Towns, Gardens and Britain in Bloom
Gardener and broadcaster Sarah Raven finds out whether British gardens could become a network of mini nature reserves for pollinating insects.
In the second programme of this three-part series, Sarah Raven takes her mission to halt the rapid decline in Britain's essential bees, butterflies and pollinating insects to our towns, and challenges the RHS Britain in Bloom competition to make their floral displays more nectar- and pollen-rich, to help to increase the amount of food and habitat for pollinating insects throughout the spring and summer months.
With the use of intensive farming methods, regionalisation of crops, and the loss of wildflower meadows and grasslands estimated at around 98 per cent, the countryside can be feast or famine for the pollinators. So Sarah finds out whether British gardens could become a network of mini nature reserves for the pollinating insects.
Sarah starts her campaign by attempting to change the attitude of Harrogate's successful gold medal-winning Britain in Bloom group. She challenges them to embrace nectar- and pollen-rich flowers over traditional bedding plants. Will the Bloom group take to her plans and ideas, or will the begonia bunch stand firm?
Sarah also challenges the UK gardening industry, the Horticultural Trades Association and the Royal Horticultural Society to champion pollinating insects by launching a 'pollinator-friendly' logo at the Chelsea Flower Show. The logo and label would enable gardeners to identify the best plants for bees and butterflies throughout garden centres and nurseries in the UK.
And at home, Sarah meets expert garden naturalist Steve Head, and explores her own garden's suitability for insect pollinators. Inspired by what she discovers, she develops a nectar garden - a mini oasis for pollinators.
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Which flowers are good for our pollinating insects?
Duration: 01:56
Music Played
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I Am Kloot
Northern Skies
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Florence + The Machine
Cosmic Love
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Efterklang, Rasmus Stolberg
Modern Drift
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Suede
She's In Fashion
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Florence + The Machine
Between Two Lungs
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Eliza Doolittle
Moneybox
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Hot Chip
Brothers
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Eliza Doolittle
Skinny Genes
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I Am Kloot
Proof
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Kylie Minogue
All The Lovers
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Ellie Goulding
Lights
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Suede
Everything Will Flow
Credits
Role | Contributor |
---|---|
Presenter | Sarah Raven |
Presenter | Sarah Raven |
Producer | Andy Vernon |
Producer | Andy Vernon |
Director | Andy Vernon |
Director | Andy Vernon |
Executive Producer | Sarah Moors |
Executive Producer | Sarah Moors |
Broadcasts
- Wed 15 Feb 2012 20:00Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ HD & Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Two
- Fri 17 Feb 2012 00:00Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ HD
- Sat 3 Mar 2012 18:00Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ HD
- Sat 10 Mar 2012 02:30
- Tue 8 Jun 2021 15:15Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Two except Scotland & Wales
- Tue 8 Jun 2021 15:35Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Two Wales HD & Wales only