University's Brackenhurst campus to feature on new BBC TWO gardening series
2 January 2014
Nottingham Trent University’s Brackenhurst campus is to feature in an episode of new BBC TWO series, Great British Garden Revival. Gardening expert and presenter Charlie Dimmock spent a day filming at the campus for the episode, which is due to be aired on January 9 at 7pm.
The series, which launches on December 9, will feature the BBC’s top television gardeners, who are determined to turn Britain back into a green-fingered nation. The series charts how Britain’s rich horticultural history is being lost. More and more front and back gardens are being paved over - for development, for parking spaces, or because families don’t have the time or inclination to manage these spaces.
Across ten episodes, a team of presenters will focus on an endangered aspect of gardening about which they feel passionately, and offer hands-on, practical advice to viewers about how they can restore and look after their gardens.
The episode to feature Brackenhurst – home to the university’s School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences – focuses specifically on pond revival. With its network of lakes, small ponds and water features, the campus was an obvious starting point.
Ever since she was a young girl, Charlie Dimmock has been fascinated by water and, in her revival, wanted to celebrate water and wildlife in our gardens. Pollution, redevelopment and demand for water have resulted in the loss of half a million natural ponds over the last century, and she believes now is the time for us all to take the plunge and do something about it.
Helped by NTU staff, including horticulture technician Paul Wright, she gives a step-by-step guide to building a wildlife pond and bog garden, from the initial design, right through to planting up.
She also talks to Dr Richard Yarnell, course leader in biodiversity conservation, to find out how important garden ponds can be for our wildlife.
The series will also feature episodes on cottage gardens, herbaceous borders, cut flowers, roof gardens, topiary, ornamental bedding, fruit trees and kitchen gardens.
Julia Davies, the head of environmental science at Nottingham Trent University, said: “We were thrilled to host the TV production crew and found it a fascinating experience to watch a programme being filmed in the grounds of the campus.
“We are very proud of the beautiful and historic garden at Brackenhurst, so it is wonderful that we will feature in this episode and that our wildlife will benefit from the pond designed and created by Charlie."
Lindsay Bradbury, Commissioning Editor for BBC Daytime, says: “Gardening is one of Britain’s boom areas – and this format fuses together top tips, nostalgia and an unparalleled team of passionate presenters.”