the happy garden podcast

It's beginning to feel like Christmas! Mollie chats to loveachristmastree.co.uk about the ins and outs of hiring a tree for the festive season and Andy Lound brings you the fascinating history of the…

We meet a family who manufacture candles that smell of local landmarks - Cannock Chase being one example, along with local apples and bluebells. Andy Lound brings us the history of Cannock Chase too.…

Get cosy with us for an autumnal show. Mollie chats to Jim from the National Vegetable society and we hear how newby Dan is getting on having had his new allotment for a month now. Andy Lound has the…

The nicest guy in showbiz joins Mollie for a chat. The one and only Chesney Hawkes. Hear about how his Dad and Grandad inspired his love of horticulture and the beautiful reason for his favourite flo…

My goodness we cover a lot in this episode! Mollie has a fascinating conversation with Joe from the Bat Conservation Trust, finding out why it is so important to help and protect these beautiful crea…

In the run up to Halloween there's a slightly spooky feel to this week's episode! Andy Lound has a fascinating history of the pumpkin, we talk alternative uses for a pumpkin and Darren has even penne…

An episode full of spikes and scandal! Mollie finds out about a new national strategy to save our beautiful hedgehog and the fabulous Andy Lound brings us the history of the hedgehog, did you know th…

A celebration of conkers! Mollie finds out all about the World Conker Championships. Do you know they have a section for the blind? We find out if it's been a good year for conkers too and share some…

Meet 2 amazing giant vegetable growers at the Malvern Autumn Show! Dave had the 2nd biggest cucumber and he was very proud of it. Is there a knack to growing huge veg? Find out. Darren answers a grea…

Another bumper episode this week. From making chilli jam to finding out about this year's Malvern Autumn Show, there's lots to discuss! Darren profiles how to make pots and baskets full of Autumn col…

Released on the Autumn equinox! We meet Martin Fish, an RHS judge who will be judging at this year's Malvern Autumn show and also hosting the Potting Shed stage too. Darren answers lots of your autum…

Another bumper episode. This week Mollie chats to BHWT. The British hen welfare Trust have just re-homed their one millionth hen! She's gone to live in one of the most famous gardens in the UK. Darre…

Mollie here. I was going to put together some bits from our first year of podcasting but I only got as far as Christmas! So many giggles had. Thank you for all of your support over the last year, all…

Where are the wasps? Mollie asks Seirian Sumner, (AKA The Wasp Woman) a British entomologist and behavioural ecologist. She is a professor at University College London and is an expert in social wasp…

We're joined in conversation by Professor Rob Mckenzie, director of the Birmingham institute of forest research at Birmingham University. Research has found that mature trees are able to increase the…

So much gardening in one podcast episode! We meet Lizzy from Gloucester Cathedral and she tells us about some of the amazing work the cathedral and community are doing to re-wild the city. Andy Lound…

Andy Load, the general manager of The National Trust joins us with great news. The felled Sycamore Gap tree has started to regrow! After a nail biting 10 months, it seems nature will out. Darren answ…

August is one of the most beautiful times in the garden. So full of colour and produce. We take a look at some of the insects that you may see in your garden during August and Darren profiles what yo…

A fascinating episode! We talk flying ants. How do they all know when to fly? Why do they mate on the wing? We find out the answers. Darren talks about his huge landscape project which is nearly at t…

We chat to Matthew Ingram, a wonderful beekeeper who passion for bees has turned in to his business. Matthew started and runs Holt Hall Apiary in Staffordshire. We find out what beekeeping entails an…