0:00:02 > 0:00:05Our community garden this week is in the West of Scotland,
0:00:05 > 0:00:09renowned for its mild climate and its summer rainfall.
0:00:09 > 0:00:12But it's these two things that have sustained
0:00:12 > 0:00:16these magnificent redwoods for the last 150 years.
0:00:16 > 0:00:19I'm in the Benmore Botanic Garden in the Kyle Peninsula,
0:00:19 > 0:00:22one of the great gardens of Argyll.
0:00:22 > 0:00:26Because of the climate, it's full of the most wonderful exotic species.
0:00:26 > 0:00:30It is absolutely stunning, even on a wet day, I can assure you.
0:00:30 > 0:00:33Now, we go o'er the hill to Ardentinny.
0:00:45 > 0:00:49# O'er the hill to Ardentinny
0:00:49 > 0:00:52# Just to see ma bonnie Jeannie... #
0:00:52 > 0:00:56Sir Harry Lauder famously sang O'er The Hills To Ardentinny,
0:00:56 > 0:00:59and that's certainly one way to get to Ardentinny.
0:00:59 > 0:01:02This is the other way, on the regular ferry from Gourock
0:01:02 > 0:01:07over to the capital of the Kyle Peninsula, Dunoon.
0:01:07 > 0:01:09We're doing what many Glaswegians have done over the years,
0:01:09 > 0:01:11we're going "doon the water".
0:01:11 > 0:01:15# O'er the hill to Ardentinny
0:01:15 > 0:01:18# Just to see ma bonnie Jeannie... #
0:01:18 > 0:01:22Just a few miles around the coast of Argyll from Dunoon,
0:01:22 > 0:01:25you come to the quiet coastal village of Ardentinny,
0:01:25 > 0:01:28which is home to about 200 folk.
0:01:28 > 0:01:31And this stunning scenery of land and loch
0:01:31 > 0:01:35make this whole area a natural tourist destination.
0:01:37 > 0:01:41'The village is framed by the Argyll Forest that provided
0:01:41 > 0:01:44'work for locals for many years, almost a century.
0:01:44 > 0:01:49'In 1926, this whole area was sold to the Forestry Commission
0:01:49 > 0:01:53and became Britain's first forest park.'
0:01:53 > 0:01:58'Glenfinart House was the big estate house for the area.
0:01:58 > 0:02:01'But sadly all that's left is the tower over there
0:02:01 > 0:02:04'due to a tragic fire in 1968.
0:02:04 > 0:02:08'And since then, well, the old estate walled garden was basically
0:02:08 > 0:02:11'forgotten about and really neglected.
0:02:11 > 0:02:14However, over the last few years,
0:02:14 > 0:02:18the Ardentinny community has set up a programme of restoration.
0:02:18 > 0:02:22For example, this lovely bridge which goes over the River Finart.
0:02:22 > 0:02:24And if you follow the water down that way,
0:02:24 > 0:02:27you'll come to a much bigger project, the garden.
0:02:32 > 0:02:35I'm in the woodland just outside the walled garden,
0:02:35 > 0:02:39and I thought you'd be fascinated to see this. This is a curved wall.
0:02:39 > 0:02:42This is the sort of thing which would have been a unique feature
0:02:42 > 0:02:44when this was first built in the 1800s.
0:02:44 > 0:02:48They'd possibly have grown roses up this when it was originally built.
0:02:48 > 0:02:51Behind those curved walls is an amazing garden
0:02:51 > 0:02:53or about-to-be amazing garden.
0:02:55 > 0:02:58The Glen Finart walled garden is roughly three and a half acres,
0:02:58 > 0:03:00but because it's been behind closed doors for decades,
0:03:00 > 0:03:03not many people were even aware it was there at all.
0:03:03 > 0:03:06Well, we're here to see that become a secret no more.
0:03:19 > 0:03:23- OK, Bill, what's your role in the garden?- I am the trust convenor.
0:03:23 > 0:03:26- And Meryl, what's your role? - I'm the secretary.
0:03:26 > 0:03:28- Right, we've got the right two people.- We have.
0:03:28 > 0:03:32So, Meryl, a little bit about the recent history of the garden.
0:03:32 > 0:03:35The Forestry Commission owned this garden,
0:03:35 > 0:03:37put it up for sale.
0:03:37 > 0:03:42The community council decided to set up a working party,
0:03:42 > 0:03:46see whether the community could buy the garden
0:03:46 > 0:03:48and regenerate the village,
0:03:48 > 0:03:54and the outcome was we bought the garden a year last March.
0:03:54 > 0:03:59And Bill, is it going to be a sort of unifying thing for the village?
0:03:59 > 0:04:03We hope so. We've lost so many of our facilities recently,
0:04:03 > 0:04:05such as the pub and the school,
0:04:05 > 0:04:09that we hope this will be the heart of the village.
0:04:09 > 0:04:13- I think we could guarantee it will be.- Thank you.- Thank you.
0:04:21 > 0:04:24Lynn Harris is the designer for this garden.
0:04:24 > 0:04:25So, Lynn, how do you go about
0:04:25 > 0:04:27creating a new heart for a community?
0:04:27 > 0:04:31Well, one of the first things that the community mentioned to me
0:04:31 > 0:04:35that they wanted was to reinstate the original paths in the garden.
0:04:35 > 0:04:39So that actually very neatly divided the area up
0:04:39 > 0:04:42into four main sections, giving you
0:04:42 > 0:04:45a productive area, lawn area, the orchard
0:04:45 > 0:04:46- and a sensory garden.- All right.
0:04:46 > 0:04:48And of course, it's very sheltered
0:04:48 > 0:04:50cos there's a huge wall round the whole garden.
0:04:50 > 0:04:52It's quite an unusual wall.
0:04:52 > 0:04:54We've got the nice curve here and it's pretty high,
0:04:54 > 0:04:58so it means that we can actually grow quite a lot of things
0:04:58 > 0:05:01in the garden that even just outside the walls you couldn't.
0:05:01 > 0:05:02You've not got the salt spray,
0:05:02 > 0:05:04but you're nice and mild cos you're on the coast.
0:05:04 > 0:05:07- We're only 50 metres from the beach.- It's perfect, isn't it?
0:05:07 > 0:05:10And what about the main elements within the garden, then?
0:05:10 > 0:05:13One of the main things the community wanted was a space where people
0:05:13 > 0:05:17could come and relax and sit in the garden and that's the sensory garden.
0:05:17 > 0:05:21We've based it on a Mandala shape, which is a circle with four
0:05:21 > 0:05:25sort of arms or legs, which I've interpreted as paths.
0:05:25 > 0:05:29And each of the four planting areas here I've dedicated to
0:05:29 > 0:05:34a different sense, so we've got sight, smell, touch and sound.
0:05:34 > 0:05:36- Well, it sounds perfect.- It is!
0:05:38 > 0:05:40'Janice and John Hampson garden on a fierce slope
0:05:40 > 0:05:43'in the neighbouring village of Blairmore.
0:05:43 > 0:05:46'This third of an acre garden has a collection of plants
0:05:46 > 0:05:50'that are uniquely suited to these west coast conditions.'
0:05:50 > 0:05:54- This is just a superabundance of growth in here, isn't it.- Mm-hm.
0:05:54 > 0:05:57Well, this is quite an interesting plant,
0:05:57 > 0:06:01- this is the first year that it's flowered.- Isn't that fascinating?
0:06:01 > 0:06:05- Mm-hm.- Superb thing.- And it seems to attract wasps rather than bees.
0:06:05 > 0:06:08- Oh, really?- I've noticed that, yeah.
0:06:08 > 0:06:11Now that's yellow bottlebrush, is it, there? Salignus?
0:06:11 > 0:06:14- Salignus, that's right. - That is, what, Australian?- Mm-hm.
0:06:14 > 0:06:16- And this is...- Well, this is...
0:06:16 > 0:06:19These are fascinating little plants. Look at them.
0:06:19 > 0:06:21The form inside the flower like that, yeah.
0:06:21 > 0:06:24Eucryphia lucida ballerina.
0:06:24 > 0:06:28That's superb, yeah. Like a little tutu!
0:06:28 > 0:06:30And, aw, for goodness sake, where did you get that?
0:06:30 > 0:06:34- You're making me stagger here. - I painted them all last night.
0:06:34 > 0:06:37- Did you? You've polished them. Look at those.- Fantastic.
0:06:37 > 0:06:40They're fantastic. Wonderful waxy flowers on them.
0:06:40 > 0:06:44Desfontainia spinosa, what else would it be? Typical west coast, isn't it?
0:06:44 > 0:06:47And look at this.
0:06:47 > 0:06:49Primula vialii, that's the best it's ever grown.
0:06:49 > 0:06:52I don't have much fun with this on the east coast,
0:06:52 > 0:06:53I can't keep it for very long.
0:06:53 > 0:06:55Very soft leaves, that makes me feel
0:06:55 > 0:06:57that it won't take a lot of water.
0:06:57 > 0:07:00- Your other interest is wildlife, isn't it?- Yeah, that's right.
0:07:00 > 0:07:04- Right, can we go round and have a wee look at the pond?- Yep, will do.
0:07:12 > 0:07:14It's a fantastic thing to do in a garden, isn't it?
0:07:14 > 0:07:17- A wee stretch of water. - Not much of this I've planted.
0:07:17 > 0:07:20This has all just come itself.
0:07:20 > 0:07:22And it gives plenty cover for the, you know,
0:07:22 > 0:07:25once the tadpoles are coming out as frogs,
0:07:25 > 0:07:29they've got plenty cover and they've got a good chance of survival.
0:07:29 > 0:07:33We also have newts that breed in the pond as well.
0:07:33 > 0:07:36Er, frogs that stay in all year, actually.
0:07:36 > 0:07:40- You can hear them in the summer doing their croaking.- Croaky bit.
0:07:40 > 0:07:42Toads, and we also have slowworms,
0:07:42 > 0:07:47- but they tend to stay over near the wall.- Are they quite common here?
0:07:47 > 0:07:51- Yeah, they seem to be.- That must be another west coast thing.- Yeah, yeah.
0:07:51 > 0:07:54But you can certainly grow dochans as well.
0:07:54 > 0:07:57- That's right, well, we call these the Blairmore Bananas.- Oh!
0:07:57 > 0:07:59HE LAUGHS
0:07:59 > 0:08:01- They started life there.- Aye.
0:08:01 > 0:08:06- And they've decided that they prefer it at the water.- I'm not surprised.
0:08:06 > 0:08:10- Does it have another name? - Rumex hydrolapathum.
0:08:10 > 0:08:12Bought a very expensive plant and I thought,
0:08:12 > 0:08:15- "Oh, that's a real, you know..." - Real find.- "..find,"
0:08:15 > 0:08:18and I got home and found it's a native wild plant.
0:08:18 > 0:08:21HE LAUGHS We can all get duped, can't we?
0:08:25 > 0:08:27Meanwhile, back in the garden,
0:08:27 > 0:08:30I'm joined by two gentlemen that have been involved with this project
0:08:30 > 0:08:34for over three and a half years, right from the beginning.
0:08:34 > 0:08:35We've got Dennis and Jimmy.
0:08:35 > 0:08:38Now Jimmy, you're called Jimmy the Digger, why's that?
0:08:38 > 0:08:41It's basically because I learned to use a digger whilst moving
0:08:41 > 0:08:43all this earth over to make the tump.
0:08:43 > 0:08:46OK, you call it a tump. What does that actually mean?
0:08:46 > 0:08:49I think basically it means a circle of earth.
0:08:49 > 0:08:52Almost like half a doughnut, with entrances,
0:08:52 > 0:08:55and just a circle covered with soil and weed.
0:08:55 > 0:08:59- OK, so a fancy name for a grass mound maybe.- Yes.
0:08:59 > 0:09:03And lots of weed came in and you've covered that over.
0:09:03 > 0:09:06Covered it with a membrane round about to kill the weed,
0:09:06 > 0:09:09and then put topsoil on the top of that, which you see now.
0:09:09 > 0:09:10And then the grass.
0:09:10 > 0:09:14Dennis, you literally barrelled in a lot of that earth, didn't you?
0:09:14 > 0:09:16Me and a lot of other people, yep.
0:09:16 > 0:09:19We've had a growing army of volunteers,
0:09:19 > 0:09:22otherwise we'd never have reached this kind of stage.
0:09:22 > 0:09:24I think it's absolutely beautiful.
0:09:24 > 0:09:27And the tump itself, it gives that feel of sort of seclusion,
0:09:27 > 0:09:29it's a great idea.
0:09:29 > 0:09:31Yes, it cuts off this quarter of the garden,
0:09:31 > 0:09:34which is a very special part of the garden.
0:09:34 > 0:09:36- Very special.- Very.
0:09:36 > 0:09:39Well, as Lynn said earlier, this is a sensory garden,
0:09:39 > 0:09:42and each of the parts of the garden will be planted
0:09:42 > 0:09:44to represent four of the senses.
0:09:44 > 0:09:46And also, there's seating in each of the areas.
0:09:46 > 0:09:48Behind me, you can see a lovely stone bench
0:09:48 > 0:09:50being very beautifully demonstrated
0:09:50 > 0:09:53by the ladies who've made a lovely lunch
0:09:53 > 0:09:57and lots of home baking, and we hope you'll do it again tomorrow!
0:09:57 > 0:09:59And this part of the garden is sound,
0:09:59 > 0:10:03so we've got things like bamboo which is going to rustle in the wind,
0:10:03 > 0:10:06grasses down here again which will make a lovely sound
0:10:06 > 0:10:09when the wind goes through them, and Verbena bonariensis,
0:10:09 > 0:10:12tall with these lovely purple flowers. So that's sound. Carole?
0:10:12 > 0:10:14Yeah, that's sound, and I love that Verbena.
0:10:14 > 0:10:19But I've got the touchy plants, and this is a wonderful plant to touch.
0:10:19 > 0:10:22It is Lamb's Lug. It's really soft.
0:10:22 > 0:10:25We've got the willows which are soft to touch.
0:10:25 > 0:10:29Then we go onto some spiky plants. Things like this, the Echinops.
0:10:29 > 0:10:34We've got the Olearia, and then smooth leaves with Elephant's Ears.
0:10:34 > 0:10:37And then we must speak about the seat here because in the touch area
0:10:37 > 0:10:41we've got a wooden seat which is lovely to touch.
0:10:41 > 0:10:44And Robert is making that and making a really good job of it.
0:10:46 > 0:10:49And over here we've got smell.
0:10:49 > 0:10:52Now the seat in this one, look at that, it's a turf sofa.
0:10:52 > 0:10:54The youth group are finishing that off.
0:10:54 > 0:10:57I guess, are they going to trim it with scissors while they sit on it?
0:10:57 > 0:10:59I don't know, I wouldn't like the job, though.
0:10:59 > 0:11:03Planting-wise, we've got things like Philadelphus, the mock orange.
0:11:03 > 0:11:08Lilacs, lavenders, of course. For the winter, Viburnum.
0:11:08 > 0:11:12Couldn't have a smelly area without rosemary, which is gorgeous,
0:11:12 > 0:11:15and lots of lovely herbs down here as well, including sage.
0:11:15 > 0:11:18- And you've got sight. - Yep, a real splash of colour.
0:11:18 > 0:11:21That's so important, isn't it? So, Colquhounias.
0:11:21 > 0:11:24They flower at this time of year, so a bit of late interest.
0:11:24 > 0:11:28- Do you like this? - This is really stunning.
0:11:28 > 0:11:31OK, Scottish-bred, it's a new variety of Photinia called Louise.
0:11:31 > 0:11:34- I think that is beautiful. - It's really nice.
0:11:34 > 0:11:36And there's lots of variegated plants in here,
0:11:36 > 0:11:38and this lovely dark Cotinus.
0:11:38 > 0:11:42Yes, Elaeagnus for winter interest, and then another seat,
0:11:42 > 0:11:46and I can't believe this one. Dare I say it? So far, so good?
0:11:46 > 0:11:49Oh, you're funny, very funny.
0:11:49 > 0:11:51Well, this seat was actually created
0:11:51 > 0:11:54by a local artist and sculptor, Andy McClintock.
0:11:54 > 0:11:57And George has been to have a look at his garden.
0:12:05 > 0:12:09'Andy's garden in Kilmun is one of the most extraordinary gardens
0:12:09 > 0:12:11'I've ever had the pleasure of visiting.
0:12:11 > 0:12:14'This garden makes me smile, it makes me laugh,
0:12:14 > 0:12:16'but it's also a thoughtful garden.'
0:12:21 > 0:12:25This is just fabulous, so where did your inspiration come from for it?
0:12:25 > 0:12:29Well, it starts with my mother's cottage garden style.
0:12:29 > 0:12:33A mixture of English cottage garden and Scottish croft garden.
0:12:33 > 0:12:38Then we have my deceased friend Dr Jim Holden who was a physicist
0:12:38 > 0:12:40but also became a potter.
0:12:40 > 0:12:43Lived in an architect-designed house outside East Kilbride
0:12:43 > 0:12:47surrounded by wild garden and full of sculpture.
0:12:47 > 0:12:50And that links through to Ian Hamilton Finlay,
0:12:50 > 0:12:54with his wonderful Little Sparta garden in Lanarkshire.
0:12:54 > 0:12:57So, the artist's eye, the palette of plants
0:12:57 > 0:13:01and this great mixture of sculpture.
0:13:01 > 0:13:04It's quite difficult to bring that together, surely?
0:13:04 > 0:13:06Well, in the winter you've got to watch
0:13:06 > 0:13:09because it can be a bit bare, so I've got a lot of foliage
0:13:09 > 0:13:13in the winter because otherwise the sculpture will not work.
0:13:28 > 0:13:31Now, you've stopped us here, Andy. Is this your favourite bit?
0:13:31 > 0:13:35Yeah, it's one of my favourites cos there's quite a lot going on here.
0:13:35 > 0:13:38I mean, what's the...like, arrowheads coming up through the vegetation?
0:13:38 > 0:13:40Funnily enough, William Williamson,
0:13:40 > 0:13:44who is involved in the garden at Ardentinny,
0:13:44 > 0:13:48is a sculptor in ceramics, and he did the small pieces down here.
0:13:48 > 0:13:50- Oh, yes?- He gives me things he throws out.
0:13:50 > 0:13:53He says, "Do something with them different."
0:13:53 > 0:13:55So I said one day, "Well, let's make them big.
0:13:55 > 0:14:00"I work in concrete, let's make them big." So I made his figures big.
0:14:00 > 0:14:04So is it always concrete that you work in, cos these are...?
0:14:04 > 0:14:06These are wire mesh plastered with cement.
0:14:06 > 0:14:11But this is plumbing, coils of plumbing copper wrapped in cloth
0:14:11 > 0:14:14and then cement, so it's concrete as well.
0:14:14 > 0:14:19It also moves in the wind, and bits of glass and whatever, you know.
0:14:19 > 0:14:21You must be a danger when you go to the dump?
0:14:21 > 0:14:24Oh, yeah, I'm always sneaking out with stuff.
0:14:24 > 0:14:26But you've also got the traditionals, haven't you?
0:14:26 > 0:14:31Local chainsaw artist Andy McLachlan up the road, he's a natural,
0:14:31 > 0:14:35- and I commission a lot of work. I just love what he does.- Right, OK.
0:14:35 > 0:14:36So, more to see.
0:14:48 > 0:14:51Well, what an amazing palette of plants you've got here,
0:14:51 > 0:14:54and in particular I think the roses are fantastic this year, aren't they?
0:14:54 > 0:14:57Yeah, I love roses but not in serried ranks.
0:14:57 > 0:15:00They need to be mixed up with other things.
0:15:00 > 0:15:03Again, and I love ramblers, cos they take over.
0:15:03 > 0:15:07- Now you seem to like thugs. - Oh, yeah, of course.
0:15:07 > 0:15:08I love thugs, I love invasive.
0:15:08 > 0:15:11If you've got invasive plants, folks, send them to me.
0:15:11 > 0:15:13I let them grow into each other,
0:15:13 > 0:15:16and they crunch out anything you don't want.
0:15:16 > 0:15:19I've not really, until now, noticed any weeds,
0:15:19 > 0:15:21but now that you mention that, you start to notice them.
0:15:21 > 0:15:24But they're all hidden, the weeds. I mean, there we are, look.
0:15:24 > 0:15:26There's a Polygonum and there's some bind weed,
0:15:26 > 0:15:29and then we've got cow parsley up there. But they all seem to fit.
0:15:29 > 0:15:32Oh, yeah, I mean, there's no such thing as weeds.
0:15:32 > 0:15:35Weeds are just something where you don't want it, you know.
0:15:35 > 0:15:37I love every sort of flower, you know.
0:15:37 > 0:15:39But this pulling the heads off is...?
0:15:39 > 0:15:44Yeah, this is my control, so, it's not got any root, just pull it out.
0:15:44 > 0:15:47But it flowers, long flowering, it's a wonderful thing.
0:15:47 > 0:15:50- And it controls...- That's what you want, isn't it?- Ground cover.
0:15:50 > 0:15:53- That's what you want, long flowering. - But I don't have to grub down,
0:15:53 > 0:15:54I just walk about like this.
0:15:54 > 0:15:56Gardening while walking about.
0:15:56 > 0:16:00That's the idea. Look at this, I've just noticed it.
0:16:00 > 0:16:04A pair of secateurs and a spade. Now how did that happen? It's a heron.
0:16:04 > 0:16:06Yeah, it's local artist Lucy Clough.
0:16:06 > 0:16:09In her late 60s she took up welding with her daughter,
0:16:09 > 0:16:13and they'd just collect things like shovels and secateurs
0:16:13 > 0:16:17- and what more natural thing? - Absolutely.
0:16:17 > 0:16:20Now, that's next to water, obviously, a heron.
0:16:20 > 0:16:23But you've also got fish and you've got flowers round here.
0:16:23 > 0:16:25Are you expecting rain or something?
0:16:25 > 0:16:28Well, Claire, who's doing the children's garden at Glen Finart,
0:16:28 > 0:16:32wanted fish and flowers, so I've done fish and flowers for her.
0:16:32 > 0:16:35So they'll be going to Glen Finart to be installed.
0:16:35 > 0:16:37- We'll see them there.- Yeah.
0:16:43 > 0:16:45Meanwhile, back in the garden,
0:16:45 > 0:16:47we're dealing with another weed problem
0:16:47 > 0:16:49in a more conventional fashion.
0:16:49 > 0:16:52Now, ladies, before we start, Anna, Linda and Lynn, I've got it right.
0:16:52 > 0:16:56- And here's the problem here in the veg plot.- Yeah, the horsetail.
0:16:56 > 0:16:59And you've been working at it, doing really well.
0:16:59 > 0:17:01But it's a weed that's very difficult.
0:17:01 > 0:17:04- It just comes back and back. - The thing is,
0:17:04 > 0:17:06this one has obviously not had any kind of treatment at all,
0:17:06 > 0:17:10but here we go, I can't believe that it's free of it,
0:17:10 > 0:17:14- but has that been recently weeded. - Yes, just the last few days.
0:17:14 > 0:17:16Well, I think you've cracked the problem
0:17:16 > 0:17:19because you're doing a sort of strip cropping idea.
0:17:19 > 0:17:23Between the beds, you've got this landscape fabric.
0:17:23 > 0:17:26Now, I don't know whether this was done on purpose,
0:17:26 > 0:17:28but it suits me absolutely ideal,
0:17:28 > 0:17:30because there used to be one down there.
0:17:30 > 0:17:33- Can you see any horsetail? - Horsetail.- Plenty.
0:17:33 > 0:17:36- Just when it looks as if it's dying off.- Wee bits here and there.
0:17:36 > 0:17:39- The point is, you don't want to use chemical.- No.- No, definitely not.
0:17:39 > 0:17:40So you've got to starve it.
0:17:40 > 0:17:44Starve it out, and if you starve it of light, it disnae come up.
0:17:44 > 0:17:46It doesn't mean to say it won't come back.
0:17:46 > 0:17:48But it reduces the area that you have to deal with.
0:17:48 > 0:17:49You're into strips.
0:17:49 > 0:17:53- So, strip cropping, what are you going to do next?- Next year...
0:17:53 > 0:17:57- Plant there.- That's dug.- Polythene this.- You've cracked it.- Yeah.
0:17:57 > 0:18:01- Hopefully.- And keep at it, because you can't leave it.
0:18:01 > 0:18:04- Turn your back on it and it'll be back.- It's been a nightmare.
0:18:04 > 0:18:07Wonderful, now, Anna, your dad had an allotment here somewhere?
0:18:07 > 0:18:08Just about right here,
0:18:08 > 0:18:11just where we're standing was my father's allotment.
0:18:11 > 0:18:14- All the forestry workers had a piece of land...- Yes.
0:18:14 > 0:18:18..free to grow produce to feed their families, and my father grew a lot.
0:18:18 > 0:18:23- Also tobacco.- Oh, really? Yes.- Dried it over the pulley in the kitchen.
0:18:23 > 0:18:26- Smoked it and said it kept away the midgies.- Well, exactly!
0:18:26 > 0:18:28Absolutely, but where did you stay?
0:18:28 > 0:18:32We stayed in the camp houses, before the forestry broke it up the way
0:18:32 > 0:18:35it worked, and then we all moved over to where the Swedish houses are.
0:18:35 > 0:18:39Good cue that is, because we're actually now going to have a look
0:18:39 > 0:18:41at some of the gardens in the so-called Swedish houses.
0:18:41 > 0:18:43You know, I'm always happy
0:18:43 > 0:18:46to have a look at one or two of the local gardens.
0:18:46 > 0:18:50And in fact, this time, I'm going to take a bit of a sneaky look.
0:18:50 > 0:18:54But to be fair, the owners do know that I'm going to have a look round.
0:19:03 > 0:19:07Number Five is clearly an artist's garden.
0:19:07 > 0:19:10Behind me here, the window, it looks like a picture.
0:19:10 > 0:19:13It's framed by the clematis.
0:19:13 > 0:19:15And there's clearly a colour theme going on
0:19:15 > 0:19:18with the hard landscaping and the plants.
0:19:18 > 0:19:21We've got the yellow, the white and the blue.
0:19:21 > 0:19:22I mean, that Hosta,
0:19:22 > 0:19:26that Golden Hosta looks absolutely gorgeous with the raindrops on it.
0:19:26 > 0:19:31And then I love these pots, the dark, black pots.
0:19:31 > 0:19:34And you've got that beautiful Nicotiana.
0:19:34 > 0:19:37The white petunias are doing quite well in the weather conditions.
0:19:37 > 0:19:39And then the way plants have naturalised
0:19:39 > 0:19:41around the bottom of the pots.
0:19:41 > 0:19:45And then the blue, well, that's picked out by the geranium,
0:19:45 > 0:19:49and that flowers for months, it's a real value for money plant.
0:19:49 > 0:19:52This garden is really manicured, but isn't this clever?
0:19:52 > 0:19:55Because here we have a wildflower meadow,
0:19:55 > 0:19:58and it really blends in with the cut lawn.
0:19:58 > 0:20:00And I like the idea that there's the house,
0:20:00 > 0:20:03you can view the garden from the house, isn't that clever too?
0:20:03 > 0:20:07Cos I think that wheel rim looks like a porthole,
0:20:07 > 0:20:10but you can also view the garden from the road.
0:20:10 > 0:20:14And then, further down there you can see that is the shoreline,
0:20:14 > 0:20:19so the back garden won't be quite as sheltered as the front here.
0:20:26 > 0:20:29And right next door we have another stunning garden,
0:20:29 > 0:20:31but it's completely different.
0:20:35 > 0:20:39Now, one of the main features in this front garden is the pond.
0:20:39 > 0:20:44And I think it's so peaceful because there's so many shades of green.
0:20:44 > 0:20:48And the water itself is surrounded by bog-loving plants,
0:20:48 > 0:20:51and in particular you've got the huge Gunnera there -
0:20:51 > 0:20:53Gunnera manicata.
0:20:53 > 0:20:56And then you've the other variety of Gunnera.
0:20:56 > 0:20:59This is a tiny one, it's a good ground cover plant,
0:20:59 > 0:21:01and that is Gunnera magellanica.
0:21:01 > 0:21:03Now have a look at some of the pots.
0:21:07 > 0:21:11Yes, I've actually found some giant clam shells here,
0:21:11 > 0:21:13I think they are wonderful.
0:21:13 > 0:21:16And then we've got a real range here of succulents,
0:21:16 > 0:21:21some that we think are really hardy, like the Saxifrages there
0:21:21 > 0:21:23and the houseleeks.
0:21:23 > 0:21:27But this one is Aeonium, I can't imagine us
0:21:27 > 0:21:29actually growing this one outside at Beechgrove,
0:21:29 > 0:21:33but it's beautiful with the purple and the green.
0:21:33 > 0:21:34And then you know at the moment
0:21:34 > 0:21:38we're celebrating our 35th anniversary at Beechgrove
0:21:38 > 0:21:41and the colours for that are coral and jade,
0:21:41 > 0:21:46so this Echeveria will be wonderful at Beechgrove.
0:21:46 > 0:21:49And then I spoke a little bit about the shelter here,
0:21:49 > 0:21:53there's a pot behind me and that's got a beefsteak plant,
0:21:53 > 0:21:56or Iresine, now, we grow that as a houseplant.
0:21:56 > 0:22:00And then behind that there is a wonderful purple Acer,
0:22:00 > 0:22:03and the leaves are so perfect.
0:22:03 > 0:22:06And then, well, these two gardens that I've had a look at,
0:22:06 > 0:22:09they're very ornamental, but I've noticed, just up the road,
0:22:09 > 0:22:13there's a couple there that are really productive.
0:22:13 > 0:22:15Again, they're using the front, because of the shelter,
0:22:15 > 0:22:19and I think there's going to be a wonderful crop of tatties.
0:22:19 > 0:22:21Well, George, forestry houses,
0:22:21 > 0:22:23and you've got a forestry connection with this lot here.
0:22:23 > 0:22:26Now, this is interesting, Jim, because I think this was
0:22:26 > 0:22:29a row of beech seedlings that were put in here
0:22:29 > 0:22:30and then the garden was shut.
0:22:30 > 0:22:33They were shucked in for a job somewhere and never used.
0:22:33 > 0:22:36I was speaking to somebody yesterday who said,
0:22:36 > 0:22:38"When they came in, they were like this one at the end here."
0:22:38 > 0:22:40- Aye.- This copper one. He felled the other ones,
0:22:40 > 0:22:42but didn't have the heart to fell that.
0:22:42 > 0:22:45I'm glad because strategically that's actually quite nice there.
0:22:45 > 0:22:48- Fabulous tree.- It's left a problem, what are we going to do with that?
0:22:48 > 0:22:51- We could grind them down, but it'll cost us money.- Yes.
0:22:51 > 0:22:53We could take us some out, it'll cost us money.
0:22:53 > 0:22:55I think we just maybe weave a path in and out.
0:22:55 > 0:22:58- I would be thinking maybe of a hedge to disguise it.- Oh, OK.
0:22:58 > 0:23:02- That's another possibility.- Or... a trellis for some fruit trees.
0:23:02 > 0:23:05Now that would work because we've got the orchard over here.
0:23:05 > 0:23:07- That's what they call a good link. - That is a good link.
0:23:07 > 0:23:11Absolutely. And a nice little bit of orchard here.
0:23:11 > 0:23:14You've been busy, what's all this palaver?
0:23:14 > 0:23:15Well, I'll tell you what.
0:23:15 > 0:23:17I was a wee bit anxious about all this, Jim,
0:23:17 > 0:23:21there's an awful lot of weed round the top of these.
0:23:21 > 0:23:26- So what I will do is I will take all the weeds out like that.- Good, good.
0:23:26 > 0:23:29- And I found some magic stuff to go over the top.- Oh, right.
0:23:29 > 0:23:32- Here we are. They have bonfires in here.- So what's the story...?
0:23:32 > 0:23:33Oh, this is ash.
0:23:33 > 0:23:35- Look at that. Is that not good?- Yes.
0:23:35 > 0:23:37And we'll just put that on top.
0:23:37 > 0:23:41Because there's potash on this, which of course fruit trees love.
0:23:41 > 0:23:43And it's been burnt, so there will be nae weeds.
0:23:43 > 0:23:45There's no weed seeds in that at all, so that's it.
0:23:45 > 0:23:49- Slightly more picturesque than landscape fabric.- Absolutely.
0:23:49 > 0:23:52- Now, what about here? - Bird feeders.
0:23:52 > 0:23:54We've got some posts about the area here.
0:23:54 > 0:23:57Hang the bird feeders on them, the birds will go there,
0:23:57 > 0:23:59they'll go into the trees to have a wee look as well
0:23:59 > 0:24:02and pick the caterpillars off, and that's the game sorted.
0:24:02 > 0:24:04That's the theory.
0:24:08 > 0:24:10So, Clare, this area is dedicated to the kids.
0:24:10 > 0:24:12Tell me about the elements in it.
0:24:12 > 0:24:14We have a hide for watching the birds.
0:24:14 > 0:24:17They're just turfing the roof, that's going to be great.
0:24:17 > 0:24:20- Yeah. Can watch out into the bird station.- Yeah.
0:24:20 > 0:24:24And then we've got a bug mansion which the kids are filling up now,
0:24:24 > 0:24:26so we can attract lots of beasties.
0:24:26 > 0:24:30- Have you got any bugs or beasties yet?- Yeah, we've got four.
0:24:30 > 0:24:33Four already, fantastic!
0:24:34 > 0:24:37- They work really well those as well, don't they?- They do.
0:24:37 > 0:24:43Here we've got a circular, story-telling classroom area
0:24:43 > 0:24:45for people to...
0:24:45 > 0:24:48The teacher can come and have a lesson out here.
0:24:48 > 0:24:51- We've got the wishing tree as well. - I know, I saw some lovely wishes.
0:24:51 > 0:24:55"I wish I could sing. I wish I was a bird. I wish I could fly.
0:24:55 > 0:24:59"I wish I could see the Easter Bunny" is my favourite.
0:24:59 > 0:25:00Oh, it's super.
0:25:00 > 0:25:03- And this is the more productive bit, isn't it?- Yes.
0:25:03 > 0:25:06This is going to be the children's vegetable area
0:25:06 > 0:25:10that we're going to be growing as much vegetables and fruit.
0:25:10 > 0:25:13You're recycled a lot of elements in here. The tyres are great.
0:25:13 > 0:25:16The tyres are all recycled and the bicycle wheels are.
0:25:16 > 0:25:18I think this is one of my favourite elements in the garden.
0:25:18 > 0:25:21You've recycled the wheels,
0:25:21 > 0:25:24but you can plant beans or peas underneath here.
0:25:24 > 0:25:27Yes. It's going to be used as a trellis going up.
0:25:44 > 0:25:46Carolyn, don't you think this sensory area
0:25:46 > 0:25:47- has really come on now? - It's great.
0:25:47 > 0:25:50And I love the way you walk through the trees to come into it.
0:25:50 > 0:25:52And then the tump, it's been covered in the turf,
0:25:52 > 0:25:54- I think that looks wonderful. - It's great.
0:25:54 > 0:25:57My favourite bit to sit is that little stone bench there
0:25:57 > 0:26:01looking through this haze of purple verbena across the garden.
0:26:01 > 0:26:02That's a lovely plant,
0:26:02 > 0:26:05and I think at the moment this is the sense I really like,
0:26:05 > 0:26:08- and, of course, that is sound. - It is.
0:26:10 > 0:26:13One of the crucial things in a garden this size
0:26:13 > 0:26:14is to recycle waste,
0:26:14 > 0:26:19so we need compost bins. And Samuel is making a wonderful job.
0:26:19 > 0:26:21- Yep. Nearly finished.- Good man.
0:26:21 > 0:26:26And actually using recycled timber because these are old pallets.
0:26:26 > 0:26:28Absolutely spot-on.
0:26:29 > 0:26:31Any walled garden worth its salt
0:26:31 > 0:26:34deserves an avenue of trees as an entrance,
0:26:34 > 0:26:37and this one has its avenue of trees - Sorbus aria.
0:26:37 > 0:26:40Not big just now, but one day they will be as magnificent
0:26:40 > 0:26:43as the ones that Jim saw, the giant redwoods at Benmore.
0:26:43 > 0:26:47Round the corner we've got Steve finishing off the pointing
0:26:47 > 0:26:48at the wishing well.
0:26:48 > 0:26:51And Ian's about to put up the sign. And we wish them well.
0:27:20 > 0:27:23Now then, chums, it's time for final comments. George, start with you.
0:27:23 > 0:27:25Well, I think the thing that really impressed me
0:27:25 > 0:27:27about this was the smiles on the faces
0:27:27 > 0:27:29when we went to Andy McClintock's garden.
0:27:29 > 0:27:31That was one, but the other one was
0:27:31 > 0:27:33the banter and the good-natured humour
0:27:33 > 0:27:36in the bowling club when we went for sandwiches and soup.
0:27:36 > 0:27:38I thought that was fantastic.
0:27:41 > 0:27:43You're nothing if not predictable.
0:27:43 > 0:27:47- Carole.- I just want to say a bit more about the community.
0:27:47 > 0:27:49Cos what a crowd, all ages.
0:27:49 > 0:27:53It's been a real team effort and you've made us feel so welcome,
0:27:53 > 0:27:55- so thank you very much. - Carolyn.
0:27:55 > 0:27:57Well, I just love the fact the garden is...
0:27:57 > 0:28:00It feels enclosed, cosy - you just want to sit here
0:28:00 > 0:28:02- and just soak it all up. - Yes, indeed.
0:28:02 > 0:28:05I don't want to put a dampener on it at all, but we have been planting
0:28:05 > 0:28:09all these gorgeous plants under less than ideal conditions,
0:28:09 > 0:28:12so they're going to need a lot of TLC.
0:28:12 > 0:28:16Do you know, that's OK because behind us are the Green Knights
0:28:16 > 0:28:19- and they have pledged... - APPLAUSE
0:28:19 > 0:28:23They have pledged to look after the garden and take care of it all.
0:28:23 > 0:28:25So we'll be fine.
0:28:25 > 0:28:27- Absolutely.- Nae bother.
0:28:27 > 0:28:28Well, that's it for this week.
0:28:28 > 0:28:31Next week we're back in the garden, but until then from all of us here
0:28:31 > 0:28:34at the new Glenfinart Walled Garden in Ardentinny.
0:28:34 > 0:28:36ALL: Bye!
0:28:54 > 0:28:57Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd