The Happy Garden Podcast
Welcome to our garden podcast. A happy one. Not just gardening but all things garden related. Features, interviews and a whole lot of laughter and positivity along the way. We are Mollie Green and Darren Rudge, come join us... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Episodes
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Win tickets for Gardeners World Live! A natter about the Seawilding garden at Chelsea and why the Bugs matter survey is so important.
Friday, 30 May 2025
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! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Mollie and Darren are back together! Mollie reports on the Chelsea Flower Show and has a chat with David Austin.
Friday, 23 May 2025
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 display at Chelsea last year! Hear a chat with Chris Baines at Chelsea too as he was the special guest of the RHS this year honouring his wildlife garden in 1985. Lots of laughter as always. Hosted on Ac...
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Meet Nick Bailey, designer of this year's headline garden at Gardener's World Live
Friday, 16 May 2025
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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Biddulph Grange Stumpery in Staffordshire
Friday, 9 May 2025
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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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A catch up with Professor Chris Baines
Friday, 2 May 2025
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... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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An epic achievement to announce...
Friday, 25 April 2025
Mollie has a special announcement to make. We have to congratulate Darren on quite an achievement... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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The world's first mushroom coffin
Friday, 18 April 2025
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? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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A garden catch up with Chesney Hawkes
Friday, 11 April 2025
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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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A sunny week in the garden. At last!
Friday, 4 April 2025
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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Meet the Heritage Seed Library
Friday, 28 March 2025
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 garden. Come and join in some happy garden talk... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Adam Frost is on tour!
Friday, 21 March 2025
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'. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Meet Thrive, the gardening for health charity
Friday, 14 March 2025
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... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Gibraltar Botanic Gardens
Friday, 7 March 2025
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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Laughter in the garden
Friday, 28 February 2025
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... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Have you tried lunar gardening?
Friday, 21 February 2025
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... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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A whole lot of love in the garden...
Friday, 14 February 2025
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... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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The RHS looks at gardening trends for the year ahead
Friday, 7 February 2025
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 see in the garden this month. Lots to pack in to this episode! Come and join us... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Meet Andy Lound!
Friday, 31 January 2025
Mollie chats to Andy Lound. Settle in for an hour to find out about the history of the man behind the horticultural histories... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Could you start a community garden?
Friday, 24 January 2025
Not everyone has their own garden space. Mollie chats to Suze Carter from Dawberry Corner Community Garden, a space which was derelict, overgrown and unloved. Hear how it was secured and transformed in to a wonderful community area. Darren answered lots of your gardening questions including what to do with hyacinths after they have flowered, poinsettias dropping leaves and tips on how to stop slippy algae on paths with pasta water. Andy Lound also has the history of gardening gloves! Come and join us... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Looking for signs of Spring
Friday, 17 January 2025
Mollie chats to Dan Asaw from the Field Studies Council. They are conducting a UK wide citizen science survey looking for early signs of Spring. Find out why and how you can get involved. Andy has the history of Wassailing and Darren answered lots of your gardening questions including which types of household waste water you can use on your plants and what to do with hyacinths after they have flowered. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Reusing your Christmas tree in the garden
Friday, 10 January 2025
A very cold week in the garden! Darren has some advice on outside taps and pipes as well as a rather beautiful poem to read us, entitled "The gardening year ahead" written by his own fair hand. Mollie chats to Buglife about how the charity has grown in 2024 and what they hope to achieve in 2025. Andy Lound brings us the history of some inspirational gardeners and as always, there is a chuckle or two to be had here and there. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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How are the National Trust gardens coping with the changing weather?
Friday, 3 January 2025
Mollie chats with the National Trust about the measures they are putting in place in order to cope with the frequent floods, drought and gales that the UK is now getting. Their gardens and gardeners are having to adapt to the ever changing weather patterns. We reveal the winner of the Winterbourne Gardens competition, one lucky podcast listener wins an experience with Darren! Andy Lound has the potted history of the snowdrop and you'll hear the usual laughter as we enter 2025 together... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Celebrating Winter solstice
Friday, 27 December 2024
After the podcast Christmas lunch last week at The Pod in Coventry, Mollie headed to the allotment that grows the food for the cafe. There was a beautiful winter solstice celebration. A gathering with food, fire and singing. Andy Lound has the history of the sprout, broadcast from the pub! Darren has lots of jobs for you to be getting on with if you need a festive escape to the garden. Can we also take this moment to thank you all for supporting this podcast in its first full year. We still don't know exactly what we're doing but we have great fun every week doing it! Happy New Year x Hoste...
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It's our Christmas party!
Friday, 20 December 2024
Come along with us to the podcast Christmas party! We begin in the most beautiful medieval vegan cafe in Coventry. Then move on to a visit to the Sgt. Bilko Museum. We do a bit of singing in the cathedral, and then go and get bladdered. There is still a bit of gardening. Merry Christmas x Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Competition episode! Win an experience with Darren at Winterbourne Gardens!
Friday, 13 December 2024
Yes, you read it correctly! Listen in for a chance to win a tour of Winterbourne Gardens in Birmingham with Darren. He'll also get you lunch! The prize is for two people, details in the pod. Mollie chats to Andrew Poad, the general manager of the National Trust about the distribution of the 49 Sycamore Gap tree saplings. Andy Lound has the history of several Christmas spices. We find out about the insects in the garden in December. There's singing, a LOT of laughing and a bit of gardening along the way :0) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Choosing your Christmas tree
Friday, 6 December 2024
We meet The Birmingham tree People. A fantastic group of nature-loving urban forest volunteers with the aim to plant, protect and promote trees and the urban forest. Darren also has a slot on choosing and caring for your real Christmas tree. Andy has the history of holly and ivy and it's time for a December forage too!. Lots of festive giggles in this week's pod. Grab a mince pies and settle in... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Feeling festive!
Friday, 29 November 2024
It's beginning to feel like Christmas! Mollie chats to loveachristmastree.co.uk about the ins and outs of hiring a tree for the festive season and Andy Lound brings you the fascinating history of the Christmas tree. Darren has a shed load of gift ideas for Christmas, from experiences and memberships to subscriptions and allotment rental. We also hear from listener Karen who puts up a memory tree at the bottom of her drive so the community can claim a bauble to remember someone who will be missing this Christmas, both human and animal x Loads of your gardening questions answered too. Pour yo...
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The Cannock Chase candle!
Friday, 22 November 2024
We meet a family who manufacture candles that smell of local landmarks - Cannock Chase being one example, along with local apples and bluebells. Andy Lound brings us the history of Cannock Chase too. Lots of gardening, laughing and singing. An hour of smiles with Mollie and Darren.. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Chatting with The Nation Vegetable Society and allotment Dan
Friday, 15 November 2024
Get cosy with us for an autumnal show. Mollie chats to Jim from the National Vegetable society and we hear how newby Dan is getting on having had his new allotment for a month now. Andy Lound has the history of the potato and Darren has lots of gardening advice as the cold weather sets in. All that mixed with poetry from listener Paul, Mollie's singing attempt and a huge amount of laughter. It's gardening, but not as you know it... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Icon alert! Chesney Hawkes talks gardening
Friday, 8 November 2024
The nicest guy in showbiz joins Mollie for a chat. The one and only Chesney Hawkes. Hear about how his Dad and Grandad inspired his love of horticulture and the beautiful reason for his favourite flower. Darren has his foraging slot for the month of November. Horticultural histories with Andy Lound and a few of your gardening questions answered to boot. Settle in and press play... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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