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Lyt når som helst, hvor som helst 

BBC Radio Ulster


The weekly gardening programme for keen gardeners, with the latest advice, news and visits to gardens large and small around the province. Presented by David Maxwell.


Gardeners' Corner

A year after Storm Éowyn wreaked havoc across Ireland David Maxwell visits the gardens at Mount Stewart on the Ards peninsula where thousands of trees were lost. He meets volunteers planting oak and pine trees which will form a new shelter belt for the garden in the decades to come. At the other end of the garden, the Winterwatch team have been broadcasting the programme from Northern Ireland for the first time. Chris Packham explains the vast range of habitats that exist around this historic garden. Also on the programme, a visit to the National Botanic Gardens in Dublin and questions on muddy lawns, growing olives outdoors and what to do with a stem of rose hips that has unexpectedly rooted. Contact the programme on gardenerscorner@bbc.co.uk

A year on from Éowyn, Winterwatch at Mount Stewart and must-have scented shrubs

A garden that has to look good in every season is the Horatio’s Garden at Musgrave Park Hospital in south Belfast. Two years after it was planted up, David Maxwell chats to head gardener Matthew Lee about how the garden continues to change, and about the great groundcover plants that help keep weeding to a minimum. Adam Frost begins his new ‘Bulb of the month’ series with the common snowdrop, Galanthus nivalis. Ahead of the Big Garden Birdwatch, the RSPB’s Claire Barnett visits David’s garden to find out what’s coming to his feeders. In studio, gardener Anna Hudson, brings some seasonal highlights from the Ballywalter and answers questions live. Contact the programme on gardenerscorner@bbc.co.uk

Must-have ground cover plants, outdoor exotics in Slane and Adam Frost’s bulb of the month

As the film Hamnet goes on general release, David Maxwell chats to herb expert Jekka McVicar about the role she played in advising the production on Elizabethan herbs. In Ratoath, County Meath, nursery owner John Lord is finding new opportunities in a garden he’s developed over 30 years. He explains how it’s become a playground for plants that serve to inspire both expert and novice gardeners alike. Listener Michael McLean gets a visit from Gardeners’ Corner – he invited the programme to see a garden he’s lovingly creating over a lifetime on a hillside above Newcastle. Also on the programme, a tribute to the late Seamus O’Brien who was head gardener at the National Botanic Gardens, Kilmacurragh in County Wicklow and widely regarded as one of Ireland’s greatest plantsmen. Ann FitzSimons joins David in studio. Email the programme at gardenerscorner@bbc.co.uk

Hamnet herbs, a plant playground in Ratoath and a tribute to Seamus O’Brien

As one year gives way to the next, join David Maxwell on a journey through the seasons with highlights from the last 12 months of Gardeners’ Corner. From clearing up after Storm Éowyn to pristine show gardens, from celebrities to school children and with callers from Ballyclare to San Francisco, David sums up the joy of a programme that celebrated 40 years on the airwaves in 2025.

Season by Season with Gardeners’ Corner

In this episode of Gardeners' Corner, David Maxwell visits what some call 'Ireland's secret garden' - Kilmacurragh in County Wicklow. The site became part of the National Botanic Gardens in 1996 and since then a restoration programme has been underway. Leading the tour of the gardens, which boast a vast plant collection, is head gardener Seamus O'Brien. 
From a 'Peter Pan' tree which thinks it's a child but is over 100 years old to a plant which traps animals so their decaying bodies give it food. 

Seamus is also continuing the work of the Victorian plant hunters. He has gathered plants from Chile, China and Tasmania on his own plant hunting expeditions. Also joining the tour of the gardens is Neil Porteous from Mount Stewart. The two gardens cooperate in the work of creating a 'Noah's Ark' of endangered southern hemisphere plants in the temperate Irish climate.

Kilmacurragh and the Plant Hunters

Join David Maxwell and the gardening gang for a very festive Gardeners’ Corner Christmas special from the National Trust’s Rowallane Gardens in Saintfield, County Down. The team leave behind their dirty denims and don their festive finest for an outdoor gathering around a crackling fire. With mystery seeds in crackers, Secret Santa silliness, and festive food from the garden, all washed down with some seasonal gardening know-how – this is one Christmas Special you won’t want to miss. Email the programme at gardenerscorner@bbc.co.uk

Gardeners’ Corner Christmas Special 2025

With the festive season in full swing, David heads to Montalto Estate in County Down for a winter walk with head gardener Lesley Heron. While Storm Bram has created some extra work, there’s still plenty to enjoy, including plants that bring colour and structure to the darkest months of the year. Also on the programme, David chats to Brendan Gilsenan at the National Botanic Gardens in Dublin about mistletoe — the seasonal plant romantics seek out at this time of year — and Maeve Bell explains why every garden should make room for a mahonia. Back in the studio, David is joined by garden expert Brendan Little, along with Katy Bell for her winter wildlife update. Email the programme at gardenerscorner@bbc.co.uk

Merry Mistletoe, must have Mahonia and a winter walk at Montalto

Need help picking your Christmas tree? Gardeners’ Corner can help! Tony Johnston from Peartree Hill Christmas Tree Farm shares excellent advice on keeping yours looking its best.
David visits Bob Hamilton at Dunsany Estate, Co Meath to see how they’ve rewilded 750 acres of the estate. 
Ruth Bramley talks about keeping indoor plants at the office and makes suggestions for gifting houseplants for Christmas. Adam Frost picks his final shrub of the month for 2025. 
Rosie Maye joins David in studio to answer listeners’ questions and bring some seasonal gardening inspiration. 
Email the programme at gardenerscorner@bbc.co.uk

How to look after your Christmas tree, Adam Frost's shrub for December, and picking plants for the office

In this week’s programme, David Maxwell travels to Kerrykeel in Donegal where Brendan Little is preparing his backyard garden for winter. In Spa, County Down, Thomas McCaw and Thomas Raju sing the praises of heather for late autumn and winter colour. At Ballyrobert Cottage Garden, Maurice Parkinson reveals some of the grasses that stand well over the colder months and dazzle in frost and low sun. A caller asks if tree stumps should be removed from the garden or if it’s okay to plant around them. John wants rid of his hairy bittercress weed – is the answer to eat it? And expert Claire McNally joins David in studio with seasonal inspiration on what we can be doing in the garden during the precious hours of daylight. Email the programme at gardenerscorner@bbc.co.uk

Must-have heathers, Brendan’s back yard and coming up trumps with stumps

This week, David visits Rosie Maye’s garden near Slane and hears about her love of Inter-planting and underplanting. 

Prolific Irish garden designer Mary Keen chats about new autobiography, Diary of a Keen Gardener, and why even with her long career and expertise, she’s always learning and experimenting as a gardener. 

Pupils from Hezlett Primary School and National Trust volunteers help plant ferns and unveil a new water bowl at Downhill Demesne, Castlerock. 

Gardening expert Neil Porteous joins David in studio to help caller John, who’s worried about cutting his holly tree and Pearl, who’s wondering how best to overwinter potted gladioli. 

Email the programme at gardenerscorner@bbc.co.uk

Mary Keen, children who are keen and everything in between

Cherrie McIlwaine visits Glenarm Castle gardens in the company of Reg Maxwell, and Greenmount agricultural college celebrates its centenary.

16/06/2012

Lyt når som helst, hvor som helst

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