'm back at Fullers Mill to show you a really simple and inexpensive
0:10:43 > 0:10:47trick that I use on my lilies that could help keep them pest free.
0:10:52 > 0:10:55As much as people freak out about those little red beetles,
0:10:55 > 0:10:57they really don't have to scupper your plans
0:10:57 > 0:11:00for creating an incredible lily display.
0:11:00 > 0:11:03My preferred method to control their numbers is to wage chemical
0:11:03 > 0:11:07warfare, and I'm not talking about any kind of synthetic spray.
0:11:07 > 0:11:09I'm talking about
0:11:09 > 0:11:11the naturally-occurring chemical allicin,
0:11:11 > 0:11:12which is found in garlic cloves.
0:11:12 > 0:11:16Now, garlic is a relatively close relative of the lily and all you're
0:11:16 > 0:11:20doing here is hijacking a chemical that garlic has evolved to get rid
0:11:20 > 0:11:24of all sorts of pests and diseases and applying it to a lily plant.
0:11:24 > 0:11:27Everyone's got that bit of old garlic hanging out
0:11:27 > 0:11:29at the back of the fridge,
0:11:29 > 0:11:33and it's old garlic which is likely to be richer in allicin.
0:11:33 > 0:11:35It's produced when the clove is damaged,
0:11:35 > 0:11:39and the best way to damage it to the maximum level is to chop it up
0:11:39 > 0:11:43as finely as possible, to pound it, or even better, in a blender.
0:11:43 > 0:11:46You're looking at about a bowlful of garlic with a litre of water
0:11:46 > 0:11:50and blitz down to the most fine possible paste.
0:11:50 > 0:11:53So when you've mashed your garlic up as fine as it's going to go,
0:11:53 > 0:11:55all you need to do is just pour on some water.
0:11:57 > 0:12:00And you'll have, like, the easiest pest control ever.
0:12:00 > 0:12:04All I'm going to do is pour that into this jug.
0:12:05 > 0:12:08Just so it's a bit easier to get in a spray can.
0:12:10 > 0:12:14You can sieve the bits out but I'm lazy and impatient so I don't.
0:12:15 > 0:12:16There we are.
0:12:16 > 0:12:20Natural insect spray made from something
0:12:20 > 0:12:23kicking around at the back of your fridge and safe enough to eat.
0:12:23 > 0:12:25Not bad.
0:12:26 > 0:12:27Now to put it into action.
0:12:28 > 0:12:32The only thing you need to do to keep this strapping seven-foot
0:12:32 > 0:12:38monster in tiptop condition is just a light spray in the mornings
0:12:38 > 0:12:41and evenings when the sun is at least strength and try
0:12:41 > 0:12:46and keep it off the flower and this should confer them a resistance
0:12:46 > 0:12:50to not only lily beetles but things like slugs as well.
0:12:50 > 0:12:52I know what you're probably thinking -
0:12:52 > 0:12:55spraying your plants with garlic solution, yeah, it does smell.
0:12:55 > 0:12:58It smells a little bit like an Italian restaurant or freshly
0:12:58 > 0:13:01baked garlic bread, which is no bad thing to me.
0:13:01 > 0:13:04I like to really saturate the leaves,
0:13:04 > 0:13:07but soak right down to the base because that's where
0:13:07 > 0:13:10things like slugs are crawling up to create their damage.
0:13:10 > 0:13:14If you can create a good foot-long barrier at the base
0:13:14 > 0:13:16they may not even be able to get up at all.
0:13:16 > 0:13:20I'll apply this really liberally, probably about,
0:13:20 > 0:13:23I don't know, once every two weeks from the early spring,
0:13:23 > 0:13:26and this should give you show-perfect lilies every time.
0:13:26 > 0:13:29Pongy protection guaranteed.
0:13:40 > 0:13:42For the next part of my revival,
0:13:42 > 0:13:44I've come to this nursery in Cheshire.
0:13:44 > 0:13:47They've been growing award-winning lilies and exhibiting them
0:13:47 > 0:13:51at famous flower shows throughout Britain since 1994.
0:13:51 > 0:13:54Lorraine Hart and her family are renowned for producing
0:13:54 > 0:13:55some of the most stunning lilies,
0:13:55 > 0:13:59and walking through this sea of colour it's easy to see why.
0:14:02 > 0:14:07Lorraine, it's difficult to believe that these are real, living flowers.
0:14:07 > 0:14:09They're so enormous and there's so many of them. It's like silk.
0:14:09 > 0:14:14We grow them for displaying at all the different flower shows,
0:14:14 > 0:14:16from Chelsea all the way through the year.
0:14:16 > 0:14:20Hampton Court was last week and now we're going on to Tatton Park today.
0:14:20 > 0:14:23- So there's like a two week gap... Today?- Yes, today.
0:14:23 > 0:14:25What does the process involve?
0:14:25 > 0:14:27How many cut flowers do you have to produce?
0:14:27 > 0:14:30I think we're putting up today about 700 stems,
0:14:30 > 0:14:33so you can imagine how many we've had to grow for that.
0:14:33 > 0:14:36It must be the biggest technical nightmare ever.
0:14:36 > 0:14:39If you're growing these at home in your own garden just to look
0:14:39 > 0:14:42good, are we talking about the same amount of effort?
0:14:42 > 0:14:44Not the same amount of effort at all.
0:14:44 > 0:14:47If you're planting lily bulbs in the garden, you just need
0:14:47 > 0:14:48to plant them up.
0:14:48 > 0:14:51We send bulbs out at the end of February.
0:14:51 > 0:14:55You can plant them then, um, and they'll flower in the summer
0:14:55 > 0:14:58sort of from June till the end of August.
0:14:58 > 0:15:01How do you get them looking so damn good?
0:15:01 > 0:15:04Oh, well, it's a long process, really.
0:15:04 > 0:15:07We use the right compost, obviously, and we're planting them
0:15:07 > 0:15:11all through the year so they're the right height
0:15:11 > 0:15:14and they're the best possible flowers we've got
0:15:14 > 0:15:16for displaying at the different flower shows.
0:15:20 > 0:15:24With so much preparation in the build-up for Tatton Park
0:15:24 > 0:15:26Flower Show, I've offered to come along to lend Lorraine
0:15:26 > 0:15:30an extra pair of hands to set up her lily display.
0:15:30 > 0:15:31The show opens tomorrow
0:15:31 > 0:15:35and every exhibitor is going hell for leather to perfect their stands.
0:15:35 > 0:15:39Lorraine, what's that, like, six metres of pure lily that you've got
0:15:39 > 0:15:40right up to the ceiling there?
0:15:40 > 0:15:44Yes. I think the stand's probably about 15 feet high.
0:15:44 > 0:15:47Is there anything I can do that is low responsibility?
0:15:47 > 0:15:50I don't want to be the person that puts the star on top of the tree
0:15:50 > 0:15:53and then... Oh, look, that's where I belong. I like it. OK.
0:15:53 > 0:15:56- See all this mess here, James? - Yes. Yep.- There you go.
0:15:56 > 0:15:59- Perfect.- You can rake that. - I can do that. I can do that.
0:15:59 > 0:16:00There's a nice box there for it to go in.
0:16:02 > 0:16:05It's nice to be given these incredibly important,
0:16:05 > 0:16:06vital jobs to do.
0:16:08 > 0:16:11I'm hoping that my raking skills have earned me
0:16:11 > 0:16:14the honour of getting hands on with Lorraine's precious lilies,
0:16:14 > 0:16:17and she's got one right here that I'm not familiar with.
0:16:17 > 0:16:19So this is nymph. This is your favourite one.
0:16:19 > 0:16:20This is my favourite.
0:16:22 > 0:16:24- That doesn't...- No, it doesn't smell like a lily, does it?
0:16:24 > 0:16:27- So if you don't like... - It's completely different.
0:16:27 > 0:16:29If you want fragrance and you don't like lilies, good choice?
0:16:29 > 0:16:32Yeah. It's like vanilla, spicy. It's my favourite.
0:16:32 > 0:16:34I love this one.
0:16:34 > 0:16:37- It smells like, er, like cinnamon buns I used to eat in school.- Yeah.
0:16:37 > 0:16:40- Can I pop this into anywhere? Do you trust me?- Do you want to?
0:16:40 > 0:16:41Where do you want it to go?
0:16:41 > 0:16:44Um, let me see. Somewhere where you can't trip over.
0:16:44 > 0:16:46HE LAUGHS
0:16:46 > 0:16:49I like how much confidence you have in what I'm going to be able to do.
0:16:49 > 0:16:52Right, with this in place, you really get to see
0:16:52 > 0:16:54the full-on wedding cake effect.
0:16:54 > 0:16:56Look at that. Tier after tier.
0:16:56 > 0:16:59It's really nice. A really big pyramid of lilies, isn't it?
0:16:59 > 0:17:01It's looking great. It's looking great.
0:17:01 > 0:17:03I can't believe not only are these
0:17:03 > 0:17:07things growable in the UK but they've been grown here.
0:17:07 > 0:17:10So I'm on a mission to revive the interest in lilies.
0:17:10 > 0:17:13Apart from this avalanche of flower here, what's your number one reason
0:17:13 > 0:17:16why everyone should have at least one lily plant in their garden?
0:17:16 > 0:17:18They will grow just about anywhere
0:17:18 > 0:17:22and they will come back every year without a lot of looking after.
0:17:29 > 0:17:32Here at Fullers Mill there are so many scents,
0:17:32 > 0:17:37colours and shapes, its wall-to-wall horticultural inspiration.
0:17:37 > 0:17:40To an urban gardener like me, it's hard not to be seething with
0:17:40 > 0:17:43jealousy walking through a plot like this.
0:17:43 > 0:17:47The variety of plants. The space. The habitat.
0:17:47 > 0:17:49But the star of the show is something that I grow at home
0:17:49 > 0:17:52and the easiest of all to take care of.
0:17:52 > 0:17:56And I'm going to show you just how simple growing lilies can be.
0:17:59 > 0:18:03Lilies are such unbelievably generous plants, that even
0:18:03 > 0:18:07when guys like this are just beginning to go over, you can
0:18:07 > 0:18:10plant new bulbs to give you effectively a conveyer belt
0:18:10 > 0:18:13of flowers right up until almost the first frost.
0:18:13 > 0:18:16This bulb - and it looks a lot like garlic
0:18:16 > 0:18:19because it's very closely related - has been kept in cold store,
0:18:19 > 0:18:22effectively tricking it into thinking it's still in winter.
0:18:22 > 0:18:25It's such a powerful bulb that as soon as you release it
0:18:25 > 0:18:29out into this heat, it starts to kick out roots from the stem itself
0:18:29 > 0:18:33and little shoots. All you need to do is bury this in the ground
0:18:33 > 0:18:36and you could get decades and decades of colour out of them.
0:18:38 > 0:18:42Lily bulbs should be planted about 15cm deep and the same
0:18:42 > 0:18:47distance apart in a sunny spot with moist but free-draining soil.
0:18:48 > 0:18:50Once you've got them in the ground, however,
0:18:50 > 0:18:52you do not have to do anything.
0:18:52 > 0:18:55I've had my tree lilies for at least six years.
0:18:55 > 0:18:58I have not watered them. I have not fertilised them.
0:18:58 > 0:18:59I have not staked them.
0:18:59 > 0:19:03It is insane that people will keep repeating how difficult
0:19:03 > 0:19:06lilies are to grow when this... I will show you the sum
0:19:06 > 0:19:10total of everything I do to my lilies in a year, and that's this -
0:19:10 > 0:19:12when they've stopped flowering,
0:19:12 > 0:19:13as in they've gotten rid of all these
0:19:13 > 0:19:17petals, they'll start to produce fruit packed full of seeds.
0:19:17 > 0:19:19Now, that's quite an energy drain towards the plant
0:19:19 > 0:19:22and I'm not really interested in it producing seeds or fruit.
0:19:22 > 0:19:25I just want it to concentrate on flowers for the next year.
0:19:25 > 0:19:28So all I do is I snip them off just about there.
0:19:30 > 0:19:33And all that does is it prevents them from wasting energy
0:19:33 > 0:19:36on stuff you're not interested in - seeds and fruit.
0:19:36 > 0:19:39All that energy that the leaves are manufacturing,
0:19:39 > 0:19:42the sugars, are then sent right down into the bulb to fuel
0:19:42 > 0:19:44the growth of flowers for next year.
0:19:44 > 0:19:47You will get a clump that will get bigger and better
0:19:47 > 0:19:49every year for decades.
0:19:49 > 0:19:50Now that's my kind of gardening.
0:20:04 > 0:20:07To understand more about the different varieties of lilies
0:20:07 > 0:20:10that can be grown in the UK, I'm here at Tatton Park Flower Show
0:20:10 > 0:20:12to meet Richard Hyde.
0:20:12 > 0:20:14Apparently, there is nothing Richard does not know
0:20:14 > 0:20:16about British lily growing.
0:20:18 > 0:20:20Richard, you're like the Dalai Lama of lily growing.
0:20:20 > 0:20:22Explain to me what I'm seeing here,
0:20:22 > 0:20:25cos I'm seeing a different height and a colour differentiation,
0:20:25 > 0:20:27but are all these genetically distinct groups?
0:20:27 > 0:20:29- Explain what's going on here. - All genetically distinct, yes.
0:20:29 > 0:20:32Asiatics this side, perfect with alkaline soil.
0:20:32 > 0:20:36Also unscented, so if you don't like the perfume, Asiatics.
0:20:36 > 0:20:37What's going on over here?
0:20:37 > 0:20:40These are acid lovers. These are the Orientals.
0:20:40 > 0:20:42So you've got a group called Orientals
0:20:42 > 0:20:44- and a group called Asiatics?- Yes.
0:20:44 > 0:20:46- And they're totally different? - Totally different.
0:20:46 > 0:20:48Highly scented, one type.
0:20:48 > 0:20:50Highly scented, and all whites and pinks.
0:20:50 > 0:20:53No, you don't get the bright colours of the Asiatic.
0:20:53 > 0:20:54All whites and pinks.
0:20:54 > 0:20:57And demanding of acid soil, so you couldn't grow both together?
0:20:57 > 0:20:58- No.- In pots, though?
0:20:58 > 0:21:01You could sink them into the ground full of acidic compost?
0:21:01 > 0:21:02- Even if you have an alkaline soil? - Yeah.
0:21:02 > 0:21:05- So all of these, no matter which one...- Yes.
0:21:05 > 0:21:06..there may be a soil variation
0:21:06 > 0:21:09- but you could grow these in the UK outdoors.- Any one, yes.
0:21:09 > 0:21:14- Like, outdoor all year? Even in like a -20 winter?- Yep.
0:21:14 > 0:21:15It is pretty spectacular.
0:21:15 > 0:21:18There is nothing more exotic that I can think of that would
0:21:18 > 0:21:19survive that.
0:21:19 > 0:21:22So whether you want the vibrant colours of the Asiatics or
0:21:22 > 0:21:25the incredible scent of the Orientals,
0:21:25 > 0:21:29just as long as you have the right soil pH, or frankly, the right
0:21:29 > 0:21:32compost in a pot, anyone can grow them at home.
0:21:32 > 0:21:36Explain to me why more people aren't growing lilies because, to me,
0:21:36 > 0:21:38it fulfils all the criteria -
0:21:38 > 0:21:43low-maintenance, high impact, hardy, survives well in the UK.
0:21:43 > 0:21:45I mean, what's not to like? Cheap. Fast growing.
0:21:45 > 0:21:48Many people don't grow them cos they don't know how to grow them.
0:21:48 > 0:21:51Simple as that. They think they're... As you say, they're hardy.
0:21:51 > 0:21:53Many people think you've got to put them inside in winter.
0:21:53 > 0:21:55Totally wrong. Leave them outside.
0:21:56 > 0:21:59Richard's flowers are really quite a spectacle.
0:21:59 > 0:22:02But I wonder if other exhibitors are using lilies outside
0:22:02 > 0:22:05the floral marquees in their displays.
0:22:05 > 0:22:08It's like pretty much everything except a lily.
0:22:08 > 0:22:10No lilies in this one either.
0:22:10 > 0:22:13There's basically every type of plant group that you could
0:22:13 > 0:22:16possibly get, from chrysanthemums that are
0:22:16 > 0:22:19so out of fashion to bonsai, and no lilies.
0:22:19 > 0:22:23This is the only lily plant that I've seen here.
0:22:23 > 0:22:26But I'm hoping to convert some of these exhibitors to the
0:22:26 > 0:22:30wonders of lilies by handing out bulbs they can grow at home.
0:22:30 > 0:22:33So you're a man who knows his stuff. Do you grow lilies?
0:22:33 > 0:22:34No.
0:22:34 > 0:22:36What's wrong with you? Why are you not growing lilies?
0:22:36 > 0:22:39What we're missing is some lilies. There you go, sir.
0:22:39 > 0:22:42It's giant white flowers with, like, a cream backing to them.
0:22:42 > 0:22:45Things come and they go in the fashion of plant world.
0:22:45 > 0:22:47That's so un... There are so many different types.
0:22:47 > 0:22:50If lilies were like roses or they're generally kind of similar,
0:22:50 > 0:22:53I could see it, but lilies are so different.
0:22:53 > 0:22:56You put in the least amount and you get the most out of them.
0:22:56 > 0:22:58- I'll take your word for it. - You're not convinced.
0:22:58 > 0:23:01Super easy. You can get flowers within 12 weeks of planting that.
0:23:01 > 0:23:03- Isn't that nice? Thanks very much. - Yeah, you're welcome.
0:23:03 > 0:23:06So here's your bag. What are you going to do with them?
0:23:06 > 0:23:07I'm going to put them in my garden.
0:23:07 > 0:23:09- Ah, so we've converted you. - HE LAUGHS
0:23:09 > 0:23:11Is that all it took? A free bag of lilies.
0:23:11 > 0:23:13- Good luck with them.- Thank you.
0:23:22 > 0:23:26Part of what gives this garden an incredible sense of adventure and
0:23:26 > 0:23:30discovery are the lilies that are popped around
0:23:30 > 0:23:32at every twist and turn.
0:23:32 > 0:23:36I'm back at Fullers Mill to show you some nifty propagating techniques
0:23:36 > 0:23:38that you can use to get the most from your lilies.
0:23:44 > 0:23:48The wonderful thing about plants like this Lilium lansafolium
0:23:48 > 0:23:52is there are so many ways to increase your stock for free,
0:23:52 > 0:23:55and my favourite, being a geeky scientist, is cloning.
0:23:55 > 0:23:59But before you roll your eyes, this is the only bit of kit
0:23:59 > 0:24:01you need to be able to do that - a paper bag.
0:24:01 > 0:24:04And that's because lily plants
0:24:04 > 0:24:06are capable of cloning themselves.
0:24:06 > 0:24:09At each axel here, you have these little structures.
0:24:09 > 0:24:13These are embryo plants known as bulbils and they've evolved
0:24:13 > 0:24:15this strategy, so when the stem collapses,
0:24:15 > 0:24:19it hits the ground and each one of those turns into a new plant.
0:24:19 > 0:24:21But if you want to have a bit more
0:24:21 > 0:24:25control about where they pop up, you can just pick them off very gently.
0:24:26 > 0:24:29Pop them into a paper bag and grow them on.
0:24:29 > 0:24:31And it couldn't be simpler.
0:24:31 > 0:24:33Sparking these little fellows into growth
0:24:33 > 0:24:36is a real horticultural no-brainer.
0:24:36 > 0:24:38I was not born with green fingers.
0:24:38 > 0:24:40I really have to try, and even I can grow them.
0:24:40 > 0:24:43So you need to make a really free-draining compost which is
0:24:43 > 0:24:45exactly what they want.
0:24:45 > 0:24:48And all you need to do to do that is take regular multipurpose,
0:24:48 > 0:24:50the kind of thing you can pick up at any garden centre,
0:24:50 > 0:24:52and cut it with a bit of this perlite
0:24:52 > 0:24:55and it does two exact opposite things -
0:24:55 > 0:25:00it helps retain the moisture in the mix and also helps improve drainage.
0:25:00 > 0:25:03So you bang it down onto a surface just to get it nice and flat.
0:25:05 > 0:25:11You take your minuscule little capsules of plants
0:25:11 > 0:25:14and just pop them onto the surface.
0:25:14 > 0:25:19It doesn't even matter if you don't get them all pointy end up,
0:25:19 > 0:25:22which is the preference, because they will find their own way.
0:25:22 > 0:25:27I'd say probably an inch, 2 or 3cm apart for metric people.
0:25:28 > 0:25:32Fantastic. That's one batch. Water them in.
0:25:38 > 0:25:42If you have a cold frame, which is basically a little area
0:25:42 > 0:25:45covered with glass in your garden or just a sheltered position,
0:25:45 > 0:25:49you pop these in there and I promise you, within a year,
0:25:49 > 0:25:53your little clone army of plants will be ready.
0:25:53 > 0:25:56OK, they do look like little blades of grass but they are ready
0:25:56 > 0:26:00to go out in the garden, and in as little as three years, you'll
0:26:00 > 0:26:05have potentially hundreds of plants for really very little work.
0:26:05 > 0:26:06Takes a bit of time in waiting,
0:26:06 > 0:26:09but in terms of doing, it's almost nothing.
0:26:09 > 0:26:12There is another way to increase your lily stock that requires you
0:26:12 > 0:26:14to dig up your bulbs at the end of the year,
0:26:14 > 0:26:16but trust me - it's worth it.
0:26:16 > 0:26:19All you've got to do is remove one of these scales -
0:26:19 > 0:26:21the equivalent of a garlic clove -
0:26:21 > 0:26:26and each one of these individual scales can turn into its own plant.
0:26:26 > 0:26:28So you gently work round, breaking them off,
0:26:28 > 0:26:31trying to keep as much of the base intact as possible,
0:26:31 > 0:26:35and then all you've got to do is grab a little plastic bag,
0:26:35 > 0:26:37and trust me - this is the hardest bit.
0:26:39 > 0:26:44The same mix. About 50/50 perlite and multi-purpose.
0:26:44 > 0:26:46Mix it all together.
0:26:46 > 0:26:49Chuck in a handful of these things...
0:26:49 > 0:26:53and spray with a bit of water just to moisten the whole mix up.
0:26:53 > 0:26:56Seal the bag. Give it another shake
0:26:56 > 0:26:59and pop this in a relatively warm, dark place.
0:26:59 > 0:27:03We're talking room temperature. So about 20 degrees, 21 degrees.
0:27:03 > 0:27:04In a cupboard.
0:27:04 > 0:27:08Just almost forget about them and, within as little as six weeks,
0:27:08 > 0:27:10you can have...
0:27:11 > 0:27:14..all these little pups popping out.
0:27:14 > 0:27:20You have a miniature plant that has miraculously sprung to life.
0:27:20 > 0:27:23How can you not be excited by that?
0:27:23 > 0:27:26Plant them in your garden and just wait for your reward.
0:27:33 > 0:27:36There is one lady in Cambridgeshire who is already
0:27:36 > 0:27:38a true pioneer for my revival.
0:27:39 > 0:27:42Pat Huff's garden is bursting with all manner
0:27:42 > 0:27:44of different lily varieties,
0:27:44 > 0:27:47but there's a lot more to her mission than just her garden.
0:27:47 > 0:27:51I receive seeds from all over the world from our members who
0:27:51 > 0:27:55very generously donate their time and their seed to us,
0:27:55 > 0:27:59and then I get orders in from all over the world as well.
0:27:59 > 0:28:02Pat is part of the RHS Lily Group that, in the interest
0:28:02 > 0:28:06of conservation, distributes seeds worldwide.
0:28:06 > 0:28:10It's so exciting to know that I'm spreading these wonderful,
0:28:10 > 0:28:14wonderful plants all over the world to keen growers, and the best part
0:28:14 > 0:28:19of the job is when someone sends me seed from distribution some years
0:28:19 > 0:28:24ago and say, "It's grown for me and I want to share it with other people."
0:28:24 > 0:28:27This is...this is what the seed distribution,
0:28:27 > 0:28:29as far as I'm concerned, is all about.
0:28:31 > 0:28:34I believe in conservation through cultivation.
0:28:34 > 0:28:38The more people grow lilies, the more these wonderful plants
0:28:38 > 0:28:41stay in cultivation because plants are fashion accessories
0:28:41 > 0:28:46and can go in and out of fashion, and once it's gone, it's gone forever.
0:28:56 > 0:29:01No other garden plant is ever going to match the grace, the drama
0:29:01 > 0:29:04and the enduring appeal of the lily.
0:29:04 > 0:29:07They're so beautifully diverse, easy to grow,
0:29:07 > 0:29:10and much more than a cut flower.
0:29:11 > 0:29:14So go out tomorrow and buy one because you will thank me
0:29:14 > 0:29:16for decades to come.
0:29:23 > 0:29:27Across the series, our revival team have been travelling the length
0:29:27 > 0:29:29and breadth of Britain...
0:29:30 > 0:29:32..celebrating our gardens,
0:29:32 > 0:29:37flowers and plants in all their glory with one important mission -
0:29:37 > 0:29:39to champion our rich gardening heritage.
0:29:40 > 0:29:44Next, Christine Walkden is on the woodland plant campaign trail.
0:29:57 > 0:29:59Our woodlands are magical places.
0:29:59 > 0:30:03A sea of blue and green under dappled light.
0:30:03 > 0:30:08A fantastic place to find inspiration for your own garden.
0:30:09 > 0:30:12But it's not all calm and tranquillity.
0:30:12 > 0:30:16The British native bluebell and other woodland plants are at risk.
0:30:18 > 0:30:20But we can help.
0:30:20 > 0:30:22In the past, woodland plants have been
0:30:22 > 0:30:26left in the shade in favour of the sun loving blowsier, bigger plants.
0:30:26 > 0:30:29But we can all enjoy woodland plants in our gardens too.
0:30:34 > 0:30:37On my revival campaign, I'll be revealing how close to
0:30:37 > 0:30:41extinction one of our favourite woodland flowers is.
0:30:41 > 0:30:43This is British!
0:30:43 > 0:30:46And it's such a spectacle, isn't it? It's just gorgeous.
0:30:46 > 0:30:48Ah, now look.
0:30:48 > 0:30:51Constructing an assault course to put some of the nation's
0:30:51 > 0:30:53favourite slug deterrents to the test.
0:30:53 > 0:30:55There's a lot of protein there, really.
0:30:55 > 0:30:57It's a shame we can't eat them out of existence.
0:30:59 > 0:31:02And will be showing you just how easy it is to grow a little bit
0:31:02 > 0:31:04of woodland in your own back garden.
0:31:04 > 0:31:06This is a lovely plant
0:31:06 > 0:31:10and I've had the pleasure of seeing these growing in the Himalayas.
0:31:10 > 0:31:12Memories of magic.
0:31:31 > 0:31:34This is the enchanting Beth Chatto Gardens,
0:31:34 > 0:31:36near Elmstead Market in Essex -
0:31:36 > 0:31:40the perfect place to start my woodland garden revival.
0:31:40 > 0:31:44This inspirational plot, which was once a derelict wasteland,
0:31:44 > 0:31:47has been transformed into a series of gardens that tackle
0:31:47 > 0:31:50difficult growing conditions head on.
0:31:51 > 0:31:55As a plants woman, I believe strongly in the principle
0:31:55 > 0:31:57of right plant, right place.
0:31:57 > 0:32:01The same principle that Beth Chatto used herself to create these
0:32:01 > 0:32:03magnificent gardens.
0:32:08 > 0:32:11Sadly, our ancient woodlands are in decline
0:32:11 > 0:32:16and one of our most iconic woodland flowers could soon be lost forever.
0:32:18 > 0:32:21The shade-loving English bluebell has been voted
0:32:21 > 0:32:23one of the nation's favourite wild flowers,
0:32:23 > 0:32:27and British woodlands are home to up to half the global population
0:32:27 > 0:32:29of this unique plant.
0:32:29 > 0:32:34And yet, the sight of the beautiful bluebell wood carpeted
0:32:34 > 0:32:38in these spectacular blue flowers may be denied us within 20 years.
0:32:38 > 0:32:42The greatest threat to our beloved bluebell comes from a rampant
0:32:42 > 0:32:45foreign invader - the Spanish garden bluebell.
0:32:45 > 0:32:49Once confined to our gardens, the Spanish bluebell has jumped
0:32:49 > 0:32:52the fence and is interbreeding with our native variety,
0:32:52 > 0:32:56resulting in vigorous hybrids in suburban areas that pose
0:32:56 > 0:32:59a real threat to our English bluebells.
0:32:59 > 0:33:04So how do you spot the difference? The English bluebell -
0:33:04 > 0:33:10a one sided flower that nods dark blue flowers,
0:33:10 > 0:33:12sweetly scented.
0:33:12 > 0:33:16The blobs inside the flowers are creamy white.
0:33:16 > 0:33:19The Spanish - a thug of a flower.
0:33:19 > 0:33:23The flowers are all around the stem.
0:33:23 > 0:33:24Pale colour.
0:33:24 > 0:33:29No scent and the pollen, the blobs inside that flower,
0:33:29 > 0:33:34are slightly greeny, sometimes bluish, not creamy white.
0:33:37 > 0:33:39Some of the country's most spectacular bluebell displays
0:33:39 > 0:33:43can be found in Essex at the Woodland Trust, Hillhouse Wood -
0:33:43 > 0:33:46a native woodland yet to be contaminated.
0:33:46 > 0:33:51But do people in nearby Brentwood know they're in danger?
0:33:51 > 0:33:54I want to see if they can spot the difference between the English
0:33:54 > 0:33:56and the Spanish varieties, and I will be handing out seeds to
0:33:56 > 0:34:01encourage people to grow our native bluebells in their own gardens.
0:34:01 > 0:34:05To give my campaign some welly, I need to convince the good
0:34:05 > 0:34:09folks of Brentwood that the only way isn't Essex.
0:34:09 > 0:34:12No, the only way is bluebells.
0:34:12 > 0:34:16Hi, would you recognise what these flowers are? Give it a guess.
0:34:16 > 0:34:19- Bluebells. - Bluebells. Well done. Good.
0:34:19 > 0:34:21One is paler than the other one.
0:34:21 > 0:34:22Do they not have the same scent?
0:34:22 > 0:34:25You have a whiff of that.
0:34:25 > 0:34:26Oh, yeah, nothing.
0:34:26 > 0:34:28Ah, there you go, you see.
0:34:28 > 0:34:29There are two different species.
0:34:29 > 0:34:32- This is the English bluebell.- Yeah.
0:34:32 > 0:34:34And this is the Spanish invader.
0:34:34 > 0:34:38This is taking over and taking out all our beautiful bluebells.
0:34:38 > 0:34:39Oh, that's sad, that is.
0:34:39 > 0:34:43Each of you can have a free packet of good old bluebell seeds.
0:34:43 > 0:34:46- Oh, thanks.- English bluebell seeds.
0:34:46 > 0:34:48This weekend, go wallow in bluebells
0:34:48 > 0:34:51because they're looking absolutely beautiful.
0:34:51 > 0:34:52Ah. Thank you.
0:34:53 > 0:34:58Unfortunately, people don't appreciate that that is a thug,
0:34:58 > 0:35:01yet that is the British beaut at her best.
0:35:04 > 0:35:08Dr Fred Rumsey, a leading botanist at the Natural History Museum,
0:35:08 > 0:35:12has spent the last eight years monitoring our bluebell population
0:35:12 > 0:35:14and knows just how quickly Spanish hybrids can
0:35:14 > 0:35:18spread once they get into our woodlands, like Hillhouse.
0:35:18 > 0:35:21Obviously, if a pollinator comes across,
0:35:21 > 0:35:25takes pollen from it then moves on to one of the native plants,
0:35:25 > 0:35:30then several years down the line, we could get seed from that, forming
0:35:30 > 0:35:35a hybrid plant and then, as with so many hybrids, it's very vigorous.
0:35:35 > 0:35:37So where you find these hybrids in the wild
0:35:37 > 0:35:40they build up a really big colony.
0:35:40 > 0:35:44Yeah. What would happen if the Spanish took over?
0:35:44 > 0:35:46The differences that we've got between them
0:35:46 > 0:35:50are because they have been isolated since the last ice age,
0:35:50 > 0:35:56so sort of tens of thousands of years of evolution that we would be
0:35:56 > 0:35:59undoing by bringing them together again.
0:35:59 > 0:36:03Once they're out, there is really no way of closing Pandora's box.
0:36:03 > 0:36:04Yeah.
0:36:04 > 0:36:08And it's such an iconic flower here because we have
0:36:08 > 0:36:10so much of the world's population.
0:36:10 > 0:36:13- It doesn't do this anywhere else in the world.- In the world!
0:36:13 > 0:36:15This is British!
0:36:15 > 0:36:19And it's such a spectacle, isn't it? It's just gorgeous.
0:36:20 > 0:36:22People like Fred have a real job on their hands
0:36:22 > 0:36:24now that the Spanish hybrids are out,
0:36:24 > 0:36:28but while there's little we can do to stop cross pollination
0:36:28 > 0:36:32in the wild, we can all do something to help in our gardens at home.
0:36:32 > 0:36:35Native English bluebell seed is readily available,
0:36:35 > 0:36:38and by growing plants from seed, we can be sure we're helping
0:36:38 > 0:36:41to preserve the genuine article for years to come.
0:36:41 > 0:36:43So just get sowing.
0:36:52 > 0:36:56This glorious woodland at Beth Chatto Gardens is awash with
0:36:56 > 0:36:58whisping flowers.
0:36:58 > 0:37:00Who couldn't but admire the beautiful honesty?
0:37:02 > 0:37:05The delicate bleeding heart of dicentra
0:37:05 > 0:37:08and the frothing foam of tiarellas.
0:37:11 > 0:37:15Now, like me, most of you won't have woodlands in your back gardens,
0:37:15 > 0:37:19but don't fret because you can still create the peace
0:37:19 > 0:37:24and tranquillity of a woodland without all these trees.
0:37:31 > 0:37:36All you need is shade and we all have some of that in our gardens.
0:37:36 > 0:37:38I've picked a few of my favourite shade-loving woodland plants
0:37:38 > 0:37:40to get you started.
0:37:40 > 0:37:45For me, the queen of the woodland are trilliums.
0:37:45 > 0:37:47Whites, pinks, yellows.
0:37:47 > 0:37:53Beautiful plants but they've got to have bags of organic matter.
0:37:53 > 0:37:57By organic matter, I mean old leaves, old rotted compost,
0:37:57 > 0:37:59old rotted manure.
0:37:59 > 0:38:01Anything that's got lots of bulk into it.
0:38:01 > 0:38:05It has to act as a sponge, retaining all that moisture
0:38:05 > 0:38:10so this thing can erupt into colour, produce these exquisite
0:38:10 > 0:38:14flags of flowers and then produce quite an elegant seed pod.
0:38:14 > 0:38:19It's the choice of choice for any dappled woodland garden.
0:38:26 > 0:38:30Primula vulgaris, our native primrose.
0:38:30 > 0:38:34A delicate, beautiful little plant with pale yellow flowers
0:38:34 > 0:38:36and a lovely rough of green leaves.
0:38:36 > 0:38:39It appreciates dappled shade.
0:38:39 > 0:38:43To keep it growing really well, lift it every two to three years.
0:38:43 > 0:38:45Rip off some of the foliage.
0:38:45 > 0:38:49It sounds brutal, but that will reduce the leaf area
0:38:49 > 0:38:51and you get better establishment.
0:38:51 > 0:38:55A bobby dazzler plant for any dappled woodland.
0:38:56 > 0:38:58If it's ground cover you're after,
0:38:58 > 0:39:01then look no further than the epimediums.
0:39:01 > 0:39:03They're such an adaptable woodland plant
0:39:03 > 0:39:06and will thrive in any open situation as well as a shady one.
0:39:06 > 0:39:09They're fascinating because when they come through in the early
0:39:09 > 0:39:12spring, the flower is the first thing you see
0:39:12 > 0:39:17but the old foliage of last year is present and it'll be tatty.
0:39:17 > 0:39:18Cut that away.
0:39:18 > 0:39:24Let the flowers erupt and then you get this spectacular carpet
0:39:24 > 0:39:26with this beautiful patterning.
0:39:26 > 0:39:28It's one spanking good plant
0:39:28 > 0:39:31where you want to cover ground relatively quickly.
0:39:36 > 0:39:39And if you're looking for something to plant in very hostile conditions,
0:39:39 > 0:39:42periwinkles or vincas are perfect.
0:39:42 > 0:39:46Dappled shade, rubbishy soil, this will survive
0:39:46 > 0:39:51and there's something very, very magical about the flower.
0:39:51 > 0:39:55If you take off the flower and literally pull it to bits,
0:39:55 > 0:40:00literally just dissect it and take out the female part of the flower -
0:40:00 > 0:40:03that's the very bit in the middle -
0:40:03 > 0:40:09you reveal the template for the original Olympic torch.
0:40:14 > 0:40:17So there's no excuse not to plant woodland plants at home.
0:40:17 > 0:40:21They're the perfect solution for troublesome, sheltered areas
0:40:21 > 0:40:24providing colour, cover and interest and, believe me,
0:40:24 > 0:40:27you don't need to be an expert to grow them.
0:40:34 > 0:40:37While many of us may dream of the perfect sunny plot,
0:40:37 > 0:40:40in reality, our gardens are rarely suntraps.
0:40:42 > 0:40:45I'm in Hackney to visit two young chaps that have
0:40:45 > 0:40:49taken on the challenge of an ultimate shady garden.
0:40:49 > 0:40:53Ben Nell and Darren Henderson had little garden know-how five years ago
0:40:53 > 0:40:57when they took over this mid-terrace home and its north-facing garden.
0:40:57 > 0:41:00But with a little TLC and the right shade loving plants, they've
0:41:00 > 0:41:05transformed this tired London patch into a woodland paradise.
0:41:05 > 0:41:06- Hi!- Hello.
0:41:06 > 0:41:10Hi, this is rather fun, isn't it? Hey. Goodness.
0:41:10 > 0:41:12Can I have a wander?
0:41:12 > 0:41:14- You certainly can, yes. - Of course you can.
0:41:14 > 0:41:17You're coming into a Japanese woodland space.
0:41:17 > 0:41:18Yes. Look at this.
0:41:20 > 0:41:21Lovely!
0:41:24 > 0:41:27We've got a small stream running through the centre.
0:41:27 > 0:41:30Absolutely lovely. So what was it like when you moved in?
0:41:30 > 0:41:32Oh, completely overgrown.
0:41:32 > 0:41:33It was a massive challenge
0:41:33 > 0:41:36- because we'd never really come from gardening backgrounds.- Right.
0:41:36 > 0:41:40We just went for it and we've just be hacking away most weekends,
0:41:40 > 0:41:41and do you know what,
0:41:41 > 0:41:44you sit out here, you just wouldn't think you're in Hackney.
0:41:44 > 0:41:47How would you consider the challenge of shade?
0:41:47 > 0:41:49You know, most people are daunted by that
0:41:49 > 0:41:51but you two don't seem to have been.
0:41:51 > 0:41:54We did have to put a bit of research in to see what would survive,
0:41:54 > 0:41:57and if you look behind you, we've got Pachysandra terminalis
0:41:57 > 0:42:00which, erm...flowers. Little white flowers.
0:42:00 > 0:42:03We've been very lucky with that over the last few years.
0:42:03 > 0:42:06We've just plopped in a camellia at the back of the garden with
0:42:06 > 0:42:10a single head, so we're hoping that will survive.
0:42:10 > 0:42:12- We make mistakes sometimes.- Yes.
0:42:12 > 0:42:13As you do.
0:42:13 > 0:42:16But, you know, you learn and you start to understand what grows
0:42:16 > 0:42:21and what doesn't want to grow and which plants love a certain space,
0:42:21 > 0:42:24and, you know, now it's absolutely wonderful.
0:42:24 > 0:42:27Ben's not wrong there, and it just goes to show what can be
0:42:27 > 0:42:29achieved by the right shade-loving plants.
0:42:31 > 0:42:34In fact, the lads are so proud of their garden, they're opening
0:42:34 > 0:42:36it with the National Gardening Scheme tomorrow
0:42:36 > 0:42:39and have invited some of their friends round for a sneak preview.
0:42:39 > 0:42:42OK, lads, what do you want me to do? What can I help with?
0:42:42 > 0:42:44- Are you good at hairdressing? - Absolutely.
0:42:44 > 0:42:46Well, we've got this nice ball for you to help us with.
0:42:46 > 0:42:48- You want it clipping?- Yes, please.
0:42:48 > 0:42:50Right, have you got any newspaper?
0:42:50 > 0:42:54Evergreen plants like box and yew grow in sun or shade,
0:42:54 > 0:42:57providing year round interest if kept under control.
0:42:57 > 0:43:00So it all drops on the newspaper. Much tidier.
0:43:00 > 0:43:01It makes it a lot easier.
0:43:03 > 0:43:04Perfect.
0:43:04 > 0:43:06Next one.
0:43:06 > 0:43:08The same rule applies to a plant commonly known
0:43:08 > 0:43:10as mind-your-own-business.
0:43:11 > 0:43:14A creeping perennial that likes dark, damp conditions
0:43:14 > 0:43:16but it soon can get out of control.
0:43:16 > 0:43:18Can you see how it's coming over the edge?
0:43:18 > 0:43:21- Yeah.- You try pulling that up.
0:43:21 > 0:43:22It's quite stuck in.
0:43:22 > 0:43:25You can have a nightmare on your hands.
0:43:25 > 0:43:28Some contact weed killer will keep it at bay, just use a tile or
0:43:28 > 0:43:31similar to keep it off the rest of the plant.
0:43:32 > 0:43:35By embracing dense-growing evergreens that love water
0:43:35 > 0:43:38and shade, Ben and Darren have created their own woodland
0:43:38 > 0:43:41wonderland in the heart of London.
0:43:41 > 0:43:43All we need now is tea and cake...
0:43:43 > 0:43:44Hi!
0:43:44 > 0:43:47..and some equally passionate shade-loving gardeners.
0:43:47 > 0:43:50Go and have a quick trot round while we secretly eat cake.
0:43:50 > 0:43:52SHE LAUGHS
0:43:54 > 0:43:57The great thing about a garden is that you're not only
0:43:57 > 0:44:00cultivating plants, but you're cultivating people.
0:44:00 > 0:44:03Friendships. Relationships.
0:44:03 > 0:44:06Exchange of information. Just listen to that chatter.
0:44:06 > 0:44:08Babble. Babble. Babble.
0:44:08 > 0:44:12It's what gardening is truly about, and this garden, with shade as well,
0:44:12 > 0:44:17adds that mystery to what could be a very dull spot.
0:44:25 > 0:44:28My fascination with shade-dwelling woodland plants
0:44:28 > 0:44:31started at a very young age, and places like these spectacular
0:44:31 > 0:44:36informal gardens have fuelled my passion ever since.
0:44:36 > 0:44:39I have very fond memories of the first time
0:44:39 > 0:44:41I fell in love with woodlands.
0:44:41 > 0:44:45My mum and dad had taken me up to the lakes and it was a sea
0:44:45 > 0:44:46of snowdrops.
0:44:49 > 0:44:53And a few weeks later, it was a sea of blue,
0:44:53 > 0:44:57and then they went, and it took me ages to realise
0:44:57 > 0:44:59that the magic of woodlands is all
0:44:59 > 0:45:05about popping up and disappearing, and popping up and disappearing.
0:45:05 > 0:45:09And that takes place right through the season until it's absorbed
0:45:09 > 0:45:14into the earth and we have to wait for spring to enjoy it again.
0:45:23 > 0:45:26Snowdrops and bluebells are pretty low-maintenance
0:45:26 > 0:45:29but every three to five years, after flowering in the spring,
0:45:29 > 0:45:32they need lifting and dividing to keep them in tiptop condition.
0:45:32 > 0:45:37For a spectacular display year after year, follow my simple tips.
0:45:37 > 0:45:39Use a garden fork and not a spade
0:45:39 > 0:45:41because if you use a spade, you'll actually slice through
0:45:41 > 0:45:45some of those bulbs that are slightly away and damage the clump,
0:45:45 > 0:45:46so a fork.
0:45:46 > 0:45:50Place your fork in and give it a good wiggle all the way round.
0:45:50 > 0:45:52Water the night before.
0:45:52 > 0:45:57I like to feel that the bulbs are sliding out of the soil
0:45:57 > 0:46:01rather than being rasped out of the soil and damaged.
0:46:01 > 0:46:05Those root hairs are vital to the re-establishment of that bulb.
0:46:05 > 0:46:08Sliding is better than yanking off.
0:46:08 > 0:46:10Sometimes they come up dead easy.
0:46:10 > 0:46:13Other times, you've got to give them a bit of welly.
0:46:14 > 0:46:17But it's very enjoyable.
0:46:18 > 0:46:20Oops.
0:46:20 > 0:46:23I've had a long love affair with snowdrops.
0:46:23 > 0:46:26As a kid, and I'm talking about a small ten-year-old,
0:46:26 > 0:46:30I used to go into our woodlands around where I lived, picked them,
0:46:30 > 0:46:32bunched them up in a bit of fern
0:46:32 > 0:46:35and flog them to people down our high street.
0:46:35 > 0:46:37As a ten-year-old, you do these things,
0:46:37 > 0:46:39but don't do it at home because it's thieving!
0:46:41 > 0:46:45Once you've lifted your bulbs, the next job is to divide them.
0:46:45 > 0:46:50What I'm trying to do is take just the bulbs
0:46:50 > 0:46:52without all the bits of weed.
0:46:52 > 0:46:55Sometimes when you do this you'll find that they're
0:46:55 > 0:46:58so caked together that you can't separate them.
0:46:58 > 0:47:01On that occasion, use a knife
0:47:01 > 0:47:03because sometimes, depending on the soil, you can't do this.
0:47:03 > 0:47:05This is a nice lightish soil.
0:47:05 > 0:47:08On a heavy soil, you'll be sweating for hours.
0:47:08 > 0:47:11Another woodland plant that should be divided between autumn
0:47:11 > 0:47:13and mid-spring are hostas -
0:47:13 > 0:47:17one of the best foliage plants for light to medium shade.
0:47:17 > 0:47:20Hostas are one of the staple plants of the woodland garden,
0:47:20 > 0:47:22but after three or four years,
0:47:22 > 0:47:25they can often get to such a size they need to be divided.
0:47:25 > 0:47:28Lift them, having watered them the night before,
0:47:28 > 0:47:30and then, using a spade on this occasion...
0:47:30 > 0:47:33And don't be worried, you're not going to damage them.
0:47:33 > 0:47:36..you literally find a gap where you can get the spade in
0:47:36 > 0:47:39and literally have a good chop.
0:47:42 > 0:47:45And then this one I can do again.
0:47:45 > 0:47:46I'm going to get down there.
0:47:49 > 0:47:51Yeah.
0:47:51 > 0:47:52There.
0:47:52 > 0:47:56So here we've got a herbaceous perennial with a fleshy root
0:47:56 > 0:47:59unlike the snowdrop which you would plant individually,
0:47:59 > 0:48:01this you plant as a clump.
0:48:01 > 0:48:04This wound will dry over. Give it a good water.
0:48:04 > 0:48:09Establish it, and up will come luscious leaves to enjoy all summer.
0:48:19 > 0:48:23Unfortunately, I'm not the only one that likes shade-loving plants.
0:48:23 > 0:48:26Woodlanders are favourites with slugs and snails too,
0:48:26 > 0:48:31which act like living composters in our woodlands and our gardens.
0:48:31 > 0:48:37But for me and other gardeners, they are public enemy number one.
0:48:38 > 0:48:42I've come to the John Innes Centre in Norwich to meet head of entomology
0:48:42 > 0:48:48Dr Ian Bedford to find out more about my long-standing nemesis.
0:48:48 > 0:48:51- Hi, Ian.- Hello, Christine.
0:48:51 > 0:48:52There's lots of different species,
0:48:52 > 0:48:54but what have you managed to collect?
0:48:54 > 0:48:58- Yeah, we've got about 30 species of slugs in the UK.- Right.
0:48:58 > 0:49:01- But only a few are actually problematic to us, you know.- OK.
0:49:01 > 0:49:05This tiny little black slug...
0:49:05 > 0:49:07That's the so-and-so that does damage to potatoes, isn't it?
0:49:07 > 0:49:09Yep, that's the black garden slug.
0:49:09 > 0:49:12Then, we've got a few species actually of keeled slugs.
0:49:12 > 0:49:14Oh, right. Yeah, they've got that sort of keel down the back.
0:49:14 > 0:49:18Yeah, they look like an upturned boat.
0:49:18 > 0:49:20And then, more recently...
0:49:20 > 0:49:24we have this invading Spanish slug, Arion vulgaris.
0:49:24 > 0:49:25How big can it get?
0:49:25 > 0:49:28We've had specimens here that have grown up to 15cm long.
0:49:28 > 0:49:29Ye gods!
0:49:29 > 0:49:31Yep. Yes, yes, yes. Absolutely amazing.
0:49:31 > 0:49:33There's a lot of protein there, really.
0:49:33 > 0:49:36It's a shame that we can't eat them out of existence.
0:49:36 > 0:49:38SHE LAUGHS
0:49:38 > 0:49:40Possibly. Well, it's a thought but, er...
0:49:40 > 0:49:42Have they been introduced to the French?
0:49:42 > 0:49:44SHE LAUGHS
0:49:45 > 0:49:48Knowing what's inside these things, the bacteria
0:49:48 > 0:49:51and the internal parasites, I don't think it's a wise thing.
0:49:51 > 0:49:54OK. Right. Right. Only teasing.
0:49:54 > 0:49:57Now that's a snail, so why have you got him in the box?
0:49:57 > 0:50:02Yeah, this is our common garden snail which can be
0:50:02 > 0:50:05more of a problem on certain plants than the slugs.
0:50:05 > 0:50:06Hostas and things, aren't they?
0:50:06 > 0:50:09Yeah, they really do like hostas.
0:50:09 > 0:50:10So, Ian, how do we control them?
0:50:10 > 0:50:12Right, well I've got a little demonstration
0:50:12 > 0:50:14- that I've set up in the lab. - Yep. OK.
0:50:14 > 0:50:17- We'll go and have a look, shall we? - Yeah, let's.
0:50:17 > 0:50:21I've asked Ian to construct a slug and snail assault course for me
0:50:21 > 0:50:23to put some of the nation's favourite slug deterrents
0:50:23 > 0:50:27to the test in a completely non-scientific experiment.
0:50:27 > 0:50:31British gardeners use over 400 billion slug pellets every
0:50:31 > 0:50:34year to tackle this sticky little problem as well as a whole host
0:50:34 > 0:50:38of organic alternatives believed to keep slugs at bay.
0:50:38 > 0:50:41But with the average UK garden thought to contain
0:50:41 > 0:50:47over 20,000 slugs and snails, do any of these old remedies actually work?
0:50:47 > 0:50:50Heading up my slug challenge are physical barriers like crushed
0:50:50 > 0:50:55egg shells, abrasive grit, coffee grounds, and copper strips thought
0:50:55 > 0:51:01to give them an electric shock, and sunken beer traps to entice them in.
0:51:01 > 0:51:04Left over night under close surveillance with an unprotected
0:51:04 > 0:51:08leaf as a control, which of my hostas will have escaped damage?
0:51:13 > 0:51:14Oh, wow, look at this.
0:51:14 > 0:51:18- Yeah, there's a bit of damage there. - Crikey, look at that.
0:51:18 > 0:51:19Hmm.
0:51:19 > 0:51:21I mean, have they all been nobbled?
0:51:21 > 0:51:23- No, that looks... - That looks all right, actually.
0:51:23 > 0:51:24It does.
0:51:24 > 0:51:28Egg shells. They're supposed to be sharp and sticky and abrasive.
0:51:28 > 0:51:30- That hasn't really worked. - That hasn't worked.
0:51:30 > 0:51:32What about the old grit?
0:51:32 > 0:51:34How many have we got? We've got one, two...
0:51:34 > 0:51:37- Oh, dear. They love it. - ..three, four.
0:51:37 > 0:51:40Well, that definitely doesn't work. We've got beer.
0:51:40 > 0:51:43They're supposed to like beer. Shall I pull this out?
0:51:43 > 0:51:44Yep. See if there's any inebriated.
0:51:46 > 0:51:48- Not a sausage.- No?- Nothing.
0:51:48 > 0:51:49Oh, dear.
0:51:49 > 0:51:51All right, the old coffee grains.
0:51:51 > 0:51:53Now, they're supposed to be really successful.
0:51:53 > 0:51:55There's no physical damage
0:51:55 > 0:51:58- but that's definitely slug trails, isn't it?- Hm.
0:51:58 > 0:52:02And this is the control that's perfectly all right.
0:52:02 > 0:52:04- SHE LAUGHS - That's really something.
0:52:04 > 0:52:05What could be done?
0:52:05 > 0:52:09I mean, this is so simple that the gardener at home could try
0:52:09 > 0:52:12- this, couldn't they, and see what works in their garden?- Absolutely.
0:52:12 > 0:52:16As for my simple experiment, I think it's safe to say that nothing
0:52:16 > 0:52:17appears to be slug proof.
0:52:17 > 0:52:21I'm not totally convinced. The only two that seem to have worked
0:52:21 > 0:52:24is the coffee and I don't want the whiff of coffee in my garden.
0:52:24 > 0:52:27The copper? Maybe.
0:52:27 > 0:52:32But, you know, do I really want holes in my hostas from these beasties?
0:52:32 > 0:52:35No. I'm going to stick with my method -
0:52:35 > 0:52:37collect them up at night. Put them in a plastic bag.
0:52:37 > 0:52:41Tie a knot. Lose them in a dustbin. They don't come back.
0:52:51 > 0:52:54The aim of my revival campaign is to encourage you to grow
0:52:54 > 0:52:58shade-loving woodland plants at home like Beth Chatto has done here in her
0:52:58 > 0:53:00stunning series of informal gardens.
0:53:00 > 0:53:04And the good news is, you don't need heaps of space to do it.
0:53:09 > 0:53:12I'm going to show you how to plant up a woodland container
0:53:12 > 0:53:16that will give you year-long flowers and foliage with minimum fuss.
0:53:16 > 0:53:20The container needs to have plenty of drainage,
0:53:20 > 0:53:22so if it's only got one hole, get yourself a drill,
0:53:22 > 0:53:29and in a container this size, I would want probably 10-15 half-inch holes.
0:53:29 > 0:53:35I would then use crocs, gravel, or polystyrene to make
0:53:35 > 0:53:40my drainage layer, and that drainage layer would be a couple of inches.
0:53:40 > 0:53:45Don't be stingy because you want the water to drain through that pot.
0:53:45 > 0:53:50A Christine Walkden special tip is get yourself some fleece or
0:53:50 > 0:53:55old net curtains and put that over the drainage layer
0:53:55 > 0:53:57before you put your compost on.
0:53:57 > 0:54:01The reason for that is - I don't want the soil particles coming
0:54:01 > 0:54:04out in solution and being dragged down into that drainage layer
0:54:04 > 0:54:06and bunging it up.
0:54:06 > 0:54:09Net curtains or old fleece is just the job.
0:54:09 > 0:54:11Next, the compost.
0:54:11 > 0:54:14Chose one with a high level of organic matter in it.
0:54:14 > 0:54:17I'm using here some old leaf material.
0:54:17 > 0:54:22I've got some lovely, rich, leafy compost.
0:54:22 > 0:54:25I mean, you could eat this on your cornflakes.
0:54:28 > 0:54:30Now comes the magic of the plants.
0:54:30 > 0:54:33I'm going to put this in the corner of my garden,
0:54:33 > 0:54:36so I'm going to start from the back and move forward.
0:54:36 > 0:54:40If you were to view it all the way round, you'd start in the centre
0:54:40 > 0:54:44and then fill in, but this is going to be in the corner
0:54:44 > 0:54:46so I'm going to start with something high.
0:54:46 > 0:54:50Dicentra spectabilis Alba - a beautiful plant.
0:54:50 > 0:54:55I love this. It comes through in the spring lime green,
0:54:55 > 0:54:57almost like it's looking ill.
0:54:57 > 0:55:01Most people, at that stage, dig it up and throw it away.
0:55:01 > 0:55:04Don't. Let it grow.
0:55:04 > 0:55:09It will then take on its beautiful green foliage -
0:55:09 > 0:55:13feathery - and will then go on to produce these spectacular
0:55:13 > 0:55:15little dancing hearts.
0:55:15 > 0:55:16It's a beautiful plant.
0:55:16 > 0:55:20What I tend to do first is just position them in place
0:55:20 > 0:55:23and I've got... So I'm going to pick up the white theme,
0:55:23 > 0:55:27so I'm going to run with something like a brunnera and I'm looking...
0:55:27 > 0:55:32I've got a selection here, so I'm going to just play and see what...
0:55:32 > 0:55:36Hmm, yeah, I quite like the white and the blue and then...
0:55:36 > 0:55:39Ooh, yeah, let's have a fern.
0:55:39 > 0:55:41When you're thinking of planting a container,
0:55:41 > 0:55:45think about the shapes, because what you want to do is get contrast.
0:55:45 > 0:55:47Oh, let's use a pulmonaria -
0:55:47 > 0:55:51the spotted lungworts - and then some of these corydalis.
0:55:51 > 0:55:53This is a lovely plant.
0:55:53 > 0:55:58And I've had the pleasure of seeing these growing in the Himalayas.
0:55:58 > 0:56:02Snow on the ground and delicate beautiful flowers.
0:56:02 > 0:56:05Memories of magic.
0:56:05 > 0:56:08Once you've done that, then it's a case of filling in with compost.
0:56:15 > 0:56:18Water your plants the night before.
0:56:18 > 0:56:22Plant them to the same depth as they are in the pot.
0:56:22 > 0:56:25Stand back and enjoy a bit of woodland magic.
0:56:37 > 0:56:40One woman who's passionate about growing woodland plants in her
0:56:40 > 0:56:43back garden is Vicky Fox, whose love of heucheras has seen her
0:56:43 > 0:56:47give up her day job and open her very own nursery.
0:56:47 > 0:56:50- Yeah, I used to be a piano teacher. - SHE LAUGHS
0:56:50 > 0:56:53Once you start growing them, you realise how amazing they are,
0:56:53 > 0:56:55and you become hooked on heucheras.
0:56:55 > 0:56:57They are really good for all positions.
0:56:57 > 0:56:58You can put them in the full sun.
0:56:58 > 0:57:01You can put them in partial shade. They're evergreen.
0:57:01 > 0:57:05They all flower. There's nothing not to like, really, is there?
0:57:06 > 0:57:08She's even started to breed her own varieties
0:57:08 > 0:57:11and has won gold medals at the Chelsea Flower Show.
0:57:11 > 0:57:15This is called heuchera lipstick. A fabulous plant.
0:57:15 > 0:57:18It flowers spring, summer, and autumn.
0:57:18 > 0:57:20And this is a lovely one called pear crisp.
0:57:20 > 0:57:23It loves the shade and we grow it under these trees
0:57:23 > 0:57:25so it just looks like it's a natural woodland.
0:57:26 > 0:57:29And with so many different types of heuchera,
0:57:29 > 0:57:32she's now been granted National Collection status.
0:57:32 > 0:57:36This is a really, really old one. It's called coral bouquet.
0:57:36 > 0:57:38It's part of the National Collection.
0:57:38 > 0:57:41Nobody else, as far as I know, has this in their collection,
0:57:41 > 0:57:44and of course, if we hadn't saved these, they wouldn't be around.
0:57:44 > 0:57:48But while enthusiasts like Vicky can help safeguard the genetic future
0:57:48 > 0:57:50of some of our woodland plants,
0:57:50 > 0:57:53I need you to help me revive these shade-loving beauties
0:57:53 > 0:57:57on a larger scale, so get out there and start planting.
0:58:05 > 0:58:08I'm a great believer in protecting our native woodlands
0:58:08 > 0:58:11and bringing the charm of shade-loving plants
0:58:11 > 0:58:13into your own garden.
0:58:13 > 0:58:16It's time to change our perspective about shade,
0:58:16 > 0:58:19to embrace the plants that thrive in it
0:58:19 > 0:58:24and create a little bit of woodland magic in all of our gardens.