Episode 21 The Beechgrove Garden


Episode 21

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What a stonker of a red rose, with a beautiful perfume.

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The last time I set foot in that building, I was going to a Christmas party.

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It is, of course, the Dean Castle.

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I was with my Aunt Mary and my cousins.

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The family used to do some work for the estate -

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that's why we got invited.

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That same Aunt Mary's oldest son was Robert.

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He was in the war. He was much older than me.

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And when he came back, he started

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a market garden business - glasshouses and so on,

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about half a mile upstream from the Old Brig of Alloway,

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Brig of Ayr, Brig O' Doon.

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His name was Robert Burns.

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Think about it.

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In 1950, there was a Robert Burns gardening at Alloway.

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How's that for coincidence?

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You will recognise this is a statue of a much more famous Robert Burns,

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our national bard.

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Do you know, it's said

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that there are more statues around the world raised to this man

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than anybody else on earth?

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Remarkable. This one is located in the Kay Park,

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one of a number of parks

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that my dear old dad helped to manage several years ago.

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Decades ago.

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Well, many of you will have guessed

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I'm talking about my old home town of Kilmarnock.

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We're involved specifically in a project that's bringing

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a wee bit of direction and pride, as well as a garden,

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to the community of Knockinlaw.

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Jim's old home town, Kilmarnock,

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is an industrial town in East Ayrshire

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with a population of over 44,000,

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making it the second-largest town in Ayrshire.

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Here, in the town centre, is the Laigh Kirk,

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a church originally built in the early 13th century,

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which became the heart of the town as it grew up around about it.

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Jim was actually christened in this very church,

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but possibly not quite that long ago.

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This is the Knockinlaw area of Kilmarnock,

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where the BBC series The Scheme was filmed.

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At the end of the series,

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we saw the community campaigning to save their old community centre.

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'Last time on The Scheme,

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'one family, the Crees, were leading the fight to reopen the old community centre,

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'which their mum and dad had started,

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'and their family had been running as volunteers for two generations.'

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Despite the building eventually being torn down,

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this community never gave up.

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The story continues here, and is becoming much bigger and more positive

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than saving an old, dilapidated building.

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Around what will be a new state-of-the-art community centre,

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the people of Knockinlaw have gone one stage further.

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They're going to build a community garden to wrap around the building,

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to complement the building and welcome and involve everybody.

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It will be called The Central Gardens.

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However, there's still a lot of work to be done.

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All the community gardens this year are being supported

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by the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland

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and Greenbelt Group.

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Both of these groups are supporting community initiatives like this

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throughout the whole of Scotland.

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SHE LAUGHS

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I'm in the first part of the garden to be completed -

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the patio, the paved area.

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It's looking beautiful.

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I have with me Janet and Marion Cree.

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There's always somebody that really drives these projects,

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and I think this is you two ladies.

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The Cree family have been involved with community initiatives for a long time?

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Yes, from way back in 1970,

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when Marion's parents and other members of the community

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kicked off Knockinlaw Community Association.

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They knocked the doors in of the old centre,

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got the Salvation Army to bring beds,

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and provided housing for

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folk that didnae have a house

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when there was severe flooding in the area.

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So this is our phase one, now,

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of two phases, possibly three.

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And we're getting really excited now.

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You must be so proud of yourselves. Marion, what's this going to mean across the community?

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It's going to mean quite a lot to the community,

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because we're going to have adults and children involved.

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When we get a centre, it's somewhere to go, cos there's nothing.

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The garden's going to give them experience how to do a garden.

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-It's going to really make a difference?

-A big difference, uh-huh.

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You can see here, this is definitely still work in progress.

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The hall is going here, and the kids' play area.

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Marion and Alistair, you've been involved in the project right from the beginning,

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I believe congratulations are in order,

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because you've only recently got married?

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Uh-huh. We got married on the Saturday and we were out here on the Monday morning.

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Well, that's complete dedication.

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Why did you get involved in the first place?

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I got involved through friends and family and my wife here...

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Oh, that's nice to say your "wife"!

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SHE LAUGHS

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But it's mainly to see something good happening in the community.

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It will be a place where the children can come and play

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and go to different clubs and activities, and things like that.

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But just as much for the elder people, as well,

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there's going to be lots of different activities and things.

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So it's important for all ages, really?

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It's going to help everybody in the community

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to come together.

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Marion, what have you enjoyed so far?

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I've enjoyed working with everybody,

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getting out the house, seeing it actually come together

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from where it started.

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It started as nothing, and then it came to this.

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-Aye, we've done well.

-Aye.

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You enjoy the hard work?

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I do so!

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-Getting your hands dirty, brilliant.

-Getting in there!

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THEY LAUGH

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I'm here with Lynn Harris,

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our veteran Beechgrove Garden designer.

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George, I'm not that old!

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And don't look it, I have to say.

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This is a special project for you. Tell me why.

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It's hugely special,

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because this is where I was born and brought up.

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And I'm back to my roots.

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This is probably where my love of gardening started,

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helping my dad edge the lawn, plant daffy bulbs,

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potatoes, that sort of thing.

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I suppose this is where it all started for me as a gardener.

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So no way you could refuse to be involved?

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In actual fact, from my bedroom window,

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over there, when I was a little girl,

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I could look out and see the old community hall that used to be here.

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But there's no hall there at the moment.

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Ah, but very shortly there will be.

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There'll be a brand, spanking new hall in the middle of the garden.

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This is a very unusual project for all of us,

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because we're putting the cart before the horse here.

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We're actually building the garden before we build the hall,

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because it's going to be a modular build.

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OK. So what have we got?

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Well, the community... This is a very multi-purpose hall.

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They wanted a multi-purpose space surrounding it.

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So we've got lots of different areas

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for lots of different kinds of activities,

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surrounding what will be a brand-new community hall in the centre.

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-Can we go and have a look?

-I think we should.

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So here we are finally in the garden, George.

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This area here, all the way round the perimeter here,

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is going to be a massive shrub border. Lots of mature trees,

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loads of wildlife-friendly stuff in the garden, as well.

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Coming round to this part, we've got a lawn,

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perfect for the kids.

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Nice, well-drained lawn.

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Leading on to an enormous patio!

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SHE LAUGHS

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You could do almost Shakespearian productions here.

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If they're having a wedding inside, they could have the photographs out here.

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And finally we come to the productive area,

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which is again a fair size.

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We've used this fantastic

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resin-bound gravel,

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which is really porous.

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-It's a product called Sudscape.

-It's really good.

-It's a fantastic surface.

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Quite free-draining?

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Very free-draining.

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So lots of raised beds here,

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lots of produce for all sections of the community

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to be able to grow things.

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There's a fair bit to do yet.

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-I know. I'm off to get on with some work.

-We'll see you later.

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Meanwhile,

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Jim has been out and about,

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looking at some extraordinary gardens.

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Two of them. Extraordinary - why?

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Because they're full of bedding plants.

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You know the problems you've had with bedding plants this year.

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The first one he went to see was Billy McIntosh.

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Well, Mr Mac,

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we were advised to come and see this spectacle here.

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Absolutely tremendous. How long have you been at this game?

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I used to help my father. He was a kind of show gardener.

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He used to grow a lot of vegetables in they days after the war,

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and come on and develop 20 flowers on first show.

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Sell most of them, mind you, to pubs.

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-HE LAUGHS The sweet peas.

-Did he really?

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He did, for his drink money.

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But it's remarkable, you know,

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how well this looks,

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considering everybody's complaining about the weather.

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Of course.

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I've saw it better, in better days, without this wind

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and the rain we've had, but, eh...

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We've got to take it as it comes.

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It's quite a good-looking bit of lawn, but I'm surprised to see it there. How d'you cut it?

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With great difficulty.

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I've got a sore back, every time I do it.

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Cannae sort your back, nor your lawn, but I find

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that it's pleasing, because it sets off...

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Aye, it does.

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Have you ever entered any competitions?

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Not really. An inspector came round and put my name in

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for the local East Ayrshire Northwest area,

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and I happened to win it.

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I hadn't even entered it, but there you are.

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I'm going away to see another prize-winning garden -

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Harry Cassidy. Do you know him?

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He's my cousin's husband.

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That cannae be a coincidence?

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Well, he's a dedicated gardener.

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He works hard.

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It's a lot of effort, I can assure you.

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Well, this has to be

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Harry's award-winning garden.

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How are you?

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-Hello, Jim. Nice to see you.

-Good to see you.

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How d'you do it?!

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Everybody's moaning!

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So they may!

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THEY LAUGH

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The weather, it's shocking!

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-It's terrible.

-This is fantastic. So what awards have you won?

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I won the Kilmarnock Northwest Area for private houses.

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Uh-huh? Is that the first time?

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No. I won it in 2010.

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Have you got any favourites?

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Begonias.

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-I like begonias.

-Aye.

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But you have a huge range. Do you grow all the stuff yourself?

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Most of it from seed, yeah.

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With the exception of begonias, of course.

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I've got to buy them, and the trailing lobelia.

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Do you work with plugs?

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Plugs? Yeah.

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And when do you start the whole process?

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Usually my plugs in April.

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First week in April, and I take it from there.

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Just bring them on in the greenhouse,

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then into the cold frames,

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and then, first week in June, plant out.

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And when the judges come here,

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do they look at front and back, as well?

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Front and back, yeah,

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-I'd better have a look at the back then.

-Aye.

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Wow!

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We're maybe coming to the end of the season,

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but you've still got a fantastic display!

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I suppose it's getting the right plants first time, eh?

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-Ah, well...

-What are the most reliable?

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Well, you cannae beat them, Jim. The fibrous-rooted begonias.

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They do well in this weather up here, the climate.

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But the petunias are really fantastic just now.

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I had these last year.

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These are really good - great results.

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Yes, but everywhere you turn, you've got them.

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They're still flowering their heads off. D'you do much dead heading?

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-Oh!

-HE LAUGHS

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-Maybe two hours a day.

-As much as that?

-Oh, aye. Anyway.

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At least two hours a day.

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The other thing that caught my eye was this aster here.

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It's a lovely purpley-blue.

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It's a bit big for my liking.

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On the packet, when I planted them,

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-it was supposed to be dwarf...

-But it's no' quite as dwarf?

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No, they look about 15 inches high.

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I wonder if it's been up there, looking for more light?

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It's possible.

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It's drawn it a wee bit.

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But just everywhere you turn,

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you're doing fantastically well.

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So, all is not lost, and you'll be back at it again next year?

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-Oh, yeah.

-More prizes?

-Cannae wait.

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THEY LAUGH

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You'll see there's been a lot of progress at the site -

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the plants coming in, which is absolutely great.

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And willing helpers, too. Jim and Linda,

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you've been involved right from the beginning of the project,

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but also, Jim, a lot of family history here?

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Yes,

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my mother and my father's 41 years

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in the build that was here,

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before it was demolished.

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Big difference, isn't it?

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Big difference to see this that's coming on here, it's beautiful.

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Linda, you're fairly familiar with this area,

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because you've been digging this over?

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Aye, two or three times, we've dug it up.

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There's been more muck put on top of it, and more compost, and more muck.

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-That's important.

-That's it.

-I mean, it's worth it.

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It's well worth it. The place is beautiful, actually.

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Absolutely gorgeous.

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And I believe you've been keeping the women in order?

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Yes, I've been a whip-cracker.

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Well, I'm going to be the whip-cracker now.

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Perhaps you can bring in the rest of the plants, and Chloe, as well.

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-Right, that's lovely.

-Coming?

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You'll see that there's a bit of a theme going on here.

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When you take a look at the fence,

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it's only a metre in height.

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Now that's quite important,

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because we're by a road,

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and that's all to do with being able to see when the cars

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come to the junction.

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The plants are exactly the same.

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These are all fairly dwarf.

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You have things like the Hebes here.

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They're evergreen, which will give us interest right through the season.

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But lovely flower colour.

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The yak hybrids, they only grow to about a metre in height.

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And we have things like the euonymus Emerald Gaiety.

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So they'll stay small,

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and you'll find Carolyn has a theme with her plants, as well.

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The theme for this area here is plants with spikes on them.

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So they're great for a security aspect.

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As you go back from the front of the garden,

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we can get a bit taller, so we have a tree here.

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This is a Crataegus, which had white flowers on it in the spring,

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and is going to be followed by these lovely

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orangey-red fruits, as well.

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Pyracantha is another great plant.

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Birds love it in the winter.

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This variety is Soleil d'Or,

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which will give us nice yellow berries.

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In front of here,

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mahonia. This is Charity.

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This has got yellow flowers in the winter.

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Very highly scented, a lovely plant.

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At the front here, some mass-planting of Rosa rugosa.

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You can see it has pink flowers, just about to come out.

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Large pink flowers, single blooms.

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Very highly scented.

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Followed by these gorgeous hips at the back of them.

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Bright red, almost cherry-sized hips.

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What I think will be nice behind that,

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we have a very nice hole being dug.

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This is a Berberis atropurpurea.

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That will have dark, pinky foliage,

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And in front of that, bright pink flowers.

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I think that'll have a nice colour combination to it.

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-How are you getting on with the hole?

-Eh, good.

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Good!

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The bed which is going

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to surround the lawn,

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which is still to be laid,

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is a nice mixed planting.

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So it's got trees, shrubs and herbaceous.

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A lot of the plants in here are good for wildlife, too.

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Sorbus, or the mountain ash.

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This is Joseph Rock. It has yellow berries.

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Those are less favoured by the birds, so they will last

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a little bit longer.

0:16:190:16:21

Buddleia, here,

0:16:210:16:22

which has finished flowering, but will be brilliant for butterflies.

0:16:220:16:26

But it doesn't matter that that's finished flowering,

0:16:260:16:29

because the perovskia, Blue Spire, is still to come.

0:16:290:16:31

This is important. If you're planting for wildlife,

0:16:310:16:33

you need to have continuity of colour and food.

0:16:330:16:36

It's no good having feast and famine.

0:16:360:16:39

In amongst this bed,

0:16:390:16:41

we've got Verbena bonariensis.

0:16:410:16:43

It's normally much taller than this,

0:16:430:16:45

with purple flowers on the top,

0:16:450:16:47

and butterflies absolutely adore that.

0:16:470:16:49

And this is sprinkled through the bed.

0:16:490:16:51

Then, at the edge, there's Alchemilla mollis,

0:16:510:16:53

which is going to be frothy, and it'll just foam over

0:16:530:16:56

the edge of the patio here.

0:16:560:16:59

Much more formal, at this side.

0:16:590:17:01

This is going to be a hedge.

0:17:010:17:02

It's lavender Hidcote.

0:17:020:17:04

Bees will adore that.

0:17:040:17:06

They're such good pollinators,

0:17:060:17:08

which is going to work really well, because there's lots of fruit, just next door.

0:17:080:17:11

Jean Brown, how are you?

0:17:130:17:15

I'm well, thank you.

0:17:150:17:16

You've been involved with this project from the beginning, almost?

0:17:160:17:19

Yes, I chair East Ayrshire North Communities Federation,

0:17:190:17:22

and the group are one of our members.

0:17:220:17:24

We've been helping them in their aspiration

0:17:240:17:26

to have their community facility restored...

0:17:260:17:28

-Right.

-..With an add-on in the form of a garden.

0:17:280:17:31

Well, here is the garden.

0:17:310:17:34

We've tried to make use of this south-facing wall.

0:17:340:17:37

Lesley talked of pollinating insects - we're make use of it here.

0:17:370:17:40

We've put in espalier trees.

0:17:400:17:42

They'll take up the space along the wall.

0:17:420:17:45

They're not going to be huge and bulky.

0:17:450:17:47

So, lots of trees in a small space. Great for that.

0:17:470:17:50

-Ideally suited to the space available?

-Absolutely right.

0:17:500:17:52

Then, in the corner, you recognise that one, don't you?

0:17:520:17:55

-Victoria.

-Good old Victoria plum.

0:17:550:17:58

-A great plum for the Clyde Valley, wasn't it?

-Absolutely.

0:17:580:18:01

-We're not far from the Clyde Valley.

-It does well in this area.

-Absolutely.

0:18:010:18:04

Along the back, loganberries.

0:18:040:18:06

Along the front, blackcurrants.

0:18:060:18:08

And then, some raspberries.

0:18:080:18:10

That's one of these new-ish varieties - that's Glen Ample.

0:18:100:18:13

So that should do well here.

0:18:130:18:15

A goosegog in the corner...

0:18:150:18:16

-Absolutely great.

-..for jelly.

0:18:160:18:18

Plenty jams and jellies now for the community.

0:18:180:18:21

-No reason not to get on with it.

-Right!

0:18:210:18:24

Margaret, I can see you've done this before.

0:18:240:18:27

You're a bit of a gardener?

0:18:270:18:29

I enjoy my garden, yes, Jim.

0:18:290:18:31

And we are in the productive area, I suppose.

0:18:310:18:33

All these beds will be filled up with fruit and vegetables...

0:18:330:18:36

-That's right.

-..And herbs.

-Yes.

0:18:360:18:38

-Here we've got sage, parsley...

-Parsley, chives.

0:18:380:18:41

And the other troops out here, they've got rosemary and thyme...

0:18:410:18:45

-Some thyme, yeah.

-Strawberries.

-Good for the soup.

0:18:450:18:47

-You are in the same organisation as Jean?

-That's right, yes.

0:18:470:18:51

She's explained the outline of it, but tell me,

0:18:510:18:53

do you actually give money?

0:18:530:18:55

No, we don't give money.

0:18:550:18:57

I'm the project development person,

0:18:570:18:59

so I help develop the projects,

0:18:590:19:01

and to find funders that will give them money for their projects.

0:19:010:19:04

-So you stay with them and see them through the project?

-Yes.

0:19:040:19:07

We're planting into lovely compost.

0:19:070:19:08

-Yes.

-This bag here, is something the local people can have,

0:19:080:19:12

to get recycled compost.

0:19:120:19:13

They buy a bag for two quid.

0:19:130:19:15

They can take it back and fill it as often as they like.

0:19:150:19:17

-We'd better get this job finished.

-OK.

0:19:170:19:19

We'll never get hame the nicht, otherwise.

0:19:190:19:21

SHE LAUGHS

0:19:210:19:23

Now, our Georgie Boy has to wheech off pretty quickly,

0:19:230:19:26

cos he's going down to Hillhead Primary School,

0:19:260:19:29

which is Lynn Harris' old school, by the way,

0:19:290:19:31

and it's still standing.

0:19:310:19:32

They have an absolute cracking little children's garden.

0:19:320:19:36

We're going to meet the principal teacher, Emma Beattie.

0:19:360:19:38

So, Emma, what's all this about?

0:19:440:19:45

This is Hillhead Primary's

0:19:450:19:47

Outdoor Learning Environment.

0:19:470:19:48

It's taken us three years to get to this stage that we're in today.

0:19:480:19:51

A lot of hard work from our children, our staff and our parents

0:19:510:19:55

to create this learning environment for our children.

0:19:550:19:57

But you've got an Eco flag?

0:19:570:19:59

We do, yes.

0:19:590:20:00

Flying proudly, so well done.

0:20:000:20:02

A lot of hard work for that.

0:20:020:20:03

These are the folks that have been involved in the garden, is that right?

0:20:030:20:06

-ALL: Yes.

-All worked in here?

-ALL: Yes.

0:20:060:20:09

What did you do, Derrie? What did you sew?

0:20:090:20:12

-Peas and carrots.

-And Morgan?

0:20:120:20:15

Peas and carrots.

0:20:150:20:16

What was your bed?

0:20:160:20:18

That one over there.

0:20:180:20:20

Everything looking OK? Kudzai,

0:20:200:20:22

any questions for me?

0:20:220:20:24

How would you stop the peas from getting damaged

0:20:240:20:26

when it starts to rain?

0:20:260:20:27

Sometimes it's because they've finished cropping,

0:20:270:20:30

other times, because they're too wet.

0:20:300:20:31

So keep the ground hoed. Sarah?

0:20:310:20:33

Is there any fruit and vegetables

0:20:330:20:35

that survive the winter?

0:20:350:20:36

Oh, yes. Carrots will survive the winter,

0:20:360:20:39

but also turnips

0:20:390:20:41

and cabbage and sprouts and leeks. Do you like them?

0:20:410:20:44

-Yes.

-Good.

0:20:440:20:46

Why do you have big sunflowers and small sunflowers?

0:20:460:20:49

We have them both here, haven't we?

0:20:490:20:52

I think these are just dwarf sunflowers.

0:20:520:20:54

If you remember the packet they were in,

0:20:540:20:57

it will have told you they were dwarfs.

0:20:570:20:59

Charlotte, you've got a question?

0:20:590:21:01

How tall can an apple tree get?

0:21:010:21:03

Because you have an apple tree there,

0:21:030:21:05

and worried you couldn't reach the fruit at the top.

0:21:050:21:08

I think it will just grow up to about

0:21:080:21:10

nine feet, or two metres, or something like that.

0:21:100:21:13

-Do you all like working in the garden?

-ALL: Yes.

0:21:130:21:16

What do you like best?

0:21:160:21:18

-Being outdoors?

-ALL: Yeah.

0:21:180:21:20

-Having your wellies on?

-ALL: Yeah.

0:21:200:21:22

Lots of enthusiasm here.

0:21:220:21:24

Lots of youngsters starting off in gardening here, as well.

0:21:240:21:26

But Jim's somewhere else.

0:21:260:21:29

He's away with a younger group of people.

0:21:290:21:31

More enthusiasm!

0:21:310:21:32

He's away with the Avenue Childcare Services, and he's with...?

0:21:320:21:36

ALL: Pauline Barbour.

0:21:360:21:38

There you are.

0:21:380:21:40

The Avenue Childcare Services is a local voluntary sector organisation,

0:21:450:21:49

based in the Northwest area of Kilmarnock,

0:21:490:21:51

providing quality care to children in East Ayrshire.

0:21:510:21:55

We have two main services.

0:21:550:21:56

There's the daycare of children aged zero to five,

0:21:560:21:59

and a sitter service,

0:21:590:22:01

care of the children aged zero to 16.

0:22:010:22:03

Today, we're in the nursery.

0:22:030:22:04

The nursery provides childcare for children

0:22:040:22:07

aged six weeks to five years.

0:22:070:22:09

Now then, Pauline, you have a lot of tyres lying about here.

0:22:090:22:11

What do you plan to do with them?

0:22:110:22:13

Our plans for the tyres was to make

0:22:130:22:14

flower planters with them for the children.

0:22:140:22:17

And vegetable planters,

0:22:170:22:19

so the children could get involved in planting.

0:22:190:22:21

Seeing the process of planting the seed,

0:22:210:22:24

and seeing how it grows up to the final flower.

0:22:240:22:26

Planting their vegetables.

0:22:260:22:28

Seeing that they turn into the foods that they eat

0:22:280:22:30

during their snack time.

0:22:300:22:32

And actually produce some for them to eat?

0:22:320:22:34

Yes, we're hoping.

0:22:340:22:35

Well, you've made a good start,

0:22:350:22:37

because you have a cracker of a greenhouse there.

0:22:370:22:39

Yes. We've just finished the greenhouse. It's took us a wee while.

0:22:390:22:42

Lots of staff and volunteers helping.

0:22:420:22:44

These are amongst the best sunflowers I've seen this summer.

0:22:440:22:47

I know.

0:22:470:22:49

That's special thanks to Sonia, in the upstairs room.

0:22:490:22:51

She's our resident gardener.

0:22:510:22:53

We're here for a wee while. I want to help you get started.

0:22:530:22:56

We'd better get the sleeves rolled up.

0:22:560:22:57

Aye, that's great. Thanks.

0:22:570:22:59

The ploy here was to use

0:23:050:23:07

a range of small containers for small people,

0:23:070:23:10

so it's easy for them to reach into them, and so on.

0:23:100:23:12

We've used planter bags that are readily available

0:23:120:23:15

off different companies.

0:23:150:23:17

And we've done recycling by using old tyres.

0:23:170:23:19

We've wired them together

0:23:190:23:21

and the wires are all inside,

0:23:210:23:22

so the kids can't get caught with the wire.

0:23:220:23:24

And we've put a bit of landscape fabric in the bottom,

0:23:240:23:26

to prevent the material from going through.

0:23:260:23:29

They are mobile - you can move them about to suit yourself.

0:23:290:23:31

There's plenty space there.

0:23:310:23:33

Now here come the troops,

0:23:360:23:38

armed with a whole range of plants.

0:23:380:23:40

At this time of the year, the planting has got to be limited.

0:23:400:23:43

It's quite late, but we've tried a few herbs,

0:23:430:23:45

so we're going to put in some sage and marjoram,

0:23:450:23:48

and basil.

0:23:480:23:49

'We have a few vegetable plants, and a few vegetable seeds to put in,

0:23:490:23:53

'like broad beans, which will come up, and so on.'

0:23:530:23:55

Is that nice? Look at that pretty face it's got.

0:23:550:23:59

SHE LAUGHS

0:23:590:24:00

Isn't it? Add a bit of colour - some pansies.

0:24:000:24:02

'Just for late colour, and it goes

0:24:020:24:04

'with the old sunflower theme, of course, in this wee garden.

0:24:040:24:07

'I think that'll keep them going,

0:24:070:24:09

'and hopefully it will encourage them to try and do a bit more.'

0:24:090:24:12

Mucky!

0:24:120:24:13

I think you've done a fantastic job here,

0:24:170:24:19

so let's have a big cheer for the gardeners. Yes?

0:24:190:24:22

Yes! Come on! Gie's a cheer! Come on!

0:24:220:24:25

THEY CHEER

0:24:250:24:27

They're not impressed!

0:24:270:24:29

But they have done a great job.

0:24:290:24:31

A new race of gardeners here.

0:24:310:24:32

It's time I was away back to the other garden. See you later.

0:24:320:24:35

THEY APPLAUD AND CHEER

0:25:040:25:06

Meanwhile, back in the garden, the plants are going in.

0:25:080:25:10

This is the area where it's a metre or under, and it looks great, doesn't it?

0:25:100:25:15

And it is. It's now all about the finishing touches.

0:25:150:25:17

So mulch is going down.

0:25:170:25:19

It's a gorgeous colour,

0:25:190:25:20

and it will help suppress the weeds,

0:25:200:25:22

which will make looking after this garden a little bit easier.

0:25:220:25:25

Looking after the trees, we have good stakes in, and tree ties.

0:25:250:25:27

That's really important, because it can get a bit windy here.

0:25:270:25:31

Oh, I think George is getting a bit of a lesson here!

0:25:310:25:34

How's it going, George?

0:25:340:25:35

Wonderful, it's just like icing a cake.

0:25:350:25:37

But it's super stuff.

0:25:370:25:39

It's porous.

0:25:390:25:40

-Water goes right through this!

-And it sets in, what, a few minutes?

0:25:400:25:43

-It's resin-bonded, so... Yes.

-I can't stop.

0:25:430:25:45

-I think it's great.

-Don't get your hands on there.

-Don't stand on it!

0:25:450:25:48

-I won't!

-I really like the colour.

0:25:480:25:50

And the grass really sets off a garden, doesn't it?

0:25:500:25:54

-Doesn't it just?

-We're standing on boards.

0:25:540:25:56

We're on boards here, so we don't stand on that and hurt it.

0:25:560:25:59

It's like when you decorate a room and you finally put the carpet back.

0:25:590:26:02

It just finishes it off.

0:26:020:26:03

It looks fantastic!

0:26:030:26:05

Yeah. This paved area, I think, is absolutely beautiful.

0:26:050:26:08

But a real feature... John and his team there

0:26:080:26:11

have got the arch going in,

0:26:110:26:13

and that came from the old community hall,

0:26:130:26:15

so that's beautiful, isn't it?

0:26:150:26:17

It's very significant. That's what this is all about.

0:26:170:26:19

Rebuilding here.

0:26:190:26:21

And these stones are going to be used for benches,

0:26:210:26:24

which will be a real attractive feature...

0:26:240:26:26

And that came from the old community hall, as well.

0:26:260:26:28

Rosemarys. A bit of scent there.

0:26:280:26:30

Nice sentinels, just at the entrance of that part of the garden.

0:26:300:26:33

And then over here, rose beds.

0:26:330:26:36

Lots of pretty things, and productive.

0:26:360:26:38

Yeah, there's some seeds that have been sewn.

0:26:380:26:41

The children have really enjoyed planting that.

0:26:410:26:44

It is a hive of activity.

0:26:440:26:46

That's the point. There's things here for old and young.

0:26:460:26:48

It's bringing everybody together.

0:26:480:26:50

This is another fine example

0:27:070:27:09

how a community can get together,

0:27:090:27:11

and if they're of a like mind, they can work wonders.

0:27:110:27:13

Because when we arrived a couple of days ago, apart from a bit of land-forming,

0:27:130:27:16

there was nothing here - it was bare.

0:27:160:27:18

Just look what can be done

0:27:180:27:19

with a great pile of volunteers.

0:27:190:27:22

This is a very special project for all sorts of reasons,

0:27:220:27:25

but also because it's slightly topsy-turvy.

0:27:250:27:27

We've got a beautiful, useful garden created now.

0:27:270:27:31

It's just waiting for that all-important community centre.

0:27:310:27:34

That'll be great when it comes, too.

0:27:340:27:35

Obviously, our play area for the children will go at the front of the garden.

0:27:350:27:39

We've mocked that up to let them see what it will look like.

0:27:390:27:42

But I think you'll enjoy that when it's in, won't you?

0:27:420:27:44

Yep!

0:27:440:27:46

THEY LAUGH

0:27:460:27:47

I think so.

0:27:470:27:48

While the children are playing, the adults can have a well-earned rest

0:27:480:27:51

on this picnic table, which is wonderful.

0:27:510:27:53

And, when they're working on the productive area here,

0:27:530:27:56

they'll get their feet wonderfully dry,

0:27:560:27:58

because that SUDS material just lets all the water flow away.

0:27:580:28:01

So it's really impressive stuff.

0:28:010:28:02

Well, apart from the people

0:28:020:28:04

that brought it together, there's a whole host of others

0:28:040:28:07

who have given materials in kind and so on

0:28:070:28:09

to bring this to fruition.

0:28:090:28:11

And it's been a great delight, being back in my home town.

0:28:110:28:14

And speaking my own native language.

0:28:140:28:17

THEY LAUGH

0:28:170:28:19

Next week, we're back in the garden but until then, from all of us here

0:28:190:28:22

at the new Central Gardens in Knockinlaw...!

0:28:220:28:24

ALL: Bye!

0:28:240:28:27

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