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Sarahs Gardeners World
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Message 1.Â
Posted by paperwhite (U6380063) on Friday, 29th August 2008
What a beautiful programe. I remember walking through fields full of wild flowers when I was younger and although I still take regular walks through fields I wasn't aware until tonight that our native wild flowers are in quite so much danger. Watching this has inspired me do 'something' but I am not quite sure how to get started, perhaps I will tackle a local farmer who although keen on conservation has allowed our disused railway line which is on his land to become overgrown, almost in passable and I am sure because of this is not allowing enough light through to ground level. Wish me luck, I have never done anything like this before.
Paperwhite -
Message 2
Posted by adrian (U8591165) on Friday, 29th August 2008
I managed only half of it.
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Message 3
Posted by londonplantmad (U2392946) on Friday, 29th August 2008
I entirely agree how lovely this programme was. I sat down for a full hour engrossed in wild flowers. It was well presented and so enjoyable. It definitely will make me think about a wild flower area although i already have lots of native wild flowers. I have noticed more areas along the roadway are being managed better but they look so beautiful that we could never have enough. Forget G.W lets have more of these programs.
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Message 4
Posted by hereisabee (U2342191) on Friday, 29th August 2008
Apparently there are more deer in the countryside now, than any other time in history?
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Message 5
Posted by firefly (U2420226) on Friday, 29th August 2008
I thought tonight's programme was lovely. Whilst full of nostagia it also provided solutions to support and maintain our dwindling plant heritage. I invariably enjoy Sarah Raven's contributions to Gardeners World. Her horticultural interests are often outwith the mainstream but she manages to demonstrate a depth of knowledge and enthusiasm that is infectious.
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Message 6
Posted by janerowena (U10782401) on Friday, 29th August 2008
I couldn't think why there weren't any flowers in the forests around me. I was waiting in vain for at least bluebells this spring. I hadn't thought of the deer eating them all.
It was a lovely programme, even better because I know the owners of the wildflower meadow in Marden. I know the trouble they had establishing it in the 80s and the teasing they got from all of our friends. (Not me!) Then, once it got pretty, they had trouble stopping people from driving their cars into it and picnicking in it! -
Message 7
Posted by welshcol (U2301689) on Friday, 29th August 2008
What a beautiful programme..Â
I totally agree, a well filmed, easily watchable, chocolate boxy look at the poor state of wild flowers in the countryside. However I think the argument would have had a bit more credibility and balance if there had been a beleaguered farmer around to put his side of the discussion who was supposedly being made out to be the "bad boy" on the scene by digging up all the hedges, indiscriminate use of herbicides and pesticides etc. Little bit trite and unfair to paint such a black and white picture, however laudable the cause, that Sarah has in support of wild flowers.
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Message 8
Posted by tomstattyead (U4792618) on Friday, 29th August 2008
Where I live there are two rows of bungalows separated by a green with about 5 large trees down the centre
. The grass is regularly cut by the council. The grass in never collected and looks a mess
I wondered if this could be turned into a wild flower area.
I thought the program was inspirational.
Joan -
Message 9
Posted by greeneddy (U6603838) on Friday, 29th August 2008
I love native wildflowers, and really enjoyed the programme, overall, but by 8.30 I was twitching a bit, thinking "that's two programmes in consecutive weeks that have just shown lovely rural isn't our countryside beautiful and the people in it absolutely fabulous" stuff. Then there was a three minute slot near the end that said "and you poor people in the north can brighten up your grimy dreary living space too"! Was it Sheffield? (I lost the plot a bit cos my brother kept texting with the latest Man Utd score, which was worrying in itself, as the boys in red did not perform well. . ).
But yes, the presenters of GW are likely to have lovely gardens and live in the south, and its not really their fault! And I think the idea of linking up areas with wildflowers is like a eureka moment; I must admit I'd never thought before about how far a butterfly can fly before it 'runs out' of nectar - I'd just assumed that if you planted native wildflowers you would automatically get butterflies. So, go Sarah, and everyone else who feels inspired!
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Message 10
Posted by ArtemisHP (U12217956) on Friday, 29th August 2008
I fear I don't do nostalgia very well, and though I love wild flowers, this programme was too much of a good thing. I also fear that, paradoxically, I too live in the south!
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Message 11
Posted by greeneddy (U6603838) on Friday, 29th August 2008
And maybe I'm just feeling grumpy cos its been raining here most of the week and cos of that report that suggested paying people from up here to relocate to the beautiful south . . .grrr
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Message 12
Posted by hotsunlover (U5664870) on Friday, 29th August 2008
Don't relocate to the south if you want the sun - Scotland have had more this year!
I too thought this was a lovely programme and I watched it with my 10 year old son who wants us to go out tomorrow with my wildflower book and see what we can find in the hedgerows. If Sarah got my son interested then I take my hat off to her
.
We are very lucky to live in the countryside now and we all really love it. Coincidentally today I took my boys on a slight detour to show them where I lived (a vast, ugly, housing estate), where I went to school and where I worked and lived when I left home. This programme and our trip really bought home to my eldest just what he has on his doorstep. But the programme did show wild flowers and butterflies thriving right next to a motorway so I don't think it was exclusively aimed at those who live in the country. After all, my old home had a back garden too!
Well done Sarah. A really great programme
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Message 13
Posted by solario (U11983925) on Friday, 29th August 2008
Unfortunately I only saw the last ten minutes of the programme, and will have to hunt around for a repeat!
I'm very keen on wildflowers and in the spring I sowed some wildflower seed in my two acre meadow. Sadly, the native grasses completely overwhelmed the seedlings. I have just cut the meadows and will remove the hay to help impoverish the soil. I will further sow, after clearing some bare ground. Suttons Seeds sell blister packs of wildflower seed, which you might want to try. I do wish you lots of luck on the railway!! -
Message 14
Posted by Trillium (U2170869) on Friday, 29th August 2008
A pretty programme and an important topic, of course. And I don't like to niggle, but I started counting shots of Sarah's clearly interesting laced boots - through the surf, through the heather, through the grass, though another field etc. And the same thing said over and over about habitat loss while playing meaningfully threatening music. After about 20 minutes I was baying for some nugget of actual information - some plant names and some practical tips. We kind of got there in the end, via a foregone conclusion of a local campaign, but boy it was slow going.
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Message 15
Posted by greeneddy (U6603838) on Saturday, 30th August 2008
Ditto - there was a shot of her looking down at a verge, and saying "oh there's black medick (spelling? dunno) and hawkbit, and I thought "where? what do they look like?" cos they only showed her face . . . I guess I can google them now, of course, or look them up in a book, but as you say, if its a prog about wildflowers, lets see them, not her boots!
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Message 16
Posted by toonia (U4760062) on Saturday, 30th August 2008
I'm with Trillium and greeneddy.
It was nostalgic, sentimental and unrealistic.
Too much glove, boot and coat and not enough plant info.
I now feel ecological guilt every time I watch these programmes -fancy tearing up wild meadows to grow food, how shocking! Then I come to my senses and realise that man is also responsible for having made hedgerows and coppiced woods.
Then the irony of seeing SR talking to her neighbours surrounded by the very expensive plants she sells...! -
Message 17
Posted by blackeyedsusan (U2456655) on Saturday, 30th August 2008
I do agree with both the above comments, but enjoyed the programme anyway. Just to reply to message 9, it was Sheffield - to me that was one of the most interesting bits, i.e. wildflowers and green spaces etc. etc. in urban areas where most of us live.
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Message 18
Posted by Ken Smart (U1158196) on Saturday, 30th August 2008
And I don't like to niggle, but I started counting shots of Sarah's clearly interesting laced boots And I don't like to niggle, but I started counting shots of Sarah's clearly interesting laced boots Â
And of course, I don't like to niggle either - BUT - I also became fascinated by what the hairoil this footwear obsession is all about. Last week it was Rachel's laceless baseball boots, this week it was the Sarah's 'bovver' boots. Nevertheless, I found that I had actually enjoyed the programme, so there must have been many redeeming features on offer. The string of exciting 'discoveries' by Sarah (when the camera is rolling) is stretching viewer gullibility too far, but I suppose this is how they do it these days in TV-land. I thought it was serious subject which got the message across, and it was another reminder of just how lovely our 'wild' plants actually are. -
Message 19
Posted by Ariadne Knickerbocker (U4534559) on Saturday, 30th August 2008
Ha ha I'm with Trillium etc. too.
I was also fascinated with the boots, coats, clogs etc. I also noticed that when she was giving the talk to all the local bods that she failed to answer the questions properly (no doubt cut by the producers!????). For instance someone asked (something along the lines of) what was the difference in part of the nectar "stream" being an ordinary flower garden rather than a wildlife one. This was fudged in a way that suggested that actually there was little difference other than Sarah wanted a wildlife scheme and the bugs and bees might quite like it too.
The problem with all this lite stuff is that it sentimentalizes and therefore to an extent trivializes some very important issues.
That having been said the wildlife meadows shown were beautiful and inspiring and if even one council converts a bit of wasteland into a flower meadow then it will be worth it. -
Message 20
Posted by Boofer (U3709461) on Saturday, 30th August 2008
I live in rural Devon but visited Telford recently.
The Council has planted up the roundabouts with wild flowers. The Council in Shrewsbury apparently tried to do the same but because of different (presumably better) soil it was a failure.
I much preferred the Telford roundabouts to the ones in the towns where I live. -
Message 21
Posted by Pete-Free (U7363826) on Saturday, 30th August 2008
Brilliant programme Sarah. I wish you were on tv more. Common sense, factual, straight to the point. (Perhaps a bit less of the boots and posey shots camera team.)
It's inspired me to contact the local wildlife trust to find out which wild flower seeds are best to sow on a grotty strip of wasted land on my little road in a big urban area. -
Message 22
Posted by londonplantmad (U2392946) on Saturday, 30th August 2008
This program did not need to give us the finer details. It told us the problems and as adults we should be able to find out the rest. It obviously held our attention as we watched the program. I think it was well presented it did give some nostalgia but whats wrong with that. We all know Sarah Ravens clothes style and her personality. She is also a well educated knowledgeable woman. Last week there were moans about Carol not getting gardeners world because she was a woman. When will all this stop. This is about ordinary people being asked to think about planting wild flowers. Its not a north south divide either anyone can do it. There are areas all over England that could be used. The ones i have already seem look beautiful.
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Message 23
Posted by tomstattyead (U4792618) on Saturday, 30th August 2008
Greeneddy,
Don't you know that this North/South thing is a scam started by Northerners. We didn't want Southerners finding out how beautiful the North is.
They only want us to relocate, south so they can all move to the Beautiful, exhilarating, passionate North.
My Mother was a Southerner. Joan -
Message 24
Posted by Pip (U2800217) on Saturday, 30th August 2008
I loved this programme too, though only got to see the first part. What a talented chap her dad was!
PS:on one of the other Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú boards, there's mention of an Adam Nicholson who was given an island. I seem to remember Sarah Raven's Veg book mentioning that her husband owned an island, and I think his name was Adam. Is it the same guy? -
Message 25
Posted by ~:*-Venus-*:~ (U218978) on Saturday, 30th August 2008
I thought the programme was great, it took me back to my childhood and flower hunting. I just wish i knew then what i know now, i would have made more notes of the flowers that i saw. Sadly most have long since become rare. I've tried to get my grandchildren interesting in wild flowers, without much success.
It has inspired me to add more wild flowers to my garden, but this time i would like to have a small area of meadow. I already have wild orchids growing in my grass, where i hope to create this tiny meadow. I think Chiltern seeds sell the Yellow Rattle to get rid of the tough grass. It remains to be seen how successful my attempt will be. -
Message 26
Posted by Pip (U2800217) on Saturday, 30th August 2008
Aha - just G*ogled to see if The Cutting Garden is still available and yes indeed, Mr Nicolson and Dr Raven are a pair!
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Message 27
Posted by welshcol (U2301689) on Saturday, 30th August 2008
I seem to remember Sarah Raven's Veg book mentioning that her husband owned an island, and I think his name was Adam. Is it the same guy?Â
You are right I vaguely remember a TV series with him going around Britain where he nearly got drowned!!.
Confirmation at
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Message 28
Posted by Trillium (U2170869) on Saturday, 30th August 2008
I do have a perennial flower meadow area with plenty of yellow rattle so the coarser grasses are being kept down, I presume. But what I have far too much of is plantain. It's too big an area to dig some of them out, but if anyone knows what might help keep the flower/plantain balance I'd be pleased to know about it.
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Message 29
Posted by Pete-Free (U7363826) on Saturday, 30th August 2008
Yes it is the same guy greebosnanny. Adam Nicolson inherited The Shiant Isles in the Hebrides when he was 21. He's an author like his grand parents Harold Nicolson and Vita Sackville West of Sissinghurst fame.
Can recommend his book "Perch Hill: A new Life". What a talented family aren't they. -
Message 30
Posted by GardenGnome (U4271468) on Saturday, 30th August 2008
You northeners can stay op there thank you! We cant move for bods in London & the south east as it is! Thought the prog was lovely to look at (Midsomer ish). I was struck by SR talking about her dad with such obvious affection.
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Message 31
Posted by Boofer (U3709461) on Sunday, 31st August 2008
Adam Nicolson was on Radio 4 last week reading from his book 'Sissinghurst: An Unfinished History' which tells what it was like growing up there and what his plans are for the future. It's still available on Listen Again.
Useful sites for wildflowers are
www.floralocale.org.uk
www.plantlife.org.uk
and
On the last one you can enter your postcode to find out what should be growing in your area.
Didn't Christine Walkden plant an old railway line with wildflowers on 'Christine's Garden'? -
Message 32
Posted by janerowena (U10782401) on Sunday, 31st August 2008
If you remember, Monty interviewed a man about his life at Sissinghurst in the '80 Gardens' series. That was Adam Nicolson. I knew his father. They have the same nose.
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Message 33
Posted by Trillium (U2170869) on Sunday, 31st August 2008
Well Sarah is a blessed woman indeed. A legacy of deep botanic knowledge and drawings from her father, partnered up with the 'resident donor' of Sissinghurst/inheritee of an island, a friend in Monty Don and an idyllic home in the Sussex countryside. And a nice person to boot, so I'm told!
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Message 34
Posted by Paul N (U6451125) on Monday, 1st September 2008
As much as I like Sarah Raven, after fifteen minutes I was reaching for the channel changer. My eye lids just couldn't cope. Sorry.
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Message 35
Posted by Nooj (U3233455) on Monday, 1st September 2008
I think sharing a nose with your Dad is taking economy too far
We are only in the beginning of the recession -
Message 36
Posted by paperwhite (U6380063) on Monday, 1st September 2008
Nooj, perhaps you would like to explain your posting?
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Message 37
Posted by Obelixx (U2157162) on Tuesday, 2nd September 2008
See message 32 Paperwhite. Easy.
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Message 38
Posted by janerowena (U10782401) on Tuesday, 2nd September 2008
Trust Nooj to lower the tone! (Further!)
My mother lives nearby to them. I should be grateful she wasn't on the programme. She's excruciatingly embarrassing at it is! She would have waved. At the very least. -
Message 39
Posted by GardenerSharon (U10844368) on Tuesday, 2nd September 2008
yes
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Message 40
Posted by TallyHo (U2364821) on Tuesday, 2nd September 2008
"partnered up with the 'resident donor' of Sissinghurst/inheritee of an island"
Couldn't we say "married to..."? I find the phrase 'partnered up with' makes it sound as though Sarah and Adam's marriage is some sort of corporate merger not a married couple with children.
Great programme. I liked the way it wasn't just "look at the pretty flowers and isn't it a shame they're dying out... etc." and actually got on with a local project to put them back. Made me wonder about an area of woodland nearby which used to be coppiced but hasn't been coppiced for at least 30 years (except by me for the odd bundle of hazel poles) with the result that there are very few species of plant under the constant shade canopy. I might find out who owns it and get the coppicing cylce started again. -
Message 41
Posted by Trillium (U2170869) on Tuesday, 2nd September 2008
I'm not usually once for mincing word, TallyHo, but since they don't share a surname I didn't like to presume!
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Message 42
Posted by Boofer (U3709461) on Tuesday, 2nd September 2008
According to this they are married:
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Message 43
Posted by londonplantmad (U2392946) on Tuesday, 2nd September 2008
Lots of married people do not share surnames for professional reasons. Is it really anyones business anyway apart from them. I thought this was about wild flowers not tittle tattle.
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Message 44
Posted by copperarcher (U13245306) on Tuesday, 2nd September 2008
It did get a lot more interesting and there was a fantastic 99 year old gentleman at the end who had some words of wisdom!
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