wildlife gardens BBC

[Susie]

Originally Posted by nightshade

This is awkward with two threads running on the same subject.
I emailed the BBC and they have linked to Wild About Britain to use it as a sounding board.
I hope they get around to some real gardens soon, you know the ones, like pocket handkerchiefs.
Does anyone here have a candidate garden

No fear! My garden may be pocket handkerchief size but it is full of wildlife and I don't think anything they could do could improve it.

Although if Chris Beardshaw and Ellie Harrison want to come and visit (and bring a load of firemen with them) I won't complain.

[Ukwildlifeo]

Ive enjoyed this so far. Its more ground force than gardeners world, as in more entertainment thats factual, but hopefully more will watch it. These sorts of progarms have started crazes and fashions with gazebos and decking, hopefully they will encourage people to create wildlife friendly gardens - the right message is there and the how to do it stuff is on the website

[paddy]

Several conflicting issues here, i think:
1. the BBC has obviously recognised this as a hot enough issue to place on BBC1, mid-week, prime time, with a broad-appeal presenter in Nick Knowles
2. While maintaining the format of Groundforce/DIY SOS in giving this traditional 'only three days to do it in' thing, they have to create something which - as we all know - really takes much, much longer
3. The change in the gardens has to be extreme
4. It mustn't get too 'anorak-y' (although web back-up is essential in the more considered approach, and further information - i'd like to know how many hits the site has had)
HOWEVER:
There is a danger if the projects chosen all involve external contractors, heavy plant etc then those watching it may not realise that a wildlife area can be quite small, non-disruptive, quite cheap to create etc.

There's 4 to go - let's see what happens......

[Fireweed]

On the serious side I'm more on the side of those who have raised reservations about this prog. On the light-hearted side it certainly is good entertainment.

Three episodes now - water-vole garden, badger garden and now red squirrel garden. I realised that the show would have to move about the country, so when they got to Scotland (based on the nature of the series so far) I thought we might get Golden Eagle garden - in comparison to that I suppose red squirrel garden isn't so bad. Will one of the rest of the episodes be a big garden by the sea that is to become grey seal garden?

Still hoping forlornly that one episode might be a tiny inner-city garden, currently frequented by the local moggies ("Ah yes, these droppings indicate a feline species is already using this garden", "What, Wild Cats?", "No, probably more like a flea-bitten ginger Tom"), which will be transformed into House Sparrow garden or Bumblebee garden.

Enough sarcasm already!

Sorry, there's more. What exactly was the point of the badger set? Were they homeless badgers? Isn't wildlife gardening more about supporting wildlife rather than taking it out of the wild for your entertainment?

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by Fireweed

On the serious side I'm more on the side of those who have raised reservations about this prog. On the light-hearted side it certainly is good entertainment.

Three episodes now - water-vole garden, badger garden and now red squirrel garden. I realised that the show would have to move about the country, so when they got to Scotland (based on the nature of the series so far) I thought we might get Golden Eagle garden - in comparison to that I suppose red squirrel garden isn't so bad. Will one of the rest of the episodes be a big garden by the sea that is to become grey seal garden?

Still hoping forlornly that one episode might be a tiny inner-city garden, currently frequented by the local moggies ("Ah yes, these droppings indicate a feline species is already using this garden", "What, Wild Cats?", "No, probably more like a flea-bitten ginger Tom"), which will be transformed into House Sparrow garden or Bumblebee garden.

Enough sarcasm already!

Sorry, there's more. What exactly was the point of the badger set? Were they homeless badgers? Isn't wildlife gardening more about supporting wildlife rather than taking it out of the wild for your entertainment?

I don't think building a sett in your garden is taking badgers out of the wild at all. Its just providing additional options for them within their territory. They may only use the new sett as a bolt hole but its still going to be of value to them.

And in addition. As useful as showing improvements to a small urban garden may be, would it make good television? I'm not so sure.

[Fireweed]

Point taken, yes, I can see an additional resource would be useful.

Does anyone recall a little series a few years ago with Charlie Dimmock (and Chris Baines) - something like "Charlie's Wildlife Gardens"? That had an episode on a tiny back garden in Bristol, which was transformed with a Mediterranean feel for lots of nectar plants. Chris put up some bird-feeders and Charlie did a tiny "water-feature". I have to admit that the "transformations" were nowhere near as stunning as "Wild About Your Garden" but they were within most people's grasp.

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by Fireweed

Point taken, yes, I can see an additional resource would be useful.

Does anyone recall a little series a few years ago with Charlie Dimmock (and Chris Baines) - something like "Charlie's Wildlife Gardens"? That had an episode on a tiny back garden in Bristol, which was transformed with a Mediterranean feel for lots of nectar plants. Chris put up some bird-feeders and Charlie did a tiny "water-feature". I have to admit that the "transformations" were nowhere near as stunning as "Wild About Your Garden" but they were within most people's grasp.

I think Gardener's world should be nudged into a few dedicated wildife related programmes to cover the things that have less bells and whistles. Things like plants valuable to wildlife, animals houses, ethical sourcing of plants and gardening materials etc.

[shei111]

Originally Posted by Fireweed

Point taken, yes, I can see an additional resource would be useful.

Does anyone recall a little series a few years ago with Charlie Dimmock (and Chris Baines) - something like "Charlie's Wildlife Gardens"? That had an episode on a tiny back garden in Bristol, which was transformed with a Mediterranean feel for lots of nectar plants. Chris put up some bird-feeders and Charlie did a tiny "water-feature". I have to admit that the "transformations" were nowhere near as stunning as "Wild About Your Garden" but they were within most people's grasp.

Yes that programe has been repeated this week on sky UK gardens 248 at around 3. to 4.30 time, and I thought what a good wildlife prog she was with expert Chris Baines it may be on this afternoon with a different wildlife subject. sheila

[shei111]

Originally Posted by Fireweed

Point taken, yes, I can see an additional resource would be useful.

Does anyone recall a little series a few years ago with Charlie Dimmock (and Chris Baines) - something like "Charlie's Wildlife Gardens"? That had an episode on a tiny back garden in Bristol, which was transformed with a Mediterranean feel for lots of nectar plants. Chris put up some bird-feeders and Charlie did a tiny "water-feature". I have to admit that the "transformations" were nowhere near as stunning as "Wild About Your Garden" but they were within most people's grasp.

Ive just watched that on UK gardens the tiny Bristol garden transformation it just goes to show what you can do for wildlife in a small garden, I do believe charlie will be on tommorow at 4.30 again. sheila

[Firefox]

it dosent seem to have any episodes or has it not even started yet?
when does it start?