0:00:02 > 0:00:04Doesn't a blink of sun like this just lift the spirits?
0:00:04 > 0:00:07It's helped when you're in a heavenly setting like this.
0:00:07 > 0:00:08Isn't it gorgeous?
0:00:08 > 0:00:10A beautiful stretch of water that is teeming with fish,
0:00:10 > 0:00:11I know it is.
0:00:11 > 0:00:15Green hills, rolling hills with cattle and sheep on them.
0:00:15 > 0:00:17In the valleys, in the fertile ground,
0:00:17 > 0:00:19you'll find these wonderful dairy cattle.
0:00:19 > 0:00:23Further south, early potatoes are being dug as I speak.
0:00:23 > 0:00:25Do you know where I am? Robert Burns?
0:00:25 > 0:00:30Yes of course, I'm in Ayrshire and just down the road,
0:00:30 > 0:00:33he spent six months learning flax dressing.
0:00:33 > 0:00:38I've just passed a flax retting pond - that's not easy to say!
0:00:38 > 0:00:43So here we are in Ayrshire and we're looking for a little hamlet,
0:00:43 > 0:00:47a wee clachan of people who have a wonderful community spirit
0:00:47 > 0:00:49and they're about to create a community garden.
0:00:49 > 0:00:51We're going to be part of that.
0:00:51 > 0:00:54Let's go down the road here to Barrmill.
0:01:05 > 0:01:10The Barrmill area includes the villages of Greenhills and Burnhouse
0:01:10 > 0:01:12as well as the surrounding countryside.
0:01:12 > 0:01:15It has a current population of about 520
0:01:15 > 0:01:18and it is affectionately known locally as The Barr.
0:01:22 > 0:01:25The history of Barrmill village is tied up with the establishment
0:01:25 > 0:01:28of a thriving thread mill in 1836
0:01:28 > 0:01:30which produced mainly rope and sails for ships,
0:01:30 > 0:01:34employing around 300 people from the local area.
0:01:34 > 0:01:39Prior to this, the clachan consisted of only a few homes for farm labourers
0:01:39 > 0:01:42in what was the rural backdrop to Beith, the nearest town.
0:01:42 > 0:01:46Despite its tiny size, this community has big ideas
0:01:46 > 0:01:48and has already been involved in community projects
0:01:48 > 0:01:51throughout the extended area.
0:01:53 > 0:01:56At the heart of village life is the community hall
0:01:56 > 0:01:58which is much loved and very well used,
0:01:58 > 0:02:02serving the social and recreational requirements of the community.
0:02:07 > 0:02:10One of the many reasons Beechgrove came to Barrmill
0:02:10 > 0:02:12was the warmth of the welcome we received
0:02:12 > 0:02:14and the good ladies of Barrmill are feeding everybody
0:02:14 > 0:02:17that comes to help in the community garden
0:02:17 > 0:02:19with their wonderful home baking.
0:02:19 > 0:02:22Oh, don't mind if I do, thank you.
0:02:30 > 0:02:34This is the site for the new garden, just behind the community hall,
0:02:34 > 0:02:37extending right along this stretch of the Vale Burn.
0:02:37 > 0:02:40The new garden will be called the Vale View Garden.
0:02:42 > 0:02:46Only a few months ago, this entire area was dense woodland,
0:02:46 > 0:02:49full of brambles and rubbish that no-one could get into.
0:02:49 > 0:02:51Now, thanks to the community,
0:02:51 > 0:02:54everyone can have access to what is turning out to be a lovely site
0:02:54 > 0:02:56and soon-to-be garden.
0:02:56 > 0:03:00There is still much work to be done and all the gardens this year
0:03:00 > 0:03:04are being supported by the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland
0:03:04 > 0:03:06and Greenbelt Group, and both these groups
0:03:06 > 0:03:10are supporting community initiatives like this throughout Scotland.
0:03:21 > 0:03:25Well, we're at the start of this wonderful woodland walk
0:03:25 > 0:03:28that the local folks are making here.
0:03:28 > 0:03:31It's quite open here but if you want to know more about a thing,
0:03:31 > 0:03:33the best person to find is the boss.
0:03:33 > 0:03:34Jean, you're the boss?
0:03:34 > 0:03:38- Yes, I'm Jean Gilbert, I've been chairperson for 18 years.- Really?
0:03:38 > 0:03:40So where does the motivation come from for this?
0:03:40 > 0:03:43The motivation came from the action plan
0:03:43 > 0:03:48and this was one of the main projects.
0:03:48 > 0:03:50Have you got plenty of people involved?
0:03:50 > 0:03:53We could always do with more, we always need more!
0:03:53 > 0:03:57- But they've done a fantastic job so far.- Oh, absolutely.
0:04:08 > 0:04:11I'm in the middle section and this is slightly more enclosed
0:04:11 > 0:04:13with lovely trees, it's like a woodland glade.
0:04:13 > 0:04:18It's a first for us that our project managers are husband and wife.
0:04:18 > 0:04:22It's Paul and Joyce. What made you get involved?
0:04:22 > 0:04:25We're actually quite local, just over there, looking into the park.
0:04:25 > 0:04:29We saw a bit of activity one Saturday so we went over to the hall
0:04:29 > 0:04:32to find out what it was and we got roped in by Jean Gilbert.
0:04:32 > 0:04:35Once you met Jean, that was it!
0:04:35 > 0:04:37What do you hope to get out of the project?
0:04:37 > 0:04:41Paul and I have a couple of dogs and we spend a lot of time over here,
0:04:41 > 0:04:44it's a lovely peaceful area and we hope to open it up
0:04:44 > 0:04:46so the rest of the community can enjoy it.
0:04:46 > 0:04:48There's quite a bit of seating further along
0:04:48 > 0:04:50so people can sit and enjoy the burn.
0:04:50 > 0:04:53You hope a lot of the people from the community will use it?
0:04:53 > 0:04:56Hopefully more people can enjoy it and love it as much as we do.
0:05:02 > 0:05:04We're now at the lowest part of the garden
0:05:04 > 0:05:08and I'm with Jeremy Needham, the garden designer of this project.
0:05:08 > 0:05:11This is the first time you've done a community garden for Beechgrove,
0:05:11 > 0:05:13so, quite a challenge?
0:05:13 > 0:05:17It was, it was very overgrown, virtually inaccessible.
0:05:17 > 0:05:20The site was very badly drained.
0:05:20 > 0:05:22You have a plan behind your back there and this helps us
0:05:22 > 0:05:26because what did the community ask you to do, what was your brief?
0:05:26 > 0:05:29It's a very long and narrow strip of land
0:05:29 > 0:05:33so what I thought was best to do was to try and design a garden
0:05:33 > 0:05:35that related to what was already here.
0:05:35 > 0:05:38The area that we're standing on at the moment is the boggy area
0:05:38 > 0:05:40right at the bottom of the garden
0:05:40 > 0:05:44so we have created a bog garden and we have put this deck down,
0:05:44 > 0:05:47this boardwalk, to make it accessible to everybody.
0:05:47 > 0:05:52You've got a lovely nice curvy path there, really attractive.
0:05:52 > 0:05:54That is at the upper end of the garden
0:05:54 > 0:05:56and this is where we come into the garden
0:05:56 > 0:06:00and the idea is that the path follows the meander of the stream as do the borders.
0:06:00 > 0:06:04The planting here, the emphasis is on baceous perennials
0:06:04 > 0:06:08and we also have lots of fruiting trees and fruiting shrubs
0:06:08 > 0:06:13which is again something that the community really wanted to include.
0:06:13 > 0:06:14It looks smashing.
0:06:14 > 0:06:17Most of the hard landscaping is completed here in the garden.
0:06:17 > 0:06:19A lot of materials have come from the local quarry.
0:06:19 > 0:06:22Carole is off to see the garden of the ex-manager of the quarry,
0:06:22 > 0:06:24Billy Edmonds.
0:06:30 > 0:06:33Carole, I moved here in 1948.
0:06:33 > 0:06:35It was just a bare field here.
0:06:35 > 0:06:39So, absolutely nothing, you started this from scratch?
0:06:39 > 0:06:45Over the years I have built fences, wee walls, done everything.
0:06:45 > 0:06:49- Put in the trees?- All the trees here were planted years ago.
0:06:49 > 0:06:52You're obviously very handy?
0:06:52 > 0:06:54I'm a cabinet maker and joiner to trade.
0:06:54 > 0:06:58Over the years I have shown all the work
0:06:58 > 0:07:01I have done in here is through my joinery work and different things.
0:07:01 > 0:07:05Does that mean the community have been using you as well?
0:07:05 > 0:07:10In Barrmill I made the benches, the walks and different things, the boardwalk.
0:07:10 > 0:07:13We always try to do things to a very high standard.
0:07:13 > 0:07:17I can tell that because I think everything is absolutely immaculate.
0:07:17 > 0:07:20A garden is shown off by really neat edges to the lawn.
0:07:20 > 0:07:23Bedding plants look really colourful
0:07:23 > 0:07:25but a little bit disappointing this year?
0:07:25 > 0:07:28Yes, the wet weather hasn't helped things
0:07:28 > 0:07:32but things are looking better today since the rain has gone off.
0:07:32 > 0:07:35You've got the formality that side, this is a little bit more informal.
0:07:35 > 0:07:38Yes, this is just from seed this year.
0:07:38 > 0:07:41I can see one or two slug pellets there!
0:07:41 > 0:07:43I like the rings, where have they come from?
0:07:43 > 0:07:47That is from the quarry, rings that were used for the crushers.
0:07:47 > 0:07:51Lots of lovely features and apart from the ornamental side,
0:07:51 > 0:07:53you've got the veg, too?
0:07:53 > 0:07:57Yes, I like the garden, I like doing my veg and my tatties.
0:07:57 > 0:08:00Let's go and have a look at the tatties.
0:08:05 > 0:08:08Which variety of tatty do you grow?
0:08:08 > 0:08:11I always grow epicures.
0:08:11 > 0:08:12And they do well for you?
0:08:12 > 0:08:14Yes, I get them up early
0:08:14 > 0:08:17and then you have no slugs or anything with them at that time.
0:08:17 > 0:08:20It is quite a good potato, one of my favourites.
0:08:20 > 0:08:21You've got your grate ready.
0:08:21 > 0:08:24This grate is 100 years old.
0:08:24 > 0:08:27I have a new one but I never use it but this is a very handy grate
0:08:27 > 0:08:28and I've got used to it.
0:08:28 > 0:08:30You feel comfortable with it.
0:08:30 > 0:08:34If I hold on to it here, let's see what we're going to get.
0:08:34 > 0:08:36Look at the foliage, it's nice and healthy.
0:08:36 > 0:08:38There's no sign of blight, is there?
0:08:39 > 0:08:41Wow, look at this.
0:08:41 > 0:08:44I'm a bit surprised here because with the trees,
0:08:44 > 0:08:48with the shelter, I thought blight might come in.
0:08:48 > 0:08:50- Are you pleased with that? - I'm very pleased with that.
0:08:50 > 0:08:55If I get that out of my garden...
0:08:55 > 0:08:59Well, you're going to have a lot of tatties to eat, aren't you?!
0:08:59 > 0:09:01Absolutely wonderful.
0:09:01 > 0:09:04- I'm very pleased with that. - Is that your favourite veg?- Yes.
0:09:04 > 0:09:06I like to eat plenty of potatoes.
0:09:06 > 0:09:10I think we need to go back to Vale View Garden to see how it's getting on
0:09:10 > 0:09:13and I bet we'll spot one or two of Billy's benches on the way.
0:09:14 > 0:09:16This is one of Billy's seats.
0:09:16 > 0:09:20Across here come I can hear tinkling water into a lovely pool.
0:09:22 > 0:09:26You'll recognise it, that used to be a barrow when it had a wheel.
0:09:26 > 0:09:31Carole is off to see the Archdeacon of recycling himself, Andy Lenny.
0:09:40 > 0:09:43Andy, I am fascinated to find out,
0:09:43 > 0:09:46what kind of things do you recycle in your garden?
0:09:46 > 0:09:49- Everything.- You mean everything?
0:09:49 > 0:09:54Everything - trees, fences, slabs.
0:09:54 > 0:09:59Cobblestones, wood, slates.
0:09:59 > 0:10:02So where do you find the trees, for example?
0:10:02 > 0:10:05The trees have been discarded from nurseries.
0:10:05 > 0:10:06They throw them into a dump.
0:10:06 > 0:10:09Out walking my dog and I picked these wee trees up.
0:10:09 > 0:10:11I thought, "I could use that," and it grows good.
0:10:11 > 0:10:15So the likes of this conifer behind you, is that a rescue plant?
0:10:15 > 0:10:17That's all rescued plants, even the biggest trees.
0:10:17 > 0:10:20What about the railings here?
0:10:20 > 0:10:23- That's the bottom of a bunk bed. - Really?
0:10:23 > 0:10:25And the wood is laminate flooring.
0:10:25 > 0:10:27It lasts longer than wood, cos it's not wood.
0:10:27 > 0:10:30So if you ever see anything that's been thrown out, you say,
0:10:30 > 0:10:32- "I've got a use for that." - Everything.
0:10:32 > 0:10:35Well, let's have a wander round your garden.
0:10:45 > 0:10:47Andy, this is a real colourful corner.
0:10:47 > 0:10:50The rose in flower and that acer,
0:10:50 > 0:10:53I mean you've found a nice sheltered pocket for it, haven't you?
0:10:53 > 0:10:56- Yes, aye.- Really, really thrives.
0:10:56 > 0:10:59I expect you're going to tell me that that shed is totally recycled?
0:10:59 > 0:11:03- It is totally recycled. - So, where have the things come from?
0:11:03 > 0:11:06Well when I was working, there was corrugated sheeting extra,
0:11:06 > 0:11:09the wrong size, going to get dumped, and that's where it came from.
0:11:09 > 0:11:12Obviously, you're good at painting too.
0:11:12 > 0:11:16What I say is this garden is obviously a little bit of paradise, isn't it?
0:11:16 > 0:11:19- Oh, aye.- Is that meant to be Hawaii?
0:11:19 > 0:11:20Well, I would say Hawaii,
0:11:20 > 0:11:24but if you want to say Dunoon, it's Dunoon!
0:11:32 > 0:11:34Meanwhile, back at the ranch, as they say,
0:11:34 > 0:11:37everybody's beavering about. Lots of things to be done.
0:11:37 > 0:11:39Margaret here is giving me a hand to stake some fruit trees
0:11:39 > 0:11:42because we're at the top of the walk, it's nice and open here
0:11:42 > 0:11:45and the fruit trees will be really at home in this bit.
0:11:45 > 0:11:47What kind of tree is this, John?
0:11:47 > 0:11:51This is an apple. It's called 'Katy'.
0:11:51 > 0:11:55It's an eater, a regular cropper, so it's the very thing.
0:11:55 > 0:11:58Of course, because they're kind of small
0:11:58 > 0:12:00and vulnerable at the moment, you've got to stake them.
0:12:00 > 0:12:02Why have you staked it like that?
0:12:02 > 0:12:06Well, if I drove the stake all the way down the side of the stem,
0:12:06 > 0:12:07if these were in pots,
0:12:07 > 0:12:10I would be driving it straight through and damaging the roots.
0:12:10 > 0:12:12Because there's a bank here,
0:12:12 > 0:12:14it makes it quite handy to put them in like that.
0:12:14 > 0:12:18Just finishing off, if you just tie that as tight as you can,
0:12:18 > 0:12:20that buckle, then this will stretch,
0:12:20 > 0:12:24and it'll stretch round here as the tree grows.
0:12:24 > 0:12:27Plenty of fruit - apples, pair, plum, cherry,
0:12:27 > 0:12:31damson and we've even put in blackcurrants.
0:12:31 > 0:12:32Pies galore, I hope!
0:12:42 > 0:12:46I am with Roger here from the ranger service.
0:12:46 > 0:12:47This is the middle section
0:12:47 > 0:12:49and it's far more of a woodlandy feel, isn't it?
0:12:49 > 0:12:51- This is a delightful area, isn't it? - Wonderful.
0:12:51 > 0:12:53And you know this quite well.
0:12:53 > 0:12:55What's going on here with the dyke?
0:12:55 > 0:12:57We're lucky we've a dry stone dyke in the group,
0:12:57 > 0:12:59and this stone comes from local quarries.
0:12:59 > 0:13:02This area's famous for limestone, plus they're full of fossils too.
0:13:02 > 0:13:03Fascinating, isn't it?
0:13:03 > 0:13:06Back to the plants, because I love ferns and over on this side,
0:13:06 > 0:13:09by the burn, we've got some lovely ferns that like the moisture.
0:13:09 > 0:13:11The royal fern is a good one, isn't it?
0:13:11 > 0:13:15Yes, particularly like them because they have this strange, almost a flowering spike to them.
0:13:15 > 0:13:17The other leaves are different than most ferns are.
0:13:17 > 0:13:18Then the shuttlecock fern,
0:13:18 > 0:13:20that will spread by underground rhizomes,
0:13:20 > 0:13:22and that's going to hold back the bank.
0:13:22 > 0:13:24We will need that, because this stream floods.
0:13:24 > 0:13:26And some unusual ones here?
0:13:26 > 0:13:27Yes, we've got some sports here,
0:13:27 > 0:13:32a sport being a type of plant that's different from its normal plants.
0:13:32 > 0:13:35We have this highly divided pinner.
0:13:35 > 0:13:37The leaf is divided up into bunches
0:13:37 > 0:13:39that makes it look quite different from your normal fern.
0:13:39 > 0:13:42Really pretty, that one. And that one?
0:13:42 > 0:13:43This one's a golden scale fern.
0:13:43 > 0:13:46It's a bit like the male ferns that are all around us.
0:13:46 > 0:13:50It's got a lot more scales. It stands out. You can see sunlight on it.
0:13:50 > 0:13:52Brilliant. We need some sun, don't we?
0:13:52 > 0:13:55You obviously want to attract the children
0:13:55 > 0:13:56into these areas as well, don't you?
0:13:56 > 0:13:59Yes, we've got Dingly Dell here and up at the top,
0:13:59 > 0:14:02we've got an ent, as in Lord Of The Rings.
0:14:02 > 0:14:04Or perhaps a green man.
0:14:04 > 0:14:05I like the idea of the green man.
0:14:05 > 0:14:08- I'm not so sure about the ears, though!- They won't last long.
0:14:08 > 0:14:10I think nature's going to recycle those quite quickly!
0:14:10 > 0:14:14At the bottom here we've got the Elfhame, the door to the Elfhame.
0:14:14 > 0:14:17That's the fairy kingdom, known to this area.
0:14:17 > 0:14:20Over at Cleeves Cove, a few miles away,
0:14:20 > 0:14:22there's lots of legends about the elves in there.
0:14:22 > 0:14:25If you go through there, you come out at Cleeves Cove.
0:14:25 > 0:14:28- I'm not sure if I'm going to fit! - I'm sure you will.
0:14:36 > 0:14:39If you come down to the far end of the garden down the path,
0:14:39 > 0:14:42you come out of the trees and into the brightness.
0:14:42 > 0:14:44It's a lovely area down here,
0:14:44 > 0:14:47but because it's the lower end of the garden,
0:14:47 > 0:14:49it is very wet and boggy.
0:14:49 > 0:14:52This boardwalk is a great way to get through the garden but also,
0:14:52 > 0:14:54because this area's really soggy underfoot,
0:14:54 > 0:14:58they've built an area here so you can get out into the brightness.
0:14:58 > 0:15:00You can see the stream, you can hear the stream.
0:15:00 > 0:15:03Lovely and bright, birds tweeting and it's a great use of the space,
0:15:03 > 0:15:06- isn't it, Lesley? - It's fantastic.
0:15:06 > 0:15:09Fiona, you're one of the villagers who's been here from the beginning.
0:15:09 > 0:15:13This looks really in control. What was it like a few months ago?
0:15:13 > 0:15:15Before we started, it was just,
0:15:15 > 0:15:17the surrounding weeds and wildflowers,
0:15:17 > 0:15:19it was just completely covered in those.
0:15:19 > 0:15:22You really had to fight your way through it.
0:15:22 > 0:15:23If you wanted to get down to the burn,
0:15:23 > 0:15:25you had to fight through to get there.
0:15:25 > 0:15:28And now, it's just completely transformed it
0:15:28 > 0:15:29and opened up the access.
0:15:29 > 0:15:31We're going to put in some plants
0:15:31 > 0:15:32that really like these boggy conditions.
0:15:32 > 0:15:34To give them a bit of a fighting chance
0:15:34 > 0:15:37and get them established, pits have been dug
0:15:37 > 0:15:41and we've got it lined in this root barrier and hopefully,
0:15:41 > 0:15:46these will get away, get established before all the wildflowers come back.
0:15:46 > 0:15:48Let's have a look at what plants we've got here.
0:15:48 > 0:15:51These all like being really, really soggy.
0:15:51 > 0:15:55Let's have a look at this one. This is a Rodgersia.
0:15:55 > 0:15:56It looks like a horse chestnut,
0:15:56 > 0:15:58but it's not going to get into a huge tree.
0:15:58 > 0:16:02It's going to be a nice clump here. Very pretty.
0:16:02 > 0:16:07We've got a primula here. This is florindae. Can you smell that?
0:16:07 > 0:16:10It smells really, really sweet. We've got Cornus - dogwoods.
0:16:10 > 0:16:14They love wet feet. This is interesting, this is cypress.
0:16:14 > 0:16:17We are assured it's going to be hardy here.
0:16:17 > 0:16:21I tell you, I wouldn't try that in Aberdeen, but fingers crossed!
0:16:21 > 0:16:24We're off now to visit the garden of Julie Murray,
0:16:24 > 0:16:28who along with her sister Linda, are hoping that our Carole
0:16:28 > 0:16:30will be able to help solve a few gardening problems.
0:16:32 > 0:16:35Well I have to say, it's rather boggy here as well.
0:16:35 > 0:16:39We have had so much rain and I think I'd be right in saying to you
0:16:39 > 0:16:41that it's rather clay, the soil, isn't it?
0:16:41 > 0:16:44Yes, it's just complete clay under there.
0:16:44 > 0:16:47Tell us a little bit about the problem with these trees.
0:16:47 > 0:16:50They were put in by the people that had the house previous to me,
0:16:50 > 0:16:53six years ago at least, and they're just not flourishing at all.
0:16:53 > 0:16:55They're not, are they? They're really unhappy.
0:16:55 > 0:17:00This is one of the Prunus, the cherry family.
0:17:00 > 0:17:02I think clay for a start, it's not happy,
0:17:02 > 0:17:04because it likes to be well-drained,
0:17:04 > 0:17:07so you've really got to put in lots of conditioner into the soil.
0:17:07 > 0:17:11- Will gravel help?- Gravel would help a little bit, that would be good.
0:17:11 > 0:17:14The other thing I'm really concerned about is this tree tie here,
0:17:14 > 0:17:16the actual staking.
0:17:16 > 0:17:18If you can imagine, look at that round there -
0:17:18 > 0:17:20that's actually choking the tree.
0:17:20 > 0:17:24Mike, we need to take this off, because this tree is on its way out.
0:17:24 > 0:17:27We really need to take this one away and replace it.
0:17:27 > 0:17:30Let's have a look behind here
0:17:30 > 0:17:33which I hope...
0:17:33 > 0:17:37Look, straightaway, there's a lot of damage here.
0:17:37 > 0:17:40You can see the bark being damaged.
0:17:40 > 0:17:43What happens then is you get canker into the tree.
0:17:43 > 0:17:47That combination, with the fact that you've got all this moisture,
0:17:47 > 0:17:48we need to remove it.
0:17:48 > 0:17:51Another little tip when it comes to taking out a tree this size
0:17:51 > 0:17:52is cut it at that level
0:17:52 > 0:17:56and then when you're digging around, you can use that as a lever.
0:17:56 > 0:17:57Ah, right.
0:17:57 > 0:17:59Let's go and have a look at the birch over there,
0:17:59 > 0:18:01because that's not too bad, is it?
0:18:01 > 0:18:03No, it's actually one of the better trees.
0:18:05 > 0:18:09You'll be pleased to hear that this one's definitely worth keeping.
0:18:09 > 0:18:11- Nothing wrong with it at all. - It looks quite healthy.
0:18:11 > 0:18:15Nice and sturdy. So this, we want to get this off straight away.
0:18:15 > 0:18:18Luckily, that's loose on there, so it's not causing a problem.
0:18:18 > 0:18:20It's not done any damage.
0:18:20 > 0:18:24I would also suggest that you take the grass away around here.
0:18:24 > 0:18:26- How much?- About a metre.
0:18:26 > 0:18:29That's better for the mower and also,
0:18:29 > 0:18:31it is a competitor for fertiliser.
0:18:31 > 0:18:34I want to say moisture as well, but you haven't that problem here!
0:18:34 > 0:18:37- Plenty of that!- What about these, what about the branches?
0:18:37 > 0:18:41They're overhanging over this side and into the driveway,
0:18:41 > 0:18:43so how could I maintain this?
0:18:43 > 0:18:46What you want to do is cut those off as well, all right?
0:18:46 > 0:18:49This is a good time to be cutting them off. Not a problem at all.
0:18:49 > 0:18:52Go in as close to the trunk as possible,
0:18:52 > 0:18:56but what I would say is, cut off here to start off with
0:18:56 > 0:18:58because you've got the weight,
0:18:58 > 0:19:01then you take it off there, so it's not ripping it.
0:19:19 > 0:19:24- What do you think? A new tree already.- It's absolutely beautiful.
0:19:24 > 0:19:27It's a Norway maple, one of the varieties, Drummondii.
0:19:27 > 0:19:32What Mike has also done is a little bit of mound planting.
0:19:32 > 0:19:34When he removed one of the trees, it was really, really wet there.
0:19:34 > 0:19:35By mound planting,
0:19:35 > 0:19:39it does mean that the roots aren't totally soaked in the water.
0:19:39 > 0:19:42Look at the way we've put the stake in, at an angle.
0:19:42 > 0:19:44Is that because of the wind?
0:19:44 > 0:19:46Bit of the wind, yeah. It is windy here.
0:19:46 > 0:19:49But also, it means with the tree tie there,
0:19:49 > 0:19:52you can release that every year, all right?
0:19:52 > 0:19:53So we've started you off.
0:19:53 > 0:19:56Now you're going to have to remove some of these other trees and replace them.
0:19:56 > 0:19:58- We will do. - You certainly left us a bit of work!
0:19:58 > 0:20:02Well, from problem corners to best kept corners.
0:20:02 > 0:20:04Our designer Jeremy Needham
0:20:04 > 0:20:08has the onerous task of judging the best kept gardens in Barrmill.
0:20:12 > 0:20:14There are three categories in the competition.
0:20:14 > 0:20:17Best Kept Garden in Barrmill.
0:20:17 > 0:20:21Best Kept Garden outwith the village.
0:20:21 > 0:20:24And Best Containers.
0:20:24 > 0:20:28No pressure there, Jeremy! Rather you than me!
0:20:28 > 0:20:31There's a lot to choose from.
0:20:31 > 0:20:33A long, thin garden here with this...
0:20:33 > 0:20:39- Particularly thin, isn't it? It's colourful and fully planted.- Yeah.
0:20:39 > 0:20:41This is some very nice persicaria.
0:20:41 > 0:20:44I called these Easter ledges. They made puddings out of them at Easter.
0:20:44 > 0:20:47It's a wildflower, isn't it? It's nice to see that in the garden.
0:20:48 > 0:20:51Bit of wood statuette there.
0:20:52 > 0:20:57Oh look, this is interesting. We've got a kind of habitat area.
0:20:57 > 0:21:00Quite an unusual setting for this sort of garden scenery.
0:21:00 > 0:21:01A suburban area.
0:21:04 > 0:21:07Oh, this looks nice, Roger!
0:21:07 > 0:21:10- Beautiful, isn't it? - Nice mixed herbaceous border.
0:21:10 > 0:21:12- There are roses climbing up there. - Yeah.
0:21:12 > 0:21:16- I don't know whether they are scented varieties.- Could be. Yeah.
0:21:16 > 0:21:17- Nice.- Yeah.
0:21:20 > 0:21:24- Lots of solar lighting.- Oh yeah! Looks very neat and tidy, doesn't it?
0:21:24 > 0:21:26- The font looks very nice.- Oh yeah.
0:21:26 > 0:21:30- Is that a Bottlebrush plant in there, is it?- It could be.
0:21:32 > 0:21:36- Wow! Look at this, Roger.- Look at the size of it.- Gunnera, it's enormous!
0:21:36 > 0:21:39And spiky leaves underside.
0:21:39 > 0:21:41You could sell them as umbrellas this year, couldn't you?
0:21:41 > 0:21:44All this rain. Could've done with that earlier.
0:21:48 > 0:21:52You know, on the odd occasion, a garden can't be judged
0:21:52 > 0:21:54because it doesn't fit into the criteria.
0:21:54 > 0:21:56Douglas Biggar's is one of those
0:21:56 > 0:22:00and I think it's one of the most unusual gardens I've ever seen.
0:22:07 > 0:22:10Douglas, I'm totally intrigued with your garden,
0:22:10 > 0:22:12I've never seen anything like it before.
0:22:12 > 0:22:16How did it all start? What did you have when you first came here?
0:22:16 > 0:22:18When we first came here,
0:22:18 > 0:22:22I had a lawn on either side of the pathway
0:22:22 > 0:22:25and that was it.
0:22:25 > 0:22:30Then, from somewhere or other, I was given or found a tree
0:22:30 > 0:22:34and I put that close to the pavement,
0:22:34 > 0:22:36and on the grass.
0:22:36 > 0:22:42It went from there, with getting another tree, another shrub,
0:22:42 > 0:22:44another whatever, through time,
0:22:44 > 0:22:49the grass was pretty well covered by trees and then more trees went in
0:22:49 > 0:22:53and it turned into what I've got now.
0:22:53 > 0:22:54Yes, and it's so different though,
0:22:54 > 0:22:57because it's the way you've manicured them
0:22:57 > 0:22:59and you've done lots of pruning.
0:22:59 > 0:23:03Yes, but I haven't tried doing topiary
0:23:03 > 0:23:06or anything. It's just anything that the shears come against.
0:23:06 > 0:23:10So, you kind of see a natural shape, and that's the way it goes?
0:23:10 > 0:23:15If something starts to look a bit bushy, I trim it a bit.
0:23:15 > 0:23:17There's no plan to it.
0:23:17 > 0:23:20It's a happen chance garden.
0:23:20 > 0:23:23Well, I absolutely love it and just looking out here,
0:23:23 > 0:23:26I have never seen a rowan like that before!
0:23:26 > 0:23:30You've obviously got a sense of humour. What do you call that one?
0:23:30 > 0:23:34- The boot tree.- How did you put the boot on there?
0:23:34 > 0:23:37- I'm not telling!- It's an absolute secret.- It's a trade secret.
0:23:37 > 0:23:41Are you going to tell me how you prune it? Look at the height of it.
0:23:41 > 0:23:47Go to it with a clothes pole and a piece of rope with a noose around it.
0:23:47 > 0:23:51I take the clothes pole and push the rope up and shear a bit.
0:23:51 > 0:23:57With it being wobbly, the noose will stay on the tree and I pull it down.
0:23:57 > 0:24:02- It doesn't break? You've never broken one of the trees? - Absolutely not!
0:24:02 > 0:24:05You obviously let go and then it just pings up into the air?
0:24:05 > 0:24:07I find this garden totally intriguing,
0:24:07 > 0:24:09so, is it possible for me to just have a look round,
0:24:09 > 0:24:13- and a wander on my own? See what I can find?- Yes!
0:24:13 > 0:24:15Any weeds you find, you can keep!
0:24:26 > 0:24:29This is a garden where you have to look up.
0:24:29 > 0:24:30These four trees here,
0:24:30 > 0:24:33you've got the blue cedar, a birch,
0:24:33 > 0:24:35a conifer and an acer.
0:24:35 > 0:24:37They're all planted within about two square metres.
0:24:37 > 0:24:39It's absolutely incredible.
0:24:39 > 0:24:42It works, because the lower limbs have been pruned away
0:24:42 > 0:24:45so, we're still letting light in.
0:24:45 > 0:24:47It really is amazing and I love the conifer.
0:24:47 > 0:24:50It's kind of a tiered effect, a bit like a cake.
0:24:50 > 0:24:53Then, you've got go down as well.
0:24:53 > 0:24:56This is a superb ground cover plant, and I'm not being rude,
0:24:56 > 0:24:59the common name is called Mind Your Own Business.
0:25:03 > 0:25:08A conifer trained as a car port, it has to be a first for me.
0:25:12 > 0:25:16These sculptures are quite amazing.
0:25:16 > 0:25:19Douglas tells me that he needs to trim these once or twice a year,
0:25:19 > 0:25:21depending on the weather conditions.
0:25:21 > 0:25:24They really are strange works of art.
0:25:24 > 0:25:27And, talking about the strange, how about this?
0:25:27 > 0:25:32A novel way of using a saucepan lid.
0:25:32 > 0:25:35I just wonder if they're meant to be flying saucers!
0:25:43 > 0:25:47Well, so much to see but I better get back to Vale View Garden
0:25:47 > 0:25:49and see how they're getting on.
0:25:57 > 0:26:00Since I've been away I can't believe how the garden has come on
0:26:00 > 0:26:03and I've found another one of Billy's seats.
0:26:03 > 0:26:05This is a great place to relax and enjoy ourselves.
0:26:05 > 0:26:08I've even got my little helper here, Erin, again.
0:26:08 > 0:26:10I think this is probably my favourite spot.
0:26:10 > 0:26:13It's with the ferns and I can still hear the water.
0:26:13 > 0:26:15It's so relaxing.
0:26:15 > 0:26:17Do you know what I love about this garden?
0:26:17 > 0:26:20It's the fact it's turned into the most beautiful woodland walk.
0:26:20 > 0:26:23Trees around you, a babbling brook, it's just gorgeous,
0:26:23 > 0:26:27but remember, this area was up to here in weeds, it was a big area
0:26:27 > 0:26:30and all these little bits here have been cleared for planting,
0:26:30 > 0:26:32a big amount of work in that. Also along the way,
0:26:32 > 0:26:36there's lots of lovely artefacts. Nestled in among this planting here,
0:26:36 > 0:26:40there's some standing stones that will soften that area. At the top,
0:26:40 > 0:26:43there's a bug habitat for the bugs to enter in.
0:26:43 > 0:26:45This is my favourite one though,
0:26:45 > 0:26:47this is a wishing log.
0:26:47 > 0:26:51Apparently, you get a wish for a penny, so I've got two pence here,
0:26:51 > 0:26:55so I hope to get two wishes and you just hammer that in like that.
0:26:55 > 0:26:59If you get a penny a wish, what will I get if I put that in?
0:27:01 > 0:27:04And finally, at the top of the garden, which is the entrance,
0:27:04 > 0:27:07there are these four droplet-shaped beds
0:27:07 > 0:27:11and the banking at the side is going to be planted with wildflowers and spring bulbs.
0:27:11 > 0:27:15Now, these beds have been quite tightly packed with plants
0:27:15 > 0:27:17and this is to help to reduce the weeds.
0:27:17 > 0:27:20They're in lovely shades of pink and blue
0:27:20 > 0:27:24and what is really attractive here, instead of having blocks of plants
0:27:24 > 0:27:26like the geranium or the astrantia,
0:27:26 > 0:27:31it's all been dotty so it weaves together like a tapestry.
0:27:31 > 0:27:34We've got Iris sibirica which has got a nice strappy leaf coming through.
0:27:34 > 0:27:36Then the knautia which is melted pastels,
0:27:36 > 0:27:40it's nice and light and airy and it'll knit it all altogether.
0:27:51 > 0:27:54Almost at the end of another cracking project
0:27:54 > 0:27:56and the one thing I will really remember
0:27:56 > 0:27:58has been the range of people
0:27:58 > 0:28:01and the enthusiasm of them, from the oldest
0:28:01 > 0:28:04to the youngest and that augurs well for the future.
0:28:04 > 0:28:07I'm going to have a little bit of a timely reminder,
0:28:07 > 0:28:10because the community have got this land back from nature
0:28:10 > 0:28:13and they need to make sure that nature doesn't reclaim it.
0:28:13 > 0:28:15They're going to really have to keep their eye on those weeds.
0:28:15 > 0:28:19I'm going to go back to the people, because there's been such hospitality
0:28:19 > 0:28:23and I have to mention those wonderful home bakes!
0:28:23 > 0:28:25Well, I'll second that!
0:28:25 > 0:28:27Next week, we're back in the garden,
0:28:27 > 0:28:30but until then, from the new Vale View Garden in Barrmill!
0:28:30 > 0:28:32ALL: Bye!
0:28:32 > 0:28:35Subtitles By Red Bee Media Ltd