TV and Radio permalink
Up North
This discussion has been closed.
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Message 1.Â
Posted by JohnHickling (U13479205) on Friday, 3rd October 2008
Can we please have a feature garden up North. We have Carol's garden in Devon, Joe's allotment in London and Berryfields. I live in Northumberland - where it is a totally different proposition to gardening down South!
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Message 2
Posted by mcspanna (U7544489) on Friday, 3rd October 2008
I'll second that, not quite as far north (just below Manchester) but it'd still be much appreciated
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Message 3
Posted by Trillium (U2170869) on Friday, 3rd October 2008
I was only thinking much the same earlier this week when GT mentioned his two frosts. He's up near Durham. I'm in Cheshire, it's 8pm and 4C outside and falling. I'm expecting our first frost tonight - or very close anyway - and it will be at least 7 months before I can be confident of no more.
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Message 4
Posted by carriefie (U5414327) on Friday, 3rd October 2008
Don't be silly. Don't you realise that we in the "north" are thick, stupid, go around in cloth caps and clogs, eat nothing but chips and pies and are most certainly on the dole!!
Or at least a lot of southern television makers would like to think.
Let them prove us otherwise. -
Message 5
Posted by Yakram (U2443370) on Friday, 3rd October 2008
You forgot t'whippets and t'allotments wi big leeks and marrers. I won't mention t'pigeon lofts.
There's a nice 2-acre kitchen garden not too far from Manchester, which the Ö÷²¥´óÐã filmed in about three years ago for the history of the walled garden special. Seven years ago it was the largest re-creation of a Victorian kitchen garden undertaken by the NT. The RHS park one of their July shows next to it every year, too.
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Message 6
Posted by Nooj (U3233455) on Friday, 3rd October 2008
And there's nowt wrong with mushy peas
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Message 7
Posted by Nooj (U3233455) on Friday, 3rd October 2008
Ps
Unless the ferrets have been at them, naturally -
Message 8
Posted by Trillium (U2170869) on Friday, 3rd October 2008
But credit where credit is due, Toby mentioned occasional early frosts, the likelihood of a further mild spell and crop/plant protection. Spot on timing, as it turns out.
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Message 9
Posted by rini (U2365378) on Thursday, 9th October 2008
I couldn't agree more. I live in Tyne and Wear now but had an allotment in Essex before we moved. One gets more pests and diseases down south but the season is much longer and one can grow a wider variety of veg/plants. I have started to watch 'Beechgrove Garden' on iplayer; it's more relevant to us 'northern gardeners' than any other programme.
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Message 10
Posted by mcspanna (U7544489) on Thursday, 9th October 2008
Thanks for the tip rini, I hadn't realised it was avaiable to watch on iplayer
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Message 11
Posted by Amazing (U7102651) on Thursday, 9th October 2008
Mcspanna, Beechgrove is now finished, but you can have a look at their factsheets on their website.
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Message 12
Posted by Helen (U7966981) on Thursday, 9th October 2008
I'm with you on this one John! I'm in Burnley, and a lot of my plants were very slow off the mark this summer compared to the blooming conditions down South. Even my mum and dad's garden in Sheffield was weeks ahead!
I find plants flower alot later up North, and dry gardening is a thing of myth for us Northerners
There are very few articles in either the magazine or the programme which feature gardens up North. It's as if the Ö÷²¥´óÐã think the Midlands is as far North as it gets!
Living in the North, for example, i'm not sure if my Dahlia tubers will need digging up and storing over winter, or if they will survive with just a mulch! To dig or not to dig, that is the question... -
Message 13
Posted by greeneddy (U6603838) on Thursday, 9th October 2008
Yes, all those 'agave gardens' features on gardening programmes started getting me down, when I garden on thick northern clay, with underlying Pennine millstone grit. With me, it's less of the wonders of being able to grow mediterranean plants, and more of the 'advance of the humungous pests and diseases' which are now able to overwinter.
Re dahlia tubers - I used to look after a garden with lots of dahlias, and used to dig up the tubers every year, in case of heavy frosts. But with the wetter weather, and fewer frosts, it's getting more like 'suck it and see'; you could gamble on the weather pattern staying the same as the last few years, and just being dull and wet, rather than frosty, and leave the tubers in.
Other posters down south, conversely, have been talking about having heavy frosts already; those blue skies do have a drawback, occasionally! -
Message 14
Posted by Gianttrowel (U10674701) on Thursday, 9th October 2008
Having been brought up in the South east and now living in the North this is a bug bear of mine. The two places are worlds apart climatically.
By the way since when has Cheshire/manchester been the North!! Haltwistle in Northumberland is the middle of the UK. (Calm down Trillium!!) -
Message 15
Posted by carriefie (U5414327) on Friday, 10th October 2008
Hi Gianttrowel
You are right about Haltwhistle being the centre of the UK - I used to live in Keilder Forest.
However the north of England is different and Manchester has always been known as the North West.
I now live in the Staffordshire Moorlands which is generally referred to as the Midlands.
I'm sure this discussion could go on......
Carriefie -
Message 16
Posted by Little Cornflower (U12037777) on Friday, 10th October 2008
We get ignored down here too!!
I live in West Cornwall ( St Ives) and we even get missed off the weather forecast!!
People think the Souyh West is Bristol - but Bristol is nearer to London and Southend than it is to here!!!
Please, just a little mention of regional variations would not take up too much time and would be appreciated -
Message 17
Posted by Jenks812 (U5452843) on Wednesday, 15th October 2008
But if they start doing special sections of GW for those of you up north, where will it end. I'll then want one for East Anglia where the growing conditions are quite different to those of the midlands where Berryfields is located.
I'm afraid you'll just have to watch the programme and make your own regional adjustments like the rest of us. -
Message 18
Posted by matthew_wilson-hc (U10841453) on Wednesday, 15th October 2008
Hello All
Interesting discussion, but I suspect those who wish for a gardening strand from 'their' neighbourhood are unlikely to be satisfied. As a point of clarification GW is filmed in the Midlands (not dahn sarf as quoted above) and the production team are overwhelmingly from the Midlands, and not southern jessies like what I am.
More pertinantly is that this lovely little island upon which most of the posters reside is riddled with interesting and diverse quirks of climate.
Gianttrowel, I take your point about the differences in weather conditions twixt north and south but there are also variations east to west, coastal or inland, high ground or valley, and so on.
For the past five years I have lived 18 miles from Harlow Carr, at 80 feet above sea level in a gentle alluvial valley. Harlow Carr is almost 600 feet above sea level, exposed to strong winds and on heavy clay. So if GW were making a 'northern' version where would they film - Harlow Carr with its tough conditions or my much gentler climate found in somewhere like my village?
Jenks is right (parts of East Anglia by the way has in some areas lower rainfall than parts of the Mediterranean basin) that we have to make our own adjustments. Even the much hailed Beechgrove cannot represent the whole of Scotland, as anyone who has ever enjoyed the damp warmth of the West Coast, dry cold of the East or beautiful bleakness of the Highlands will attest. If we want a regular, predictable climate we're all living in the wrong place!
Toby and the team will only ever be able to provide a broad overview of weather conditions and the timing of task associated with it, which I happen to think they are doing very well.
Cheers
Matthew Wilson -
Message 19
Posted by joanybird (U11052594) on Wednesday, 15th October 2008
Thanks for the reply Matthew!
Glad to see you're still keeping your eye on the Boards. Hope your new job is going OK.
Whilst you're around, and in a similar vein, do you know what happened to the Gardeners' Question Time garden at Harlow Carr which was supposed to give a northern slant to GQT? Chris and Bunny seemed very busy with it last year but there's been nothing since.
Jb
(member of the Board Members visit to HC in March
)
PS: Looking forward to the new Alpine House at HC - just sorry that the Rose Walk and Grass Border had to go to make room for it -
Message 20
Posted by the cycling gardener (U2350416) on Wednesday, 15th October 2008
Matthew - I agree. You 'put it' so much better than I could. I've just returned from a few days near Lands End. The stunningly beautiful drama of the land and seascape there got me dreaming again about relocation to a coastal property. However, further examination and experience of the weather conditions, the prevailing winds, salt spray and harsh growing environment made me realise I would have to compromise my love of gardening in order indulge another - a compromise too far. GW can't possibly cover all the vagaries of our British climate. Best I think just to take Berryfields as an average.
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Message 21
Posted by Nooj (U3233455) on Wednesday, 15th October 2008
Interestingly enough.... well I'm interested!
I have a cottoneaster in my front garden with no berries, but one in my back garden has had berries for weeks.
Is that a micro-climate thing possibly?
Yours from Oop North -
Message 22
Posted by Helen (U7966981) on Wednesday, 15th October 2008
I'm not sure the original post by John was asking that GW covered all variations in the British Climate (I think the topic went off on a tangent somewhat). I feel he was saying that too many of the gardens featured were in the Midlands and South of the country, and that both Joe's allotment and Carol's garden are in the South of England. I think John was asking that GW also feature gardens in the North of England.
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Message 23
Posted by idreamtrader (U11044653) on Thursday, 16th October 2008
Those who live in the 'Far North' ie Tyneside might be interested to know that Chris.Beardshaw is giving a public lecture at Northumbria University in Newcastle on Sat.22nd November at 2 o'clock. Tickets cost £8. Talk is entitled 'An Afternoon with Chris Beardshaw' and is in aid of the National Council for the Conservation of Plants and Gardens.
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Message 24
Posted by JohnHickling (U13479205) on Thursday, 16th October 2008
Helen,
You're correct. I would just like for once for GW to cover the North of England / Scotland. Currently all 4 of the featured gardens are, at least for me, in the 'South'. Just for balance could one of those 4 be replaced. I understand that all locations / conditions in the UK cannot be covered but I'm sure a better effort could be made by GW. -
Message 25
Posted by JohnHickling (U13479205) on Thursday, 16th October 2008
Thanks very much for tip about Beechgrove.
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Message 26
Posted by greeneddy (U6603838) on Thursday, 16th October 2008
Currently all 4 of the featured gardens are, at least for me, in the 'South'. Just for balance could one of those 4 be replaced.Â
Yep. Although, reflecting on all the messages about GW lately (eg, some people want more 'beginners' items, others (like me) want more for experienced gardeners, some want more on flowers, some want more on growing food, we want more regional variety/representation . .) it must be v difficult to even think about trying to achieve all these things on the wish list, especially with only 30 mins a week to do it in.
Perhaps we want more, speicalised programmes. Or an expanded, hour-long GW every week, with more room for regional variation. We can but hope (and continue to lobby).
P.s. sorry Matthew, if I'd known you read these boards maybe I wouldn't have put in my comment about the Gardens Through Time section of Harlow Carr...we did very much enjoy everything else, especially the swathes of annuals and the vegetable garden/chilli house! -
Message 27
Posted by Trillium (U2170869) on Thursday, 16th October 2008
Local conditions can and do vary wildly as Matthew correctly points out.
But there are two major climatic 'gradients' relating to horticulture in the UK which I do think might be reflected reasonably in a flagship weekly gardening programme like GW.
These are that the further north you go the later and shorter the season and that the further west you are the milder and wetter it is likely to be.
Most gardeners know their local climate subtleties and adapt accordingly - my garden is usually 2C colder than surrounding areas as I'm in a shallow valley, but I'm on the south facing slope so it's sunnier. That doesn't change the basic fact that Cheshire is statistically a little cooler, cloudier and wetter than the south east.
Having said that, though Berryfields is not in the geographic centre of the UK it probably reflects something of a median climate because of its distance from the sea - it gets colder winters than the maritime climates which typify the most densely populated areas further north. -
Message 28
Posted by judimac (U2467704) on Thursday, 23rd October 2008
I watched the Beechgrove garden this summer on iplayer. What a treat! It knocks the spots off GW!
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Message 29
Posted by matthew_wilson-hc (U10841453) on Thursday, 30th October 2008
Hello
Joanybird, expect an announcement about the GQT initiative soon! Yes, the Alpine House is very exciting and a massive improvement on what was there. We're just getting into the landscaping (which I'm still involved with in my new role) and I very much hope the house will be open by next spring. To be fair I think the old rose walk was past its sell by date, the soil was full of bindweed and the roses pretty old and not the most floriferous. The grasses border was in better nick, but we've been adding a lot of new grasses to the garden so I hope that makes up for its loss to an extent.
Greeneddy, I didn't read your comments about Gardens Through Time but don't worry, I have been pretty critical of them myself. I do think they've improved from where they were a few years back though.
I think you hit the nail on the head regarding the dillema the programme makers have with GW - whether to aim it squarely at beginners or at a more experienced audience. It's tough, and I think they do well to get the balance as good as they do. But I guess it cannot be expected to cover everything, or appeal to every audience. That would be like expecting Blue Peter to relate to 18 year olds as well as 8 year olds. I do sometimes think that we expect too much from GW, and criticise it unfairly as a consequence. Occasionally the criticism on these boards sounds like it is from viewers who have simply outgrown the programme and probably need to augment their gardening knowledge elsewhere as well as through GW - online or in books or whatever.
Cheers
Matthew Wilson -
Message 30
Posted by kath74 (U8999103) on Thursday, 30th October 2008
Hello Matthew, your comments are always very welcome.
Unfortunately GW is the only programme we have. I don't think there's anything we'd like better than a 1 hour "advanced" slot on Ö÷²¥´óÐã4, say, but it isn't on offer. In the unlikely event of you getting bored with your new job, you'd make a fantastic presenter for it.....
My main criticism is that it seems unplanned, compare & contrast with Beechgrove which gives the impression of being meticulously planned out, possibly for the whole growing season in advance. This may be an inevitable result of the change in presenters and next year may be much better. I hope so. -
Message 31
Posted by happytobyfan (U13663471) on Thursday, 30th October 2008
I live in Cheshire and, although I personally dig them up, my friend across the road leaves all her dahlias in all year - and has never lost any. The reason I dig mine up is so that I can start them into growth around March. I don't plant them back out until around the beginning or middle of May, but it means I have them in flower by the end of June/middle of July. Despite the very low temperatures (although not quite freezing)this week, they are still in flower now.
I have found, however, that if you keep growing the same tubers, they can become very tall and out-of-control in the least bit of wind. I am going to do, what I know many experts advise, and take some cuttings in Spring - once the tubers have started to shoot. Young plants definitely seem to look/perform better. -
Message 32
Posted by Amazing (U7102651) on Thursday, 30th October 2008
Throtnot, you really can't compare Beechgrove with GW. BG is made by Tern Tv and GW by the Ö÷²¥´óÐã, enough said. Ö÷²¥´óÐã are good at dramas and soaps but not gardening progs. I really don't blame the presenters at all.
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Message 33
Posted by Amazing (U7102651) on Thursday, 30th October 2008
Happytobyfan, Have your posted your message on the wrong board?
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Message 34
Posted by happytobyfan (U13663471) on Friday, 31st October 2008
Sorry - it looks like I have. I'm new - I'll get better !! -
Message 35
Posted by happytobyfan (U13663471) on Friday, 31st October 2008
Hi Amazing
Having had another look, I think I did put it in the right place?? (but I could be wrong.) It was in response to the last paragraph of message 12, from Kleinehelen. -
Message 36
Posted by Helen (U7966981) on Monday, 3rd November 2008
Yes, you did put it in the right place. I understood
I dug up my tubers this weekend, decided not to risk it as my soil is quite damp, and Lancashire is starting to get very cold! -
Message 37
Posted by joanybird (U11052594) on Monday, 3rd November 2008
Joanybird, expect an announcement about the GQT initiative soon!Â
Thanks for the reply Matthew. I'll look forward to that
Jb
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