the happy garden podcast

As we enter yet another heatwave in 2026, how are your plants coping? Darren has plenty of tips to try and keep everything alive. Mollie has a chat with Georgie Guernsey from the Packington Estate about being the new home of Gardener's World Live, exciting times ahead! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook. We'd love to hear from you too! If you have suggestions for topics or features you'd like to...

Mollie meets Joffrey Watson, a UK chainsaw sculptor, who creates bespoke wooden sculptures from fallen trees using chainsaws and wood tools. Based in Shropshire, Joffery is also a town crier! A fascinating and funny guy. A pleasure to introduce you to Joffrey... Follow us on Instagram and Facebook. We'd love to hear from you too! If you have suggestions for topics or features you'd...

It's all over for another year! We have a look back at the show and have a chat with Kate from The Folklorian Garden and also Stan from Craighouse Cacti to find out what they won and how they found the show. We also hear how one of the groups had their van stolen the night before the show which had all of the plants and sculptures for their display. What happened next was nothing short of astoundi...

Mollie heads off to the NEC as the build begins for the show gardens at GWL 2026. Meet show Director Bob Sweet and hear from Alice as well as Kate Patrick who has designed the Folkorians garden. The feature garden this year is called The Evolution Garden and it's been designed by Prof. Alice Roberts and Dr. David Stevens and our very own Darren has the job of planting it! All goes swimmingly until...

Psychic medium John Edward has a chat with Mollie ahead of his UK dates in September. We chat about how nature, gardens and trees demonstrate that energy never dies, it just changes form. We also meet Aqua culture, a fabulous company who transform waste seaweed into powerful, natural fertiliser that feeds plants, enriches soil, and helps regenerate our environment. Follow us on Instagram and Faceb...

A tomato based podcast! Mollie met Simon Conway, chair of the British Tomato Growers Association at Farmfest. They had the most spectacular stall promoting British growers. Hear their chat. Do you know what you should be doing with your toms right now if you're growing your own? Darren has all the advice you need. Andy Lound has the history of the tomato and there are a few tomato based jokes too....

Phew! What a scorcher of a week it's been. Record breaking temperatures to contend with in your garden. The warmer climate could see all sorts of insects becoming the norm in our gardens. Paul from Buglife tells us more. We're also in conversation with the fabulous garden designer Matt Keightley as he launches his new AI-assisted platform Spacelift, which debuted at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 202...

Come with Mollie as she heads down to Press Day at The RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2026. Hear from Miriam Margoyles, Kerry Godliman, Richard Austin and lots of other celebs chatting about their love of horticulture. You might be surprised at some of the exhibits this year, wait until you hear about the splash that Lovehoney has made! Get your packed lunch packed and join Mol on a road trip to London.....

Hello! Welcome to a bright and breezy episode. Mollie chats to the National Trust to talk about their Sky Gardening Challenge. Even the smallest balcony space can provide a vital pit stop for insects. Darren talks us through some key considerations of balcony gardening too. Oooo and there's some VERY exciting news from Darren! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook. We'd love to hear from you too! If...

We chat to Plantlife about the benefits of No Mow May. Darren answers some of you gardening question and Mollie struggle on with a high fever... Follow us on Instagram and Facebook. We'd love to hear from you too! If you have suggestions for topics or features you'd like to hear, or any garden related questions you have, drop us a line at thehappygardenpodcast@gmail.com. It would be fab if you cou...

Our good friend Chris Baines has been presented with the Victoria medal of honour by the RHS. We have a good natter with Chris about just how proud he is and how proud his Mom would have been. He also talks us through the origins of International Dawn Chorus Day, it's a fabulous tale! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook. We'd love to hear from you too! If you have suggestions for topics or feature...

A quick catch up with Mollie and Darren and a few jobs for the week ahead before we chat to Chris Cooper-Hayes from eternna with more on human composting. Another fascinating insight in to terramation. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook. We'd love to hear from you too! If you have suggestions for topics or features you'd like to hear, or any garden related questions you have, drop us a line at th...

Mollie and Darren are back together to answer lots of your gardening questions and to have a giggle with you. Oh, and you won't believe what Mollie has found in a hedge... Follow us on Instagram and Facebook. We'd love to hear from you too! If you have suggestions for topics or features you'd like to hear, or any garden related questions you have, drop us a line at thehappygardenpodcast@gmail.com....

A fascinating chat with Kristoffer Hughes from eterrna. As interest grows in sustainable end-of-life solutions, eterrna is positioning itself as the flagship company driving the legal introduction of terramation in the UK, terramation being the transformation of a human body into pure compost. Find out about this incredible journey of transformation in this week's episode. Follow us on Instagram a...

We turn orange this week! We are joined by the carrot growers association talking about their new competition for primary schools to get involved in. Mollie shares a carrot recipe you're guaranteed not to have heard of before and Darren has more carrot facts than you can shake a stick at. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook. We'd love to hear from you too! If you have suggestions for topics or fea...

Podcast favourite Neil Hands has a chat with Mollie this week. Neil grows giant veg and has broken world records with his giant specimens! A few jobs for the week ahead as always with our Darren too. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook. We'd love to hear from you too! If you have suggestions for topics or features you'd like to hear, or any garden related questions you have, drop us a line at theh...

Even with shingles, a herniated spinal disc and a nasty rash between them, Mollie and Darren still bring the giggles.... Mollie chats to professor David Stevens who is this year's designer of the headline show garden at GWL at the NEC. The Evolution garden encapsulates 4 billions years of history! We have 2 tickets to the GWL Spring show for a lucky listener too. Follow us on Instagram and Faceboo...

We hear from Leigh who has found solace and comfort in her garden after a really tough few years. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook. We'd love to hear from you too! If you have suggestions for topics or features you'd like to hear, or any garden related questions you have, drop us a line at thehappygardenpodcast@gmail.com. It would be fab if you could rate us and leave a review too if you've got...

Why did the toad cross the road? To get to its ancient breeding ground of course! Mollie chats to Froglife about Toad Patrol, your chance to help these beautiful creatures negotiate the tricky business of crossing roads. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook. We'd love to hear from you too! If you have suggestions for topics or features you'd like to hear, or any garden related questions you have, d...

Welcome, welcome! Darren has a very important slot this week explaining why we should NOT be tidying the beds and borders at the moment. For example 70% of our native bees overwinter in hollow stems, and leaves are full of larvae too. It's imperative that we leave dead stems and foliage alone for a few more weeks. Mollie chats to Garden Organic about their huge citizen science survey which reveals...

Welcome to a jolly episode! Did you know that aphids ride the thermals and come over from France at this time of year? Buglife Paul tells us more and we find out how the insects in the UK will be coping with this wet weather. Your gardening questions answered, lots of snowdrop chat...oh....and lots of Darren in the shower. You don't get this on any other gardening podcast. Buckle up and press play...

Liza Frank joins Mollie for a good old chinwag about garden folklore. Liza has written a fascinating book called Everyday Lore which explores the myths and legends surrounding your plants, your garden and those little visitors you may or may not encounter. If you think fairies are kind, gentle souls that flutter around your rose bushes saving butterflies from your bird bath, then you may be shocke...

An hour or so of gardening and giggles. Find out what happened to listener Rupert when he accidentally grew cannabis on his allotment (hint; the police arrived!) Lots of your questions answered and lots of other bits and pieces discussed. Press play and have a smile... Follow us on Instagram and Facebook. We'd love to hear from you too! If you have suggestions for topics or features you'd like to...

We find out about the biggest Potato Day in the Midlands, put on by Shropshire organic gardeners. We also hear about the Bedworth seed swap event this weekend. But one of the highlights on the pod this week has to be a new slot which is still in developmental stages, where Darren performs like you never heard him perform before. Never... Follow us on Instagram and Facebook. We'd love to hear from...

With the Big Garden Birdwatching upon us this weekend, the lovely Morwenna from the RSPB joins us for a chat to find out why it is so vital for us all to get involved. Morwenna and Mollie also bond over tales of helping disabled pigeons :-) Darren gives us a masterclass on seed sowing at this time of year and plenty of questions from you get answered too. Batten down the hatches, get cosy and pres...