Wild about gardens: from birds to blossom

Chelsea’s gnome battle, marvellous mulleins and free plants with hidden costs

Love them or loathe them, garden gnomes are back… and this time, they’ve even got royal approval as they’ll be appearing in the Kings Foundation garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, which returns next week. Fiona Davison, head of Libraries and Exhibitions at the RHS talks us through the history of the show’s infamous gnome ban.  Science and Horticulture Editor Olivia Drake joins us to marvel at the beauty of verbascums, which are this month’s wildlife wonder plant thanks to their multifaceted appeal to all kinds of garden insects, including birds, bees and mullein moth caterpillars. And if you’ve ever been inspired by a TikTok or Instagram video to try growing your own fruit and veg from supermarket leftovers, Dr Helen Latham from the Plant Health team joins us with words of wisdom about how plants for free can sometimes come with hidden dangers. Host: Nick Turrell Contributors: Fiona Davison, Olivia Drake, Helen Latham Links: May Wildlife Wonder plant - verbascums [https://www.rhs.org.uk/garden-inspiration/plants-we-love/cater-for-caterpillars-with-verbascum] Gnome ban lifted [https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-chelsea-flower-show/news/2026/gnome-ban-lifted] Chelsea Flower Show [https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-chelsea-flower-show] Plant Health [https://www.rhs.org.uk/garden-inspiration/grow-your-own/plants-for-free-are-there-hidden-costs]

Moths, hydrangeas and a royal flourish at Chelsea

We’re diving into the fascinating lives of moths with RHS Principal Entomologist Dr Hayley Jones. She tells us what sets them apart from butterflies, and how to set up nighttime nectar bars to give them a helping hand.  We’re also turning our attention to a firm favorite in the garden: Hydrangeas. RHS horticulturist Jack Aldridge is a woody plant expert, and he joins us to share some of his favorite cultivars and everything you need to know about caring for your hydrangeas at home - from pruning tips to the secrets behind the brightest blue blooms.  And finally, with RHS Chelsea Flower Show just around the corner, RHS Head of Libraries and Exhibitions Fiona Davison joins us to reveal more about the unveiling of a striking new botanical painting, known as a ‘Royal Signature’. It marks the occasion of His Majesty King Charles III becoming the charity’s Royal Patron, and celebrates his long-standing commitment to inspiring more people to experience the joy of gardening. Host: Guy Barter Contributors: Dr Hayley Jones, Jack Aldridge, Fiona Davison Links: Wild about gardens: magical moths [https://www.wildaboutgardens.org.uk/] RHS plant guide - hydrangeas [https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/hydrangea] RHS Chelsea flower show [https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-chelsea-flower-show]

Wild about gardens: from birds to blossom

Today we’re getting wild in the garden and taking a look at some of the abundance that's on display as spring hits its peak. The RSPB’s Emma Marsh joins us to unpack the results of this year's Big Garden Birdwatch, offering a revealing snapshot of the health of some of our most cherished garden visitors. Emma also shares how new research is informing New RSPB advice [https://www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happening/news/how-to-help-garden-birds?utm_source=google&utm_medium=paidsearch&utm_campaign=supplementaryfeeding&https:%2F%2Fwww.rspb.org.uk%2Fwhats-happening%2Fnews%2Fhow-to-help-garden-birds=] on feeding birds seasonally and safely. One key food source for young chicks at this time of year is juicy caterpillars; RHS Principal Entomologist Dr Hayley Jones shares her advice on how to live with these misunderstood critters, and why moths [https://www.wildaboutgardens.org.uk/] in general deserve some more credit in the garden. And finally, we turn to a seasonal highlight: crab apples. Nurseryman Nick Dunn of Frank P Matthews nursery [https://www.frankpmatthews.com/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23706040715&gbraid=0AAAAA9gvch_oU_t8TJFwdmfSF3rFi2eN-&gclid=CjwKCAjw-8vPBhBbEiwAoA39WqmYBJT8JYPkwWoIbmEhHxMoVD8aE2BVsFnLPx9MrjvXTP9X8LPjRRoCv9AQAvD_BwE] joins us to celebrate these remarkable trees as they burst into bloom, offering beauty, abundance and a vital source of food for birds, insects - and even us. Host: Guy Barter Contributors: Emma Marsh, Dr Hayley Jones, Nick Dunn Extra links: Wild About Gardens: magical moths [https://www.wildaboutgardens.org.uk/] RHS Wildlife gardening advice [https://www.rhs.org.uk/wildlife] Remembering Nigel Dunnett [https://www.rhs.org.uk/garden-inspiration/people-making-a-difference/remembering-nigel-dunnett]

Alternatives to wildflower meadows, supercharge your garden with leftovers, cultivating unusual crops

To celebrate Earth Day, we’re looking at how we as gardeners can make small changes to benefit the world around us. Nick Turrell and Jenny Laville will be digging into the topic of food waste, exploring how composting and changing our habits can make a big difference to our ecological footprints. RHS horticultural advisor Jenny Bowden offers an alternative, biodiversity-friendly approach if you find a traditional wildflower meadow just doesn’t work for you. And RHS Garden Wisley’s Liz Mooney and Pavlina Kapsalis share some inspiration for the veg patch, with some unusual crop suggestions you definitely won’t find on the supermarket shelves. Host: Gareth Richards Contributors: Liz Mooney, Pavlina Kapsalis, Jenny Bowden, Jenny Laville, Nick Turrell Links: RHS Grow Your Own Veg Through the Year  [https://www.amazon.co.uk/RHS-Grow-Your-Through-Year/dp/178472940X/%E2%81%A0] RHS advice on fruit and veg growing   [https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/grow-your-own%E2%81%A0] Gardening for the environment [https://www.rhs.org.uk/gardening-for-the-environment%E2%81%A0]

Helping hedgehogs, DIY potting mix, and crispy cabbages

This week Grace Johnson from the Hedgehog Street Campaign joins us once again to tell us more about what we can all do to support the recovery of hedgehog populations, right where they need it most: in our gardens. RHS horticultural advisor Jenny Bowden joins us with a clever money-saving tip, showing how you can make your own potting mix from scratch at home. And to round things off, Liz Mooney heads down to the veg patch with everything you need to know about growing cabbages. Host: Guy Barter Contributors: Jenny Bowden, Grace Johnson, Liz Mooney Links: How to make a footprint tunnel [https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/how-to-make-a-footprint-tunnel.html] Get involved in some Hedgehog citizen science [https://ptes.org/campaigns/hedgehogs/nhmp/]