the happy garden podcast

Parts of the UK are now officially in drought. How to earthworms cope? You might be surprised at the answer! Mollie chats to the leading expert on worms - Dr Kevin Butt. Darren also talk waterbutts. Why they are so important and how to choose one for your garden. Come and join us, it's a butt fest! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook. We'd love to hear from you too! If you have suggestions for top...

A lawless hour of a podcast this week. From tree hunting with the fabulous Paul Wood to Louie Spence talking gardens, it's an eclectic mix. As always! 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 y...

What a mix! Billy idol, the world snail racking championships and a ticket giveaway for Kew Gardens. What more could you want? Well if you want more, more, more, then there's also a slot on carnivorous plants, a bit of poetry and a bit of singing. Oh and Paul from Buglife joins us for a chat about which insects you'll see in your gardens in July. It's a nice day for some... light weeding! Follow u...

It seems the ants are talking to the skies! Buglife Paul tells us why it is vital that the ants successfully fly and Monty and Alan have their say with us too. We also meet Paul Wood AKA The Street Tree. We hear about Paul's new book and some of the guided tree walks he has coming up. Darren attempts some poetry - which Mollie promptly stops and we also tackle an interesting problem about a bird n...

Gardener's World presenter and author Mark Lane joins Mollie for a chat about his new book The Future of Gardens, a fascinating look in to how tehnology could transform the way we garden. Darren gives us a guide to looking after our gardens in this heat too! Essential advice from choosing and positioning plants in your garden, to watering and pruning in a heatwave. Lots of your gardening questions...

If you've never been to Gardeners World Live, let Mollie and Darren bring the show to you! 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 the ti...

Mollie chats to Simon Akeroyd, author of 30 gardening books and previously a garden manager for the National Trust. Simon is sharing tips on how to increase your house's value by up to 20%, simply by making your garden space look attractive to buyers, and it doesn't have to costa fortune to do so! Loads of advice on the subject from Darren too who has spent over 30 years making gardens look b...

Meet Lorraine from Caley Bros mushrooms. They won gold at Chelsea and are running workshops at Gardener's World Live at the NEC in June. Why are they called brothers when they are two sisters? Find out! We hear from Adam Frost too as Mollie nabs 5 minutes with him at Chelsea and we also announce the lucky winner of the GWL tickets. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook. We'd love to hear from you to...

Find out how to win 2 tickets to GWL for free! Mollie meets the designer of the gold medal winning Seawilding garden at the Chelsea flower show. Lots of chat with Darren about how to look after your hanging baskets in June, how to grow strawberries from scratch and we also find out about this year's Bugs matter survey, run by the charity Buglife. It involves a splat-o-meter - find out more! Follow...

After a month apart, Mollie and Darren are reunited to bring you this week's episode! After a 4 hour delay while Mollie tried to sort the technicalities of the podcast equipment out, they are back in the swing of things. Mollie chats to David Austin on the gold award winning stand at the Chelsea Flower Show. Hear his reaction when she confesses to him that it was her who fell in to the rose displa...

Mollie sits down for a chat with Nick Bailey, designer of this year's headline show garden at Gardener's World Live at the NEC in Birmingham in June. 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 yo...

Meet Paul Walton, the head gardener at the fabulous Biddulph Grange Stumpery. Mollie spends an hour with Paul finding out about the history and concept of the garden. We also find out what it takes to keep this garden going, both physically and financially. 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...

The first in a trilogy of specials on the podcast. Mollie catches up with Chris Baines, one of the leading environmentalists in the UK. A trailblazer. Decades ahead of his time when it came to protecting wildlife and caring for the natural world. 2025 is a huge year for Chris, find out why... Follow us on Instagram and Facebook. We'd love to hear from you too! If you have suggestions for topics or...

Mollie has a special announcement to make. We have to congratulate Darren on quite an achievement... 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...

Mollie chats to Bob Hendrikx, CEO of Loop-Biotech, a company who produce living coffins made from mushrooms. A product that becomes one with nature in 45 days, enriching the earth and not polluting it. As the funeral industry becomes more environmentally conscious, could this be the way forward? Follow us on Instagram and Facebook. We'd love to hear from you too! If you have suggestions for topics...

Mollie gives Chesney a bell to see how his new garden is growing. Darren announces the winner of the £100 voucher, thank you if you entered! A few gardening questions answered and as always, lots of laughter along the way. 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,...

Lots to get through on the pod today! The gang is back together. Gok Wan reviews Darrens poetry, Andy Lound has the horticultural history of the swede, Buglife Paul rounds up the insects you'll see in the garden (not literally) and Mollie and Darren have their usual giggles. Not forgetting a bit of gardening too. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook. We'd love to hear from you too! If you have sugg...

Mollie talks to Catrina Fenton from The Heritage Seed Library. They have a new project underway looking for seeds from across the UK which may be long lost family varieties. We get an update from Darren as his pocket parks for the National Trust near completion. There's a bit of health and safety talk which will no doubt surprise you! Historian Andy Lound also has a look at technology used in the...

Mollie has a natter with good friend of the podcast Adam Frost. Find out all about Adam's UK tour and about his new book entitled 'For the love of plants'. 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...

Welcome to another happisode! Mollie chats to Thrive to find out how they help both mental and physical health through gardening. Also hearing about their new app "Cultivating Wellbeing". Darren answers some of your gardening questions on organic fertilisers and a frankincense tree! We get an update on Darren's pocket parks for the National Trust too, all this whilst he's developed a nasal drip......

Mollie recently visited Gibraltar and had the pleasure of a tour of the Botanic Gardens with the lovely Keith Bensusan who is the director of this spectacular space. The beautiful Alameda Botanic Gardens are on the Upper South-West side of the rock. A haven for flora and fauna and as you'll hear, THE garden for the residents of Gibraltar. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook. We'd love to hear from...

Press play if you need a pick me up, this episode is full of smiles. There is a bit of gardening too - Andy has the fascinating history of the bridal bouquet, you'll hear a sneak preview of Mollie's Gibraltar special and Darren answers lots of your questions including how to take rose cuttings and the best way to grow swedes. Be warned - there is laughter from the outset... Follow us on Instagram...

We explore lunar gardening with Andy Lound. Mollie chats to Gwen Hines, the CEO of Plant Heritage to find out how we could all potentially have an award winning plant in our garden. Lots of gardening questions answered with Darren along side a bit of snowdrop poetry too. Join us for a giggle... Follow us on Instagram and Facebook. We'd love to hear from you too! If you have suggestions for topics...

Possibly the sexiest episode to date! We profile vegetables with allure and delve in to the horticultural history cupid's garden. Dan has an update on the allotment he has taken on. Does he regret taking it on now it's cold and wet? Find out how he is getting on... 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...

Mollie is back from Gibraltar with exciting tales to tell and a podcast about their beautiful Botanical Gardens now in the bag. Darren has lots of your gardening questions to answer and some great advice on how the potential snow on the forecast might affect your garden. Andy Lound has the history of decking in this week's episode and we'll also hear from Buglife Paul about which insects we might...