the happy garden podcast

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

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

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)

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 yourself a hot toddy, settle in and press play...

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..

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...

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...

My goodness we cover a lot in this episode! Mollie has a fascinating conversation with Joe from the Bat Conservation Trust, finding out why it is so important to help and protect these beautiful creatures. Pumpkins are still on the agenda this week and feature in Darren's money saving tips and we go down the larder to get a recipe for pumpkin dog biscuits. Andy Lound brings us the history of All Hallows day, and we hear from a lady who has married a ghost. Oh, and almost forgot to mention that we get a few of your gardening questions answered too! Defiantly something for everyone on this episode...