The Great Garden Revolution (2021–…): Season 2, Episode 1 - Episode #2.1 - full transcript
Spring is finally here,
and there's a garden revolution
sweeping the nation.
Once you start gardening, it stays
with you for the rest of your life.
Does anyone like radish?
Spring is here. Winter's over.
Get involved. Get immersed
in the experience of the garden.
So we want to invite you to join in.
Just go for it, enjoy it,
and put your stamp on it.
Inspiring you with possibilities.
Nature is the most beautiful
thing of all.
And totally transforming
our ordinary gardens.
How cool is this?
We'll be sharing tips and tricks.
You should all grow this tomato.
Seriously.
And the jobs to do right now.
Over the next few weeks,
we're going to be meeting
fellow revolutionaries.
People who think
along the same lines as us.
You can still make
gardening fashionable.
Yes, in fact, there is.
Yes, look, it's a lemon.
So wherever you are with whatever
you have, it's time to join
the garden revolution.
Spring has well and truly sprung in
your gardens, and our green spaces
are the perfect place
to de-stress and recharge.
Vroom-vroom!
So this weekend we're celebrating
gardens where we can reawaken
our senses and reconnect
with the natural world.
What have you got there?
A snail.
Is that his little
home? Yeah.
In Chichester,
we're sensitively transforming
an empty, lifeless back yard
into a sensory garden that will be
an oasis of tranquillity.
Just the sounds that this makes
as you walk on it.
I feel relaxed.
We'll show you how upcycling can
bring a warm glow to your garden.
Couldn't be more perfect
for a firepit.
How to plan for your taste buds
as well as your eyes.
You can smell the strawberry.
Now, that's strawberry.
And how the roots of success
lie just under your feet.
It's good to
spend some time with this.
This is going to be the foundation
for your garden.
And we discover why radio DJ turned
learner gardener Greg James
is no longer green with envy.
The grass won't take.
The grass will never take!
Over the last decade, I've designed
over 100 gardens and garden
buildings, and I'm passionate
about reconnecting people
with the natural world around them.
There is a revolution
happening in gardening.
I think more and more people
are interested
in a different way of life.
More and more people are concerned
about the environment.
And, yes, this does mean that
you have to alter your perspective.
Don't take on nature.
You'll lose.
You have to join in.
Allow nature to decide
what happens in our gardens.
Gardening in a sustainable way
is at the heart of what I do,
and I want the whole nation
to get involved.
I think absolutely anybody
can be a gardener.
And I want to encourage as many
people as possible to start.
Nurturing anything and watching it
grow is a beautiful thing.
To be in green space,
to be connected to wildlife,
makes us feel better.
It's good for our mental wellbeing.
Whatever the garden, as a craftsman,
I want people to think about
the things that they put
in their outdoor spaces.
There's nothing more rewarding
than a beautifully crafted piece
of furniture,
and you develop a relationship
with that piece of furniture.
So, it does so much more outdoors
than it does indoors.
And this week, the garden
we're going to transform
belongs to married couple
Ciara and Neha Cattras.
Weeds, we can grow weeds, can't we?
Very good at weeds.
We can grow weeds.
We are gardening optimists.
Yes!
That's a good way of putting it.
Where we will, we will always
put our hand to it.
I think it would be just really nice
to have some help.
To know what on earth to do.
Neha and Ciara work
in mental health for the NHS,
and with stressful jobs,
they understand the value of
a restful space to call their own.
Our headspace gets really full
and, you know, coming out
and being in the garden,
being outdoors, having fresh air,
having nature, that's priceless.
And we know how important it is.
An endless sea of gravel and weeds,
their barren back yard desperately
needs an injection of life.
So this is our,
our little mini rainbow nod
to the colour in this garden.
Recent storms have not been kind
to their much-loved tree.
And it's not the only thing
in need of restorative care.
So, we have this outbuilding,
but it currently leaks
like an absolute sieve,
and it's just used as this sort
of dumping ground.
I'm a potter, and to have a space
to make beautiful things,
it would feel really wonderful
to have that in a garden.
We're quite bold
and loud and colourful.
You know, our garden probably ought
to reflect some of that.
To find ways to unwind, it's stuff
that is so important to us.
And I wonder if the garden
could be that space. Yeah.
The Cattras aren't the only ones
looking to bring more life
and colour into their urban garden.
Up and down the country,
people are finding new ways
to revitalise our outdoor spaces,
whatever the size.
Even if you have a small space,
you can make a big impact.
We've only got a little balcony,
but we've managed to grow
some stuff vertically.
To give Ciara and Neha
a place to unwind,
we're going to create a sensory
garden filled with things
we can all do to recharge
and connect with nature.
A sensory garden's a really key
part of the revolution,
because straight away it allows us
to connect with that garden.
By stimulating the senses,
it gets us connecting with nature,
and ultimately, that's what a garden
should be all about.
Neha and Ciara,
they have busy lives.
We're trying to create something
here that's going to benefit
their mental health.
I want to get them involved
in the garden and understand
that gardening itself
can be a meditative experience.
That's the power of a garden.
Our plan for this garden
puts wellbeing at its heart
through a reconnection with nature.
The focal point is a rejuvenated
outbuilding they can actually use,
surrounded by a decking area,
stylish storage seating,
and a raised bed.
I'll be bringing in new life
with plants that look, taste,
feel and smell amazing.
And recycling the gravel
to create a restful go-slow journey
through the garden.
It's full of simple ideas
you can have a go at this weekend.
Over the next few days with our team
of builders and gardeners,
we'll be transforming this space.
With the narrow borders gone and
the decking down, work refreshing
the tired outbuilding can begin.
The start of a new project
is such an exciting time.
It feels like one of those gardens
that's just filled with gravel,
but it's a garden after all.
So the first thing we need to do
is get plants and get life
into the space.
It's always exciting
starting a new project.
I mean, plants is something
to get really excited about.
Going to create something new.
We want our new revolutionaries
to embrace
the change with confidence,
so while I gather the plants...
If you want to give a hand?
Yeah.
Grab a bit of this wood
and we'll get it on.
This is the cladding.
That looks fab.
..Joel and Ciara crack on
with the black cladding.
What do you think? It's darker
than I thought would work
in a small space.
It is bold.
In some ways it's easier to be bold
in someone else's garden!
But, you know, it's the right
choice for this garden.
This bare wood cladding will draw
the eye down the garden and allow
the planting scheme to shine.
It's an easy thing to lay your hands
on at a good hardware store
or online.
While the black cladding
is being installed, I want to bring
new life and purpose
to the tired sea of gravel.
Honestly, I wouldn't know
what to do with the gravel.
It's been a bit of an eyesore.
I mean, I absolutely think that
we shouldn't be getting rid of it.
It's much more sustainable
to be able to keep as much
of the materials that we
have on site. Yeah, of course.
You want to avoid things
going into landfill.
You know, there's an opportunity
to create perhaps a gravel garden,
so we could dig in the gravel
into the ground,
that will aid the drainage.
And then what we've selected is
plants that we're going to be able
to cope with dry, arid conditions,
poking up through the gravel.
Full of life. Full of life and
movement and light and colour.
It's going to be stunning.
I'm really excited.
I'm really excited.
You're getting me very excited.
We want to replace their old
straight path with one that winds
through the garden, something
garden designers do to create
a more relaxing journey.
If you mark out where you envisage
the path going and then we'll try
and lay out some plants and think
about where the plants might go
in relation to the path.
That's it, in a nice, nice curve.
Imagine the tree's going
to be up and out the way.
When you're plotting out
a garden path,
the key isn't getting there
as quickly as possible.
It's about creating a journey.
Not the straightest.
Beautiful, beautiful.
This essentially is going to become
a planted border,
and we'll maybe nibble into the path
with some plants as well.
So it's a little bit more
sort of organic.
Yeah.
With a new path taking shape,
we need a destination
at the end of it,
so this is where we call
on carpentry king Bruce Kenneth.
Hey, guys, how are you?
The sensory garden isn't
just all about the plants.
It's about the furniture as well.
The furniture allows you to sit
back and take in the sights
and the sounds
and the smells and relax.
It's very important
to be able to do that.
What have you got for us?
A bit of a surprise.
So, we've got raised beds.
Oh, that's lovely.
First in are the sleepers,
which are going to become
a raised bed.
Raised beds are a great thing for
any garden. Here in particular
we're going to plant tea.
Raised beds are a great way
of introducing different soil
into your garden.
And this sunny corner is a perfect
growing spot for Ciara and Neha
to get gardening.
It's the use of a dead space,
because there's not much else
you can put here. So it's really
utilising this little corner here.
Raised beds are a great place to sow
seeds, and this is the perfect time
to get planting.
But there's another job
that you can be doing
this weekend - pruning.
And I'm getting started on Ciara
and Neha's treasured pineapple
broom tree that's in need of some
care after taking a battering
in a storm.
Trees, plants, woody shrubs
often respond to being cut,
and they respond to being cut
by some sort of vigorous growth.
So, now it's spring.
It's starting to warm up
a little bit.
Now's a good time to do this prune
for this particular species.
Once you've checked out the best
time of year for your type of tree
or shrub, pruning can be
a great way of tidying it up
and stimulating new growth.
This pineapple broom is struggling.
It's sort of falling over,
so something's not quite right.
I think it's worth
trying to save it.
I think there's a there's
a few things to consider,
these three Ds.
As a general rule of pruning
of any shrub, if you look for dead,
diseased and damaged.
The first D is for dead.
So we're looking for branches
with no green under the bark
and no signs of new growth.
You don't want to snag the tree
in any way.
That takes off the weight.
And the reason why you're doing
that is because if you were to just
cut in down here, the weight
will fall and then you create a tear
down the bark.
We're going to take this bit off.
Nice clean cut.
With the first D sorted,
next look for disease or damage.
You don't want anywhere where
there's friction, so you can sort
of see up here.
We've got two branches crossing,
and every time the wind blows,
you can see that there's a rub.
And where we get a rub,
it creates a wound.
And then there's
a route in for infection.
So they'll have to go.
Might need you to support this,
Joel.
As well as dealing with the three
Ds, pruning can also open up
congested canopies, give shape,
and increase production
of flowers and fruit.
It's a bit of a tangle.
Go on.
Oh, you let it drop.
It's worse than untangling me beard.
Watch your head.
Oh, me hat!
All right? I mean, already
it's looking healthier.
Feeling much more open, isn't it?
All the light's coming through.
A little bit of light,
a little bit of air coming in.
Oh, it's nice. Lovely weather.
A bit of pruning.
Oh, never happier.
Still to come, I visit the gravel
garden created by one
of the first garden revolutionaries.
It feels almost as if we're walking
through a natural landscape.
That's right.
And I'll show you how selecting
the right plants for your soil
and aspect reaps rewards.
And that's what's going to
keep them happy and alive.
Across the UK, a revolution is under
way with loads of us ditching
the manicured lawns...
I'm trying to build a meadow for
the bees and the butterflies.
..to create sanctuaries to relax in.
We've got some lovely
stinging nettles
which we've allowed to just flower.
The pollinators love them,
and so do we.
This is my happy place.
You come out, hear the birds.
This week, we're all about gardens
to reignite the senses.
And in Chichester,
we're creating the perfect space
for two mental health workers
to recharge.
Regeneration is the name of the game
today, and I've got a great makeover
for the deck that anyone
can build this weekend.
This is actually an old washing
machine drum, and this is an old car
rim, and I'm going to
make a fire pit.
This is a great way
to upcycle things.
This is stainless steel,
so it's perfect for outdoors.
It will last a long time.
It's already perforated,
so it'll allow the oxygen
to get in the fire and fuel it.
It couldn't be more perfect
for a fire pit.
This can be picked
up at any scrapyard.
People sell the drums and rims
online so you can put two together.
It's actually a lot cheaper
than buying it from a store,
and it's actually better made.
Assembly couldn't be easier.
The washing machine drum
already has a threaded centre,
so all you need is a bracket
and a 10mm bolt to hold
the two parts together.
And there you have it.
Fire pit in under five minutes.
You can't beat it.
As our transformation continues...
I'd go on there.
..we've found just the thing
to add structure
and delineate the new,
calmer route through the garden.
Needs another one there.
To punctuate the journey,
we're introducing boulders
that you can get delivered
by your local stone merchant.
It's quite nice, isn't it?
Yeah, it's nice, that.
That's a cluster...
Big clumps, big clumps.
And then there's still room
for any other rocks as well.
Yeah.
Let's go with that. Yeah.
Just to keep things moving.
Winding its way through the rocks,
our new path will be nestled with
sensory plants like scent-filled
rosemary and grasses
that sing in the wind.
That's pretty spot on.
That's quite good, isn't it?
Yeah. Leave it there!
They really give it spirit,
don't they?
It's really quite amazing.
Just a couple of bits of rock.
With any sensory path,
it's important to think about
what sort of sound it will make
under your feet.
So we have gone with 10mm pea
shingle over the existing gravel.
Just the sound that this makes
as you walk on it.
Yeah, it's lovely.
I like how it sort of subtly
delineates a path.
It's just a suggestion of path,
isn't it?
Without screaming, "I'm a path."
It's whispering.
"Walk here."
I love it.
As we continue to add more sensory
features to the space...
I think it's going to work.
It's only going to get better.
I feel relaxed.
..to get some extra tips on
how to connect with your space,
I'm heading to a revolutionary
garden that I've always
dreamed of visiting.
Have you got this?
No. But I keep meaning to get these.
Elephants' ears.
My mum's got them. Yeah.
In Essex, Julia has kindly agreed
to show me the life's work
of her grandmother, pioneering
plants woman Beth Chatto.
In the '70s and '80s,
her garden revolutionised
the horticultural world in ways
that continue to be
cutting edge to this day.
In gardening circles,
Beth Chatto is a true revolutionary.
She's a real inspiration of mine,
and she's famous for this phrase
that everyone uses these days.
Right plant, right place.
Yeah.
You look at the conditions that
the plant's going to grow in.
That's the soil that you're going
to be putting into, whether it's
free draining, whether it isn't,
whether it's going to be in
sunlight, whether it isn't,
and then choosing a plant that's
going to enjoy those conditions.
And if you're working with nature,
those plants
are going to be so much happier.
I think still in this country,
there's a culture of still choosing
the plants that you like
and then trying to make them fit
in your garden.
And we need to think about turning
that on its head and saying,
"Understand your conditions."
This five-acre site was once
farmland besieged
by brambles and bog.
Yet today this space is filled
with plants that have been chosen
for the conditions.
But at the time, many didn't believe
it could become a garden.
When your grandma first started
to exhibit, and she thought
she was exhibiting weeds?
That's right. She brought some of
these more naturalistic plants.
They were saying,
"What are you doing? You can't
show these. They're weeds."
And that became the future
of gardening in a lot of ways.
So much of Beth's ethos
can be applied to gardens
or balconies around the country.
From Mediterranean sun-loving plants
in those bright spots
to showcasing damp, friendly species
in a boggy area.
We're actually creating a garden,
which is quite similar
to a garden that you have here,
the gravel garden.
Ah, right.
Well, that is the perfect
example of the right plant
in the right place.
Up Above The Wetlands is one
of Beth's most legendary creations,
and it's something that can inspire
anyone with a tricky area
they want to see
reach its potential.
Why is this such a good example
of "right plants right place"?
Well, it was a car park,
but she just decided that she wanted
to create a dry, planted area.
I get the impression
from your grandma
it seemed like
it's almost a challenge.
The most inhospitable place.
That's right.
Well, some of these plants
are from really hot climates,
sort of could be from desert
conditions, you know,
poor soil conditions.
That's what they want.
They like poor soil.
They like poor soil, that's right.
I want you to treat them badly.
That's right.
Treat 'em mean, keep 'em keen.
That's it.
The other nice thing about poor
soil conditions is the weeds
don't like it.
We'll be happy about that.
Less weeding? Yes, less weeding.
We all like that.
This gravel garden is filled with
amazing drought-resistant plants
from grasses to salvias.
But if you've got a dry spot,
there's a plant here that I think
is a perfect starting point.
And here's the famous euphorbia.
Absolutely.
Beth absolutely loved it,
especially at this time of the year
when it's so vibrant.
You can throw this plant
anywhere, can't you?
In planting the euphorbia
this garden shows us a simple
technique of how to plant
in a naturalistic way.
Seeing the euphorbia shine along
the path feels almost as if walking
through a natural landscape.
One of the ways that Beth would
do that is the repetition of plants,
which should lead your eye.
So, if you were looking
at the euphorbias,
as you go down the garden,
you can see them repeated again.
Gorgeous, isn't it?
Yeah, it is beautiful.
Absolutely lovely.
Back in Chichester,
our sensory garden is a hive
of activity, but with the whole team
on the job,
the transformation
is moving forwards at pace.
Ease it into the hole.
Yeah, slide it into it. OK.
That was a bit stressful.
Perfect fit.
Except for your drill's
inside behind the glass!
With the safety glass
for the new window safely in place,
the shed's refresh
is almost complete.
But when it comes
to planting,
there's some serious groundwork
every new gardener needs
to get to grips with.
And it starts with the very soil
under your feet.
The ground's been compacted
underneath.
You can sort of see
that it's quite solid.
All of the plants
that we've selected for this garden
are sort of drought-tolerant
species.
They all require sort
of a free-draining soil.
So we're going to dig over this
compacted earth and incorporate
as much pea shingle as we can.
Whatever type of plants
you're considering,
you're going to need a healthy root.
And getting air
into compacted soil is essential.
And you want to go to a good depth.
So you want... Ideally we want
at least your fork's sort of spit
step deeper if you can,
and just sort of work over the soil.
It's good to spend
some time with this.
This is going to be
the foundation for your garden.
It's important.
With the soil broken up, next we
want to think about drainage,
especially if you're using
drought-tolerant plants.
So digging in this pea shingle,
it's a really gritty soil mix.
There's going to be air space
in this and it's just going
to aid drainage.
I mean, this combination
of plants here.
Mediterranean species, you know,
they grow in gritty,
free-draining conditions.
We're recreating
a similar environment
to where they'd be originally from.
And that's what's going to
keep them happy and alive.
The soil isn't the only thing
being revitalised.
The rundown shed has its black
cladding on, but I want to finish
it with something equally as bold.
In nature circles,
the opposite of black is...
Oh, wow,
that's not what I expected.
You've got to be bold.
Yeah, it's the bumblebees.
It's the colours of nature.
It's nice in a sensory garden,
you know,
to have that visual impact,
because your eyes are one
of your senses, after all.
Yeah.
This is actually based on
a bit of a hero of mine,
Derek Jarman's Prospect Cottage.
Situated on the Kent coastline
in the shadow of the Dungeness
Nuclear Power Station, the director
and artist cultivated his garden
amongst the shingle that surrounds
this Victorian fisherman's cottage.
His brutalist reflection
of the landscape blends driftwood
sculptures with hardy plants
selected to survive
the extreme coastal weather.
In some ways, that house and the
gardener he became almost
as famous as some of his film work,
certainly in my circles. Yeah.
As a queer film-maker,
and as part of a gay couple,
we have to recognise the people
who came before, who allowed us
the society we have today
that is that bit
more liberal and welcoming.
Derek Jarman, I think,
was very much one of those people.
Well, that's a bonus, isn't it?
I mean, it's a lovely little,
little hint.
Ciara and Neha's
tired old outbuilding
isn't the only thing in need
of a lick of fresh paint.
All I'm going to do
is just mix this up.
With both treated
and half-painted panels,
I want to bring everything together
with one colour.
Just adding some water
and giving it a good stir.
And that's it, and away we go.
Even though it's darker, it actually
makes things look brighter.
It feels like it's a background
against which things will pop.
That's exactly right.
Colours will pop against it.
It's a lovely colour,
and it goes on nicely.
The gardening bug
has swept the nation,
welcoming revolutionaries
of all ages.
I'm going to gently squeeze
the person to help me pull this out,
and now I'm going to pull it
from the roots into the pot.
And over in his urban garden
in North London, the newest recruit
to the revolution is Radio 1 DJ
and presenter Greg James.
Right. It's going.
I'm going to cut it. There.
There we go.
I've been an avid gardener
since... Well, since I was a kid.
And I've really rediscovered it,
I think, in the last few years.
I get quite stressed
doing my job and quite tired,
so I come out here
and fiddle with some soil
and I feel happy again.
There's a lemon!
Two lemons.
So, this was in a pot
for about two years.
And so I took it out of its pot
and put it in the ground.
And it was more of a fat olive
than a lemon.
But we're trying, aren't we?
We're trying our best.
I've got an olive tree
which is nine foot tall.
And I've had it for five years,
and it's given me half an olive.
So the return on that
is actually excellent.
While some gardeners dream
of winning a gold at Chelsea,
Greg's horticultural ambitions
are much more down to earth.
I found a man called Rupert
who helped me do the turf.
I mean, helped me.
He did most of it.
I did a bit of forking.
He said, if you leave it too long
and then you cut it,
you shock the grass, and you don't
want to shock grass.
When we moved here,
it was paving slabs.
The ground underneath
was so dead that grass didn't take.
"The grass won't take.
"The grass will never take."
But now, today is the first day
of the rest of my life,
and this new, beautiful turf
which is down.
And I'm going to plug it
with wild flowers.
I've always just wanted to have
a cricket pitch, and I sort of,
I wanted to be a groundsman.
I love the sort of technical stuff
about different types of grass
that they make pitches out of
and how finely cut it is
and how close it is,
and the make-up of the soil
and how the ball moves.
I think I'd be happy.
Still to come... I make some
stylish, multi-purpose seating
to save on storage.
Almost there.
It's a work of art.
Thank you, buddy.
And I'll show you how to plant
for a perfect brew.
Have a smell of that one.
Strawberry mint.
Strawberry mint?
Strawberry?
Oh, my goodness.
It's incredible, isn't it?
The flavour, that's incredible.
Across the UK, the garden revolution
is sweeping the nation,
with young recruits leading the way
forward for a greener future.
We need to give it a bit of a water,
do you think you could do that?
Back in Chichester as the planting
phase finally gets under way,
this once lifeless garden
is in for a sensory overload.
I've got this, they're really lovely
soft grasses... Lovely.
..they're going to seed in.
It'll start to look much
more natural because you'll see
little Stipa babies appear
down by the side.
So, this is salvia argentea.
Look at that. It's like a fabric.
Fluffy. Fluffy, yeah. Almost
doesn't feel real, does it? No.
And then we've got these
lovely thymes.
And the idea with having those so
close to the path is they throw
up a nice, nice smell.
I love the smell of thyme.
Really, really lovely.
We have so many amazing plants
to go in their garden,
but even if you only have a balcony
at home,
there's always room for more.
So I'm going to use a basic garden
skill to turn one plant into many,
and it's a job anyone can do
this weekend - propagation.
It's a way of creating more plants
for free and we can plant them
in the garden here.
But it's a nice thing
to give away to your friends
and neighbours as well.
So essentially you're looking
for non-flowering material.
You want the plant to be pest
and disease free.
So, this is looking good.
I'm going to show you how to
propagate from woody herbs
like thyme and lavender.
And this young rosemary is perfect.
What we're going to do here
is we're going to do
some heel cuttings.
So the way that you do
that is you peel them off,
and you have this this little
tail that comes off here.
Trim that off.
What you're actually creating
there is a greater surface area
and with a greater surface area
you've got much more opportunity
for roots.
For Mediterranean herbs like this,
you'll need a mix of compost,
soil, grit.
And then you've got to prepare
the material, so strip off the lower
leaves because if those went
into the soil,
they'll just rot.
Just insert those around the edge
of the pot.
They're not going to sit in any wet
soil around the edge of the pot
and it's nice and warm
in by the side.
And just work around the pot.
Space them around the pot at six
centimetre intervals,
giving them room to root.
And I quite like to have all the
cutting material roughly the same
size because then you know that
all your plants are going
to be roughly the same size
when you produce them.
With the cuttings in place,
dress the pot with grit
to help retain moisture,
then give your cuttings a good soak
and finally cover with polythene bag
and secure in place
with an elastic band.
There you go.
So there's a bit of a race on now
for the plants to develop roots
before they wither and die.
By popping a polythene bag
over the top, we're essentially
creating a bit of a microclimate.
So this is just basically buying us
a little bit more time, holding
moisture around those cuttings.
And then you want to position
that in a bit of semi shade.
Then in a few weeks' time,
they will have rooted.
At which point
you'd probably want to pot them on.
With Neha and Ciara's
future plants taken care of,
we're making use of Bruce's
raised bed to connect them
to their garden through taste.
So, ladies, you like to make
tea a lot. Yeah.
I'm aware of this because you've
already made me a nice cup of tea.
Have a smell of that one.
This is a strawberry mint.
Strawberry mint?
Strawberry.
Oh, my goodness.
It's incredible.
Lemon verbena, this.
Oh, yes.
It's the Rolls-Royce
of tea-making plants.
Is it? If you smell it,
it's so instantly strong.
It's lemon. Yes, oh, my goodness.
It's almost unbelievable, that.
That's incredible. It has that
amount of aromas, doesn't it?
But let's get some in the ground.
Yeah.
Yeah, sure.
We're planting, mint,
verbena and yarrow,
but there are lots you can try,
like lavender, lemon balm and thyme
to make your own blend.
There's lots of reason why gardening
is good for your mental health. Mm.
It stops you thinking, really.
Because you've got tasks
and you usually accomplish them
because it's very simple.
You see the fruits of your labour.
Yeah.
Even just getting your hands
dirty to me is lovely. Yeah.
We don't see it as dirt
in the gardening world.
That's gorgeous. Soil...
That's life giving.
Yeah.
With some lovely herbs ready to go,
I've brought along my tea box...
Oh, sweet.
Wow.
..so we can have a little taste.
Why don't you have a little go
with the yarrow?
Yeah. Because, again,
this is going to be strong.
If you're trying to
get the juices going a bit.
Yes. You just give them a smash here
and a little...
..twiddle before they go in.
With a bit of boiling water,
we're ready for a brew.
Well, let's try this out, shall we?
Sounds good.
Yeah. Let's have a taste.
I love that. That's lovely.
Actually can taste it.
I love it when it's subtle.
Very fresh.
Yeah.
I'd genuinely drink this every day.
It's really lovely.
With the tea garden taking up
residence in Bruce's raised beds,
our woodworking wizard is also
building something sleek
and multi-functional to take care
of all those handy garden tools.
The biggest thing about the sensory
garden is you really need a place
to relax and sit, so what I'm making
is a set of benches.
The idea is to have these benches
double up as a storage area
and a seating area.
Everything's going to be a real
clean aesthetic, so you get a few
people around it, the lids will lift
up so you can hide things.
I don't want the yard to get full
of clutter, so I want them
to have a nice place for them
to have just a cup of tea.
So, first step, we have to create
the frames for these benches.
This is off the shelf
tanalised timber.
If you don't like this raw finish,
you can sand it, you can paint it,
you can make it look however
you want.
As long as you protect it outside,
it should be fine.
So I've got all my components
cut for the bench.
So what'll I'll do now is I'm just
going to screw these together.
I'd say the style is kind
of like almost
a brutalist-like style.
It's very angular.
I do respect a good curve,
but I really like clean lines.
It's just beautiful to look at
and that's what I try to achieve
in a piece. These are going to be
the faces of the bench.
So this is the wood that's on show.
I chose an Iroko
because it's good outside.
So I've got everything cut
the length.
All I've got to do is start hanging
it and screwing it on the frame.
Gardens can really come
into their own
when they have the right
piece of furniture.
They are an extension of us
and we should show off our style.
We should show off what we're into,
just like we do inside.
With the planting beginning to take
shape, the seating area can now
take its place on the deck.
Almost there.
It's a work of art.
Thank you, buddy.
All this needs now is a final
protective layer to stand up
to the famous British weather.
Hi, Bruce.
Hi, Ciara. How you been?
Yeah, good. Good. This is looking
amazing. Thank you.
That's your new seating/storage.
Looks fab. Thank you.
So what I've done was made
you a nice L set of seating here
out of Iroko.
This is just beautiful. Thank you.
Kind of any of the junk
that you have knocking about the
yard you can put in here.
And it will age
and it'll look beautiful.
So what we're doing now is just
giving it a nice coat of oil.
This will help protect it.
This also really makes the colour
come out and really stand out.
My ethos, a lot of times,
is trying to make things pretty
and still simple and functional.
No, it's really beautiful.
The oil brings out the colour
and brings out that,
the life in the wood.
I love a bit of teak oil.
It really makes it shine -
quite literally. It does.
The garden revolution is open
to all and everyone has a corner
where they can engage the senses.
TINKLING
We can hear. We can see.
We can touch.
So use the hashtag
if you're joining in.
As the garden revolution
takes hold across the UK...
Welcome to our home.
..we've been refreshing
and enhancing our gardens
to restore our wellbeing.
In Chichester, the Cattras' garden
is abuzz with activity
as all the elements of our sensory
garden come together.
Let's get them in the ground.
And we've left no stone
unturned in our quest
to invigorate the senses.
There's few things as relaxing
as hearing the sound of water
bubbling away, and it's an absolute
must in a sensory garden.
I'm going to be making a pebble
pond, and it's going to be perfect
for this garden because,
as you can see, it's already
filled with pebbles.
If you want to create a relaxing
sound this weekend, there are a few
tips to follow that will keep
things flowing.
It couldn't be more simple, really.
The bucket goes into it
and your pump's going to go
at the bottom of there.
You can pick these up from any good
garden centre or aquatic centre,
but I've made them before just
out of an old bucket or a trug,
and I've used an old oven shelf on
the top because that's how basic
it is really.
So, we've got our reservoir.
All we're going to need
now is a pump.
If you don't have electricity,
solar versions will be fine
in a sunny spot.
The mesh goes on top, like so...
And then we're going to test
that out first, make sure
it's working properly. So we're just
going to fill it with water.
While Joel fills up his pebble pond,
I'm on to the final bit of planting
near the decking area.
So this was a, this was a really
tiny, narrow border up the side
of the garden.
It's pretty standard for what
you sort of see in many gardens
up and down the country.
We've just expanded it and through
having a greater depth,
you get to place different plants
next to one another.
It just looks a little bit
more interesting, a little bit
more creative. As this is
a sensory garden,
we've got different smells here,
we've got the lavender -
that's going to smell lovely
with something to eat
in the bronze fennel.
And that's going to be up, up here,
quite statuesque.
Got this lovely Stipa tenuissima
that sort of like will blow
around in the wind and sort of
create a bit of transparency again.
Spacing, really, really important.
It's tempting to cram
the garden full.
And I love plants.
And even my wife sort of says to me
and she's not a gardener, really,
but she says to me,
"Errol, too many plants."
You've got to give them
space to grow.
Just going to get this lavender in.
It's just gorgeous scent.
And as soon as you get the sun on
it, it sort of releases the oils
and it just smells really delicious.
Planting at the right depth
is important as well.
With plants to touch,
taste and smell...
Firm it in. ..and the sensory
planting almost complete,
I'm dressing my pebble pond to blend
seamlessly with its surroundings.
I've chosen a selection of rocks
for the water to cascade over.
I'm just building this up
and then we're just filling
in any of the gaps, gradually
building it up into something
that looks nice.
And already it's transformed
the whole feel of the garden.
It's suddenly turned into,
like, a beach atmosphere.
Oh, it sounds nice, doesn't it?
A few days ago, the Cattras' back
garden was a rundown,
barren gravel yard, lacking any sign
of life or colour.
Ciara and Neha desperately needed
a place where they could unwind
and recharge away from the stresses
of work.
Now, this garden is transformed...
..into a stunning space
to invigorate the senses.
The reclad outbuilding
with my bold picture window
has become a refuge to create
and make, as well as the perfect
backdrop to frame the garden.
The winding path around
the old pineapple broom is peppered
with plants to touch and smell.
And even the old gravel has found
a new purpose in formally
inviting you to go slow.
The rustling grasses, babbling water
feature and sense of planting
all come together in this journey
of the senses.
My seating area, table and firepit
provide the ideal space for spending
more time outdoors.
And the raised tea bed is a growing
reminder of the calming power
of Mother Nature.
Now this garden is a tranquil urban
oasis, perfect for this couple
to relax together.
It was a space where we just walked
through as a functional thing
to get to a shed that just was
a dumping zone.
And we didn't love the garden.
It was purely the thing in the way.
Now we'll want to spend time out
here, take herbs from the garden,
and put them in our food
and learn to play with the garden.
I absolutely love this garden.
I think we've really injected
some life into the space,
which before was basically
a waste ground.
I think it's a garden
that they'll be really proud of.
They look really comfortable
in the space now, and it feels
as though they've made the shift
towards gardening.
What's really nice about it is
a sense of peace,
the touch and textures
and colours and sounds.
It's come together
really beautifully.
The transformation is nothing
short of amazing here.
The planting, the rocks, the shed,
the furniture there.
And it went from a very blank canvas
to a very interactive experience.
And this garden is so much
more than a space
to reawaken the senses.
It was really nice to get our hands
into the soil and experiment and not
be afraid of things not working.
So I'm really excited to give
that a go.
This garden is all about engaging
the senses.
It really transports you.
I feel like you're in another place.
I mean, just look at it.
It's amazing.
I'm genuinely envious of
this garden.
It just feels like a harmonious,
nice space that you want
to spend time in.
I'm really looking forward to
having all our friends and family.
All of the family. We've got these
little, lovely little cushions
that the little ones can sit,
can't they?
And a nice fire at night.
Yeah.
This weekend, if you get
the chance instead of just going
into your garden doing the jobs, why
not try just connecting a little bit
more with it?
Touch your plants, smell the aromas.
Get the feel of that soil.
Try to experience the moment,
because that is where gardening
is really at its most powerful.
Next time, we're all about grow
your own gardens
as we head to Bradford.
That's lovely.
I will polish this off in no time.
We show you how to look
after your produce
with natural pest management.
It's basically booby traps
to protect my plants.
Tweak a fence panel to spend
more time with your neighbour.
So you'll be able to set
it like this.
You can get some chairs underneath
it. And how to welcome
useful predators into your garden.
I'm going to do a little sign
so the hedgehog knows
which way to go.
Cheers, guys.
Cheers. Cheers.
and there's a garden revolution
sweeping the nation.
Once you start gardening, it stays
with you for the rest of your life.
Does anyone like radish?
Spring is here. Winter's over.
Get involved. Get immersed
in the experience of the garden.
So we want to invite you to join in.
Just go for it, enjoy it,
and put your stamp on it.
Inspiring you with possibilities.
Nature is the most beautiful
thing of all.
And totally transforming
our ordinary gardens.
How cool is this?
We'll be sharing tips and tricks.
You should all grow this tomato.
Seriously.
And the jobs to do right now.
Over the next few weeks,
we're going to be meeting
fellow revolutionaries.
People who think
along the same lines as us.
You can still make
gardening fashionable.
Yes, in fact, there is.
Yes, look, it's a lemon.
So wherever you are with whatever
you have, it's time to join
the garden revolution.
Spring has well and truly sprung in
your gardens, and our green spaces
are the perfect place
to de-stress and recharge.
Vroom-vroom!
So this weekend we're celebrating
gardens where we can reawaken
our senses and reconnect
with the natural world.
What have you got there?
A snail.
Is that his little
home? Yeah.
In Chichester,
we're sensitively transforming
an empty, lifeless back yard
into a sensory garden that will be
an oasis of tranquillity.
Just the sounds that this makes
as you walk on it.
I feel relaxed.
We'll show you how upcycling can
bring a warm glow to your garden.
Couldn't be more perfect
for a firepit.
How to plan for your taste buds
as well as your eyes.
You can smell the strawberry.
Now, that's strawberry.
And how the roots of success
lie just under your feet.
It's good to
spend some time with this.
This is going to be the foundation
for your garden.
And we discover why radio DJ turned
learner gardener Greg James
is no longer green with envy.
The grass won't take.
The grass will never take!
Over the last decade, I've designed
over 100 gardens and garden
buildings, and I'm passionate
about reconnecting people
with the natural world around them.
There is a revolution
happening in gardening.
I think more and more people
are interested
in a different way of life.
More and more people are concerned
about the environment.
And, yes, this does mean that
you have to alter your perspective.
Don't take on nature.
You'll lose.
You have to join in.
Allow nature to decide
what happens in our gardens.
Gardening in a sustainable way
is at the heart of what I do,
and I want the whole nation
to get involved.
I think absolutely anybody
can be a gardener.
And I want to encourage as many
people as possible to start.
Nurturing anything and watching it
grow is a beautiful thing.
To be in green space,
to be connected to wildlife,
makes us feel better.
It's good for our mental wellbeing.
Whatever the garden, as a craftsman,
I want people to think about
the things that they put
in their outdoor spaces.
There's nothing more rewarding
than a beautifully crafted piece
of furniture,
and you develop a relationship
with that piece of furniture.
So, it does so much more outdoors
than it does indoors.
And this week, the garden
we're going to transform
belongs to married couple
Ciara and Neha Cattras.
Weeds, we can grow weeds, can't we?
Very good at weeds.
We can grow weeds.
We are gardening optimists.
Yes!
That's a good way of putting it.
Where we will, we will always
put our hand to it.
I think it would be just really nice
to have some help.
To know what on earth to do.
Neha and Ciara work
in mental health for the NHS,
and with stressful jobs,
they understand the value of
a restful space to call their own.
Our headspace gets really full
and, you know, coming out
and being in the garden,
being outdoors, having fresh air,
having nature, that's priceless.
And we know how important it is.
An endless sea of gravel and weeds,
their barren back yard desperately
needs an injection of life.
So this is our,
our little mini rainbow nod
to the colour in this garden.
Recent storms have not been kind
to their much-loved tree.
And it's not the only thing
in need of restorative care.
So, we have this outbuilding,
but it currently leaks
like an absolute sieve,
and it's just used as this sort
of dumping ground.
I'm a potter, and to have a space
to make beautiful things,
it would feel really wonderful
to have that in a garden.
We're quite bold
and loud and colourful.
You know, our garden probably ought
to reflect some of that.
To find ways to unwind, it's stuff
that is so important to us.
And I wonder if the garden
could be that space. Yeah.
The Cattras aren't the only ones
looking to bring more life
and colour into their urban garden.
Up and down the country,
people are finding new ways
to revitalise our outdoor spaces,
whatever the size.
Even if you have a small space,
you can make a big impact.
We've only got a little balcony,
but we've managed to grow
some stuff vertically.
To give Ciara and Neha
a place to unwind,
we're going to create a sensory
garden filled with things
we can all do to recharge
and connect with nature.
A sensory garden's a really key
part of the revolution,
because straight away it allows us
to connect with that garden.
By stimulating the senses,
it gets us connecting with nature,
and ultimately, that's what a garden
should be all about.
Neha and Ciara,
they have busy lives.
We're trying to create something
here that's going to benefit
their mental health.
I want to get them involved
in the garden and understand
that gardening itself
can be a meditative experience.
That's the power of a garden.
Our plan for this garden
puts wellbeing at its heart
through a reconnection with nature.
The focal point is a rejuvenated
outbuilding they can actually use,
surrounded by a decking area,
stylish storage seating,
and a raised bed.
I'll be bringing in new life
with plants that look, taste,
feel and smell amazing.
And recycling the gravel
to create a restful go-slow journey
through the garden.
It's full of simple ideas
you can have a go at this weekend.
Over the next few days with our team
of builders and gardeners,
we'll be transforming this space.
With the narrow borders gone and
the decking down, work refreshing
the tired outbuilding can begin.
The start of a new project
is such an exciting time.
It feels like one of those gardens
that's just filled with gravel,
but it's a garden after all.
So the first thing we need to do
is get plants and get life
into the space.
It's always exciting
starting a new project.
I mean, plants is something
to get really excited about.
Going to create something new.
We want our new revolutionaries
to embrace
the change with confidence,
so while I gather the plants...
If you want to give a hand?
Yeah.
Grab a bit of this wood
and we'll get it on.
This is the cladding.
That looks fab.
..Joel and Ciara crack on
with the black cladding.
What do you think? It's darker
than I thought would work
in a small space.
It is bold.
In some ways it's easier to be bold
in someone else's garden!
But, you know, it's the right
choice for this garden.
This bare wood cladding will draw
the eye down the garden and allow
the planting scheme to shine.
It's an easy thing to lay your hands
on at a good hardware store
or online.
While the black cladding
is being installed, I want to bring
new life and purpose
to the tired sea of gravel.
Honestly, I wouldn't know
what to do with the gravel.
It's been a bit of an eyesore.
I mean, I absolutely think that
we shouldn't be getting rid of it.
It's much more sustainable
to be able to keep as much
of the materials that we
have on site. Yeah, of course.
You want to avoid things
going into landfill.
You know, there's an opportunity
to create perhaps a gravel garden,
so we could dig in the gravel
into the ground,
that will aid the drainage.
And then what we've selected is
plants that we're going to be able
to cope with dry, arid conditions,
poking up through the gravel.
Full of life. Full of life and
movement and light and colour.
It's going to be stunning.
I'm really excited.
I'm really excited.
You're getting me very excited.
We want to replace their old
straight path with one that winds
through the garden, something
garden designers do to create
a more relaxing journey.
If you mark out where you envisage
the path going and then we'll try
and lay out some plants and think
about where the plants might go
in relation to the path.
That's it, in a nice, nice curve.
Imagine the tree's going
to be up and out the way.
When you're plotting out
a garden path,
the key isn't getting there
as quickly as possible.
It's about creating a journey.
Not the straightest.
Beautiful, beautiful.
This essentially is going to become
a planted border,
and we'll maybe nibble into the path
with some plants as well.
So it's a little bit more
sort of organic.
Yeah.
With a new path taking shape,
we need a destination
at the end of it,
so this is where we call
on carpentry king Bruce Kenneth.
Hey, guys, how are you?
The sensory garden isn't
just all about the plants.
It's about the furniture as well.
The furniture allows you to sit
back and take in the sights
and the sounds
and the smells and relax.
It's very important
to be able to do that.
What have you got for us?
A bit of a surprise.
So, we've got raised beds.
Oh, that's lovely.
First in are the sleepers,
which are going to become
a raised bed.
Raised beds are a great thing for
any garden. Here in particular
we're going to plant tea.
Raised beds are a great way
of introducing different soil
into your garden.
And this sunny corner is a perfect
growing spot for Ciara and Neha
to get gardening.
It's the use of a dead space,
because there's not much else
you can put here. So it's really
utilising this little corner here.
Raised beds are a great place to sow
seeds, and this is the perfect time
to get planting.
But there's another job
that you can be doing
this weekend - pruning.
And I'm getting started on Ciara
and Neha's treasured pineapple
broom tree that's in need of some
care after taking a battering
in a storm.
Trees, plants, woody shrubs
often respond to being cut,
and they respond to being cut
by some sort of vigorous growth.
So, now it's spring.
It's starting to warm up
a little bit.
Now's a good time to do this prune
for this particular species.
Once you've checked out the best
time of year for your type of tree
or shrub, pruning can be
a great way of tidying it up
and stimulating new growth.
This pineapple broom is struggling.
It's sort of falling over,
so something's not quite right.
I think it's worth
trying to save it.
I think there's a there's
a few things to consider,
these three Ds.
As a general rule of pruning
of any shrub, if you look for dead,
diseased and damaged.
The first D is for dead.
So we're looking for branches
with no green under the bark
and no signs of new growth.
You don't want to snag the tree
in any way.
That takes off the weight.
And the reason why you're doing
that is because if you were to just
cut in down here, the weight
will fall and then you create a tear
down the bark.
We're going to take this bit off.
Nice clean cut.
With the first D sorted,
next look for disease or damage.
You don't want anywhere where
there's friction, so you can sort
of see up here.
We've got two branches crossing,
and every time the wind blows,
you can see that there's a rub.
And where we get a rub,
it creates a wound.
And then there's
a route in for infection.
So they'll have to go.
Might need you to support this,
Joel.
As well as dealing with the three
Ds, pruning can also open up
congested canopies, give shape,
and increase production
of flowers and fruit.
It's a bit of a tangle.
Go on.
Oh, you let it drop.
It's worse than untangling me beard.
Watch your head.
Oh, me hat!
All right? I mean, already
it's looking healthier.
Feeling much more open, isn't it?
All the light's coming through.
A little bit of light,
a little bit of air coming in.
Oh, it's nice. Lovely weather.
A bit of pruning.
Oh, never happier.
Still to come, I visit the gravel
garden created by one
of the first garden revolutionaries.
It feels almost as if we're walking
through a natural landscape.
That's right.
And I'll show you how selecting
the right plants for your soil
and aspect reaps rewards.
And that's what's going to
keep them happy and alive.
Across the UK, a revolution is under
way with loads of us ditching
the manicured lawns...
I'm trying to build a meadow for
the bees and the butterflies.
..to create sanctuaries to relax in.
We've got some lovely
stinging nettles
which we've allowed to just flower.
The pollinators love them,
and so do we.
This is my happy place.
You come out, hear the birds.
This week, we're all about gardens
to reignite the senses.
And in Chichester,
we're creating the perfect space
for two mental health workers
to recharge.
Regeneration is the name of the game
today, and I've got a great makeover
for the deck that anyone
can build this weekend.
This is actually an old washing
machine drum, and this is an old car
rim, and I'm going to
make a fire pit.
This is a great way
to upcycle things.
This is stainless steel,
so it's perfect for outdoors.
It will last a long time.
It's already perforated,
so it'll allow the oxygen
to get in the fire and fuel it.
It couldn't be more perfect
for a fire pit.
This can be picked
up at any scrapyard.
People sell the drums and rims
online so you can put two together.
It's actually a lot cheaper
than buying it from a store,
and it's actually better made.
Assembly couldn't be easier.
The washing machine drum
already has a threaded centre,
so all you need is a bracket
and a 10mm bolt to hold
the two parts together.
And there you have it.
Fire pit in under five minutes.
You can't beat it.
As our transformation continues...
I'd go on there.
..we've found just the thing
to add structure
and delineate the new,
calmer route through the garden.
Needs another one there.
To punctuate the journey,
we're introducing boulders
that you can get delivered
by your local stone merchant.
It's quite nice, isn't it?
Yeah, it's nice, that.
That's a cluster...
Big clumps, big clumps.
And then there's still room
for any other rocks as well.
Yeah.
Let's go with that. Yeah.
Just to keep things moving.
Winding its way through the rocks,
our new path will be nestled with
sensory plants like scent-filled
rosemary and grasses
that sing in the wind.
That's pretty spot on.
That's quite good, isn't it?
Yeah. Leave it there!
They really give it spirit,
don't they?
It's really quite amazing.
Just a couple of bits of rock.
With any sensory path,
it's important to think about
what sort of sound it will make
under your feet.
So we have gone with 10mm pea
shingle over the existing gravel.
Just the sound that this makes
as you walk on it.
Yeah, it's lovely.
I like how it sort of subtly
delineates a path.
It's just a suggestion of path,
isn't it?
Without screaming, "I'm a path."
It's whispering.
"Walk here."
I love it.
As we continue to add more sensory
features to the space...
I think it's going to work.
It's only going to get better.
I feel relaxed.
..to get some extra tips on
how to connect with your space,
I'm heading to a revolutionary
garden that I've always
dreamed of visiting.
Have you got this?
No. But I keep meaning to get these.
Elephants' ears.
My mum's got them. Yeah.
In Essex, Julia has kindly agreed
to show me the life's work
of her grandmother, pioneering
plants woman Beth Chatto.
In the '70s and '80s,
her garden revolutionised
the horticultural world in ways
that continue to be
cutting edge to this day.
In gardening circles,
Beth Chatto is a true revolutionary.
She's a real inspiration of mine,
and she's famous for this phrase
that everyone uses these days.
Right plant, right place.
Yeah.
You look at the conditions that
the plant's going to grow in.
That's the soil that you're going
to be putting into, whether it's
free draining, whether it isn't,
whether it's going to be in
sunlight, whether it isn't,
and then choosing a plant that's
going to enjoy those conditions.
And if you're working with nature,
those plants
are going to be so much happier.
I think still in this country,
there's a culture of still choosing
the plants that you like
and then trying to make them fit
in your garden.
And we need to think about turning
that on its head and saying,
"Understand your conditions."
This five-acre site was once
farmland besieged
by brambles and bog.
Yet today this space is filled
with plants that have been chosen
for the conditions.
But at the time, many didn't believe
it could become a garden.
When your grandma first started
to exhibit, and she thought
she was exhibiting weeds?
That's right. She brought some of
these more naturalistic plants.
They were saying,
"What are you doing? You can't
show these. They're weeds."
And that became the future
of gardening in a lot of ways.
So much of Beth's ethos
can be applied to gardens
or balconies around the country.
From Mediterranean sun-loving plants
in those bright spots
to showcasing damp, friendly species
in a boggy area.
We're actually creating a garden,
which is quite similar
to a garden that you have here,
the gravel garden.
Ah, right.
Well, that is the perfect
example of the right plant
in the right place.
Up Above The Wetlands is one
of Beth's most legendary creations,
and it's something that can inspire
anyone with a tricky area
they want to see
reach its potential.
Why is this such a good example
of "right plants right place"?
Well, it was a car park,
but she just decided that she wanted
to create a dry, planted area.
I get the impression
from your grandma
it seemed like
it's almost a challenge.
The most inhospitable place.
That's right.
Well, some of these plants
are from really hot climates,
sort of could be from desert
conditions, you know,
poor soil conditions.
That's what they want.
They like poor soil.
They like poor soil, that's right.
I want you to treat them badly.
That's right.
Treat 'em mean, keep 'em keen.
That's it.
The other nice thing about poor
soil conditions is the weeds
don't like it.
We'll be happy about that.
Less weeding? Yes, less weeding.
We all like that.
This gravel garden is filled with
amazing drought-resistant plants
from grasses to salvias.
But if you've got a dry spot,
there's a plant here that I think
is a perfect starting point.
And here's the famous euphorbia.
Absolutely.
Beth absolutely loved it,
especially at this time of the year
when it's so vibrant.
You can throw this plant
anywhere, can't you?
In planting the euphorbia
this garden shows us a simple
technique of how to plant
in a naturalistic way.
Seeing the euphorbia shine along
the path feels almost as if walking
through a natural landscape.
One of the ways that Beth would
do that is the repetition of plants,
which should lead your eye.
So, if you were looking
at the euphorbias,
as you go down the garden,
you can see them repeated again.
Gorgeous, isn't it?
Yeah, it is beautiful.
Absolutely lovely.
Back in Chichester,
our sensory garden is a hive
of activity, but with the whole team
on the job,
the transformation
is moving forwards at pace.
Ease it into the hole.
Yeah, slide it into it. OK.
That was a bit stressful.
Perfect fit.
Except for your drill's
inside behind the glass!
With the safety glass
for the new window safely in place,
the shed's refresh
is almost complete.
But when it comes
to planting,
there's some serious groundwork
every new gardener needs
to get to grips with.
And it starts with the very soil
under your feet.
The ground's been compacted
underneath.
You can sort of see
that it's quite solid.
All of the plants
that we've selected for this garden
are sort of drought-tolerant
species.
They all require sort
of a free-draining soil.
So we're going to dig over this
compacted earth and incorporate
as much pea shingle as we can.
Whatever type of plants
you're considering,
you're going to need a healthy root.
And getting air
into compacted soil is essential.
And you want to go to a good depth.
So you want... Ideally we want
at least your fork's sort of spit
step deeper if you can,
and just sort of work over the soil.
It's good to spend
some time with this.
This is going to be
the foundation for your garden.
It's important.
With the soil broken up, next we
want to think about drainage,
especially if you're using
drought-tolerant plants.
So digging in this pea shingle,
it's a really gritty soil mix.
There's going to be air space
in this and it's just going
to aid drainage.
I mean, this combination
of plants here.
Mediterranean species, you know,
they grow in gritty,
free-draining conditions.
We're recreating
a similar environment
to where they'd be originally from.
And that's what's going to
keep them happy and alive.
The soil isn't the only thing
being revitalised.
The rundown shed has its black
cladding on, but I want to finish
it with something equally as bold.
In nature circles,
the opposite of black is...
Oh, wow,
that's not what I expected.
You've got to be bold.
Yeah, it's the bumblebees.
It's the colours of nature.
It's nice in a sensory garden,
you know,
to have that visual impact,
because your eyes are one
of your senses, after all.
Yeah.
This is actually based on
a bit of a hero of mine,
Derek Jarman's Prospect Cottage.
Situated on the Kent coastline
in the shadow of the Dungeness
Nuclear Power Station, the director
and artist cultivated his garden
amongst the shingle that surrounds
this Victorian fisherman's cottage.
His brutalist reflection
of the landscape blends driftwood
sculptures with hardy plants
selected to survive
the extreme coastal weather.
In some ways, that house and the
gardener he became almost
as famous as some of his film work,
certainly in my circles. Yeah.
As a queer film-maker,
and as part of a gay couple,
we have to recognise the people
who came before, who allowed us
the society we have today
that is that bit
more liberal and welcoming.
Derek Jarman, I think,
was very much one of those people.
Well, that's a bonus, isn't it?
I mean, it's a lovely little,
little hint.
Ciara and Neha's
tired old outbuilding
isn't the only thing in need
of a lick of fresh paint.
All I'm going to do
is just mix this up.
With both treated
and half-painted panels,
I want to bring everything together
with one colour.
Just adding some water
and giving it a good stir.
And that's it, and away we go.
Even though it's darker, it actually
makes things look brighter.
It feels like it's a background
against which things will pop.
That's exactly right.
Colours will pop against it.
It's a lovely colour,
and it goes on nicely.
The gardening bug
has swept the nation,
welcoming revolutionaries
of all ages.
I'm going to gently squeeze
the person to help me pull this out,
and now I'm going to pull it
from the roots into the pot.
And over in his urban garden
in North London, the newest recruit
to the revolution is Radio 1 DJ
and presenter Greg James.
Right. It's going.
I'm going to cut it. There.
There we go.
I've been an avid gardener
since... Well, since I was a kid.
And I've really rediscovered it,
I think, in the last few years.
I get quite stressed
doing my job and quite tired,
so I come out here
and fiddle with some soil
and I feel happy again.
There's a lemon!
Two lemons.
So, this was in a pot
for about two years.
And so I took it out of its pot
and put it in the ground.
And it was more of a fat olive
than a lemon.
But we're trying, aren't we?
We're trying our best.
I've got an olive tree
which is nine foot tall.
And I've had it for five years,
and it's given me half an olive.
So the return on that
is actually excellent.
While some gardeners dream
of winning a gold at Chelsea,
Greg's horticultural ambitions
are much more down to earth.
I found a man called Rupert
who helped me do the turf.
I mean, helped me.
He did most of it.
I did a bit of forking.
He said, if you leave it too long
and then you cut it,
you shock the grass, and you don't
want to shock grass.
When we moved here,
it was paving slabs.
The ground underneath
was so dead that grass didn't take.
"The grass won't take.
"The grass will never take."
But now, today is the first day
of the rest of my life,
and this new, beautiful turf
which is down.
And I'm going to plug it
with wild flowers.
I've always just wanted to have
a cricket pitch, and I sort of,
I wanted to be a groundsman.
I love the sort of technical stuff
about different types of grass
that they make pitches out of
and how finely cut it is
and how close it is,
and the make-up of the soil
and how the ball moves.
I think I'd be happy.
Still to come... I make some
stylish, multi-purpose seating
to save on storage.
Almost there.
It's a work of art.
Thank you, buddy.
And I'll show you how to plant
for a perfect brew.
Have a smell of that one.
Strawberry mint.
Strawberry mint?
Strawberry?
Oh, my goodness.
It's incredible, isn't it?
The flavour, that's incredible.
Across the UK, the garden revolution
is sweeping the nation,
with young recruits leading the way
forward for a greener future.
We need to give it a bit of a water,
do you think you could do that?
Back in Chichester as the planting
phase finally gets under way,
this once lifeless garden
is in for a sensory overload.
I've got this, they're really lovely
soft grasses... Lovely.
..they're going to seed in.
It'll start to look much
more natural because you'll see
little Stipa babies appear
down by the side.
So, this is salvia argentea.
Look at that. It's like a fabric.
Fluffy. Fluffy, yeah. Almost
doesn't feel real, does it? No.
And then we've got these
lovely thymes.
And the idea with having those so
close to the path is they throw
up a nice, nice smell.
I love the smell of thyme.
Really, really lovely.
We have so many amazing plants
to go in their garden,
but even if you only have a balcony
at home,
there's always room for more.
So I'm going to use a basic garden
skill to turn one plant into many,
and it's a job anyone can do
this weekend - propagation.
It's a way of creating more plants
for free and we can plant them
in the garden here.
But it's a nice thing
to give away to your friends
and neighbours as well.
So essentially you're looking
for non-flowering material.
You want the plant to be pest
and disease free.
So, this is looking good.
I'm going to show you how to
propagate from woody herbs
like thyme and lavender.
And this young rosemary is perfect.
What we're going to do here
is we're going to do
some heel cuttings.
So the way that you do
that is you peel them off,
and you have this this little
tail that comes off here.
Trim that off.
What you're actually creating
there is a greater surface area
and with a greater surface area
you've got much more opportunity
for roots.
For Mediterranean herbs like this,
you'll need a mix of compost,
soil, grit.
And then you've got to prepare
the material, so strip off the lower
leaves because if those went
into the soil,
they'll just rot.
Just insert those around the edge
of the pot.
They're not going to sit in any wet
soil around the edge of the pot
and it's nice and warm
in by the side.
And just work around the pot.
Space them around the pot at six
centimetre intervals,
giving them room to root.
And I quite like to have all the
cutting material roughly the same
size because then you know that
all your plants are going
to be roughly the same size
when you produce them.
With the cuttings in place,
dress the pot with grit
to help retain moisture,
then give your cuttings a good soak
and finally cover with polythene bag
and secure in place
with an elastic band.
There you go.
So there's a bit of a race on now
for the plants to develop roots
before they wither and die.
By popping a polythene bag
over the top, we're essentially
creating a bit of a microclimate.
So this is just basically buying us
a little bit more time, holding
moisture around those cuttings.
And then you want to position
that in a bit of semi shade.
Then in a few weeks' time,
they will have rooted.
At which point
you'd probably want to pot them on.
With Neha and Ciara's
future plants taken care of,
we're making use of Bruce's
raised bed to connect them
to their garden through taste.
So, ladies, you like to make
tea a lot. Yeah.
I'm aware of this because you've
already made me a nice cup of tea.
Have a smell of that one.
This is a strawberry mint.
Strawberry mint?
Strawberry.
Oh, my goodness.
It's incredible.
Lemon verbena, this.
Oh, yes.
It's the Rolls-Royce
of tea-making plants.
Is it? If you smell it,
it's so instantly strong.
It's lemon. Yes, oh, my goodness.
It's almost unbelievable, that.
That's incredible. It has that
amount of aromas, doesn't it?
But let's get some in the ground.
Yeah.
Yeah, sure.
We're planting, mint,
verbena and yarrow,
but there are lots you can try,
like lavender, lemon balm and thyme
to make your own blend.
There's lots of reason why gardening
is good for your mental health. Mm.
It stops you thinking, really.
Because you've got tasks
and you usually accomplish them
because it's very simple.
You see the fruits of your labour.
Yeah.
Even just getting your hands
dirty to me is lovely. Yeah.
We don't see it as dirt
in the gardening world.
That's gorgeous. Soil...
That's life giving.
Yeah.
With some lovely herbs ready to go,
I've brought along my tea box...
Oh, sweet.
Wow.
..so we can have a little taste.
Why don't you have a little go
with the yarrow?
Yeah. Because, again,
this is going to be strong.
If you're trying to
get the juices going a bit.
Yes. You just give them a smash here
and a little...
..twiddle before they go in.
With a bit of boiling water,
we're ready for a brew.
Well, let's try this out, shall we?
Sounds good.
Yeah. Let's have a taste.
I love that. That's lovely.
Actually can taste it.
I love it when it's subtle.
Very fresh.
Yeah.
I'd genuinely drink this every day.
It's really lovely.
With the tea garden taking up
residence in Bruce's raised beds,
our woodworking wizard is also
building something sleek
and multi-functional to take care
of all those handy garden tools.
The biggest thing about the sensory
garden is you really need a place
to relax and sit, so what I'm making
is a set of benches.
The idea is to have these benches
double up as a storage area
and a seating area.
Everything's going to be a real
clean aesthetic, so you get a few
people around it, the lids will lift
up so you can hide things.
I don't want the yard to get full
of clutter, so I want them
to have a nice place for them
to have just a cup of tea.
So, first step, we have to create
the frames for these benches.
This is off the shelf
tanalised timber.
If you don't like this raw finish,
you can sand it, you can paint it,
you can make it look however
you want.
As long as you protect it outside,
it should be fine.
So I've got all my components
cut for the bench.
So what'll I'll do now is I'm just
going to screw these together.
I'd say the style is kind
of like almost
a brutalist-like style.
It's very angular.
I do respect a good curve,
but I really like clean lines.
It's just beautiful to look at
and that's what I try to achieve
in a piece. These are going to be
the faces of the bench.
So this is the wood that's on show.
I chose an Iroko
because it's good outside.
So I've got everything cut
the length.
All I've got to do is start hanging
it and screwing it on the frame.
Gardens can really come
into their own
when they have the right
piece of furniture.
They are an extension of us
and we should show off our style.
We should show off what we're into,
just like we do inside.
With the planting beginning to take
shape, the seating area can now
take its place on the deck.
Almost there.
It's a work of art.
Thank you, buddy.
All this needs now is a final
protective layer to stand up
to the famous British weather.
Hi, Bruce.
Hi, Ciara. How you been?
Yeah, good. Good. This is looking
amazing. Thank you.
That's your new seating/storage.
Looks fab. Thank you.
So what I've done was made
you a nice L set of seating here
out of Iroko.
This is just beautiful. Thank you.
Kind of any of the junk
that you have knocking about the
yard you can put in here.
And it will age
and it'll look beautiful.
So what we're doing now is just
giving it a nice coat of oil.
This will help protect it.
This also really makes the colour
come out and really stand out.
My ethos, a lot of times,
is trying to make things pretty
and still simple and functional.
No, it's really beautiful.
The oil brings out the colour
and brings out that,
the life in the wood.
I love a bit of teak oil.
It really makes it shine -
quite literally. It does.
The garden revolution is open
to all and everyone has a corner
where they can engage the senses.
TINKLING
We can hear. We can see.
We can touch.
So use the hashtag
if you're joining in.
As the garden revolution
takes hold across the UK...
Welcome to our home.
..we've been refreshing
and enhancing our gardens
to restore our wellbeing.
In Chichester, the Cattras' garden
is abuzz with activity
as all the elements of our sensory
garden come together.
Let's get them in the ground.
And we've left no stone
unturned in our quest
to invigorate the senses.
There's few things as relaxing
as hearing the sound of water
bubbling away, and it's an absolute
must in a sensory garden.
I'm going to be making a pebble
pond, and it's going to be perfect
for this garden because,
as you can see, it's already
filled with pebbles.
If you want to create a relaxing
sound this weekend, there are a few
tips to follow that will keep
things flowing.
It couldn't be more simple, really.
The bucket goes into it
and your pump's going to go
at the bottom of there.
You can pick these up from any good
garden centre or aquatic centre,
but I've made them before just
out of an old bucket or a trug,
and I've used an old oven shelf on
the top because that's how basic
it is really.
So, we've got our reservoir.
All we're going to need
now is a pump.
If you don't have electricity,
solar versions will be fine
in a sunny spot.
The mesh goes on top, like so...
And then we're going to test
that out first, make sure
it's working properly. So we're just
going to fill it with water.
While Joel fills up his pebble pond,
I'm on to the final bit of planting
near the decking area.
So this was a, this was a really
tiny, narrow border up the side
of the garden.
It's pretty standard for what
you sort of see in many gardens
up and down the country.
We've just expanded it and through
having a greater depth,
you get to place different plants
next to one another.
It just looks a little bit
more interesting, a little bit
more creative. As this is
a sensory garden,
we've got different smells here,
we've got the lavender -
that's going to smell lovely
with something to eat
in the bronze fennel.
And that's going to be up, up here,
quite statuesque.
Got this lovely Stipa tenuissima
that sort of like will blow
around in the wind and sort of
create a bit of transparency again.
Spacing, really, really important.
It's tempting to cram
the garden full.
And I love plants.
And even my wife sort of says to me
and she's not a gardener, really,
but she says to me,
"Errol, too many plants."
You've got to give them
space to grow.
Just going to get this lavender in.
It's just gorgeous scent.
And as soon as you get the sun on
it, it sort of releases the oils
and it just smells really delicious.
Planting at the right depth
is important as well.
With plants to touch,
taste and smell...
Firm it in. ..and the sensory
planting almost complete,
I'm dressing my pebble pond to blend
seamlessly with its surroundings.
I've chosen a selection of rocks
for the water to cascade over.
I'm just building this up
and then we're just filling
in any of the gaps, gradually
building it up into something
that looks nice.
And already it's transformed
the whole feel of the garden.
It's suddenly turned into,
like, a beach atmosphere.
Oh, it sounds nice, doesn't it?
A few days ago, the Cattras' back
garden was a rundown,
barren gravel yard, lacking any sign
of life or colour.
Ciara and Neha desperately needed
a place where they could unwind
and recharge away from the stresses
of work.
Now, this garden is transformed...
..into a stunning space
to invigorate the senses.
The reclad outbuilding
with my bold picture window
has become a refuge to create
and make, as well as the perfect
backdrop to frame the garden.
The winding path around
the old pineapple broom is peppered
with plants to touch and smell.
And even the old gravel has found
a new purpose in formally
inviting you to go slow.
The rustling grasses, babbling water
feature and sense of planting
all come together in this journey
of the senses.
My seating area, table and firepit
provide the ideal space for spending
more time outdoors.
And the raised tea bed is a growing
reminder of the calming power
of Mother Nature.
Now this garden is a tranquil urban
oasis, perfect for this couple
to relax together.
It was a space where we just walked
through as a functional thing
to get to a shed that just was
a dumping zone.
And we didn't love the garden.
It was purely the thing in the way.
Now we'll want to spend time out
here, take herbs from the garden,
and put them in our food
and learn to play with the garden.
I absolutely love this garden.
I think we've really injected
some life into the space,
which before was basically
a waste ground.
I think it's a garden
that they'll be really proud of.
They look really comfortable
in the space now, and it feels
as though they've made the shift
towards gardening.
What's really nice about it is
a sense of peace,
the touch and textures
and colours and sounds.
It's come together
really beautifully.
The transformation is nothing
short of amazing here.
The planting, the rocks, the shed,
the furniture there.
And it went from a very blank canvas
to a very interactive experience.
And this garden is so much
more than a space
to reawaken the senses.
It was really nice to get our hands
into the soil and experiment and not
be afraid of things not working.
So I'm really excited to give
that a go.
This garden is all about engaging
the senses.
It really transports you.
I feel like you're in another place.
I mean, just look at it.
It's amazing.
I'm genuinely envious of
this garden.
It just feels like a harmonious,
nice space that you want
to spend time in.
I'm really looking forward to
having all our friends and family.
All of the family. We've got these
little, lovely little cushions
that the little ones can sit,
can't they?
And a nice fire at night.
Yeah.
This weekend, if you get
the chance instead of just going
into your garden doing the jobs, why
not try just connecting a little bit
more with it?
Touch your plants, smell the aromas.
Get the feel of that soil.
Try to experience the moment,
because that is where gardening
is really at its most powerful.
Next time, we're all about grow
your own gardens
as we head to Bradford.
That's lovely.
I will polish this off in no time.
We show you how to look
after your produce
with natural pest management.
It's basically booby traps
to protect my plants.
Tweak a fence panel to spend
more time with your neighbour.
So you'll be able to set
it like this.
You can get some chairs underneath
it. And how to welcome
useful predators into your garden.
I'm going to do a little sign
so the hedgehog knows
which way to go.
Cheers, guys.
Cheers. Cheers.