Postbag: The Hidden Gardens, Glasgow
Kathy Clugston hosts GQT from The Hidden Gardens in Glasgow and discusses how gardeners can make the most of even the most challenging spaces.
Kathy Clugston hosts another Gardeners鈥� Question Time Postbag episode from The Hidden Gardens in Glasgow, a remarkable community green space created on a former industrial site in the heart of the city.
Joining Kathy to delve into your questions are Birmingham Botanical Gardens鈥� head gardener Bethan Collerton, Balmoral鈥檚 head of gardens Kirsty Wilson, and botanist James Wong.
As they explore this aptly named urban oasis, the panel considers how gardeners can make the most of even the most challenging spaces, from creating green roofs to choosing the right trees for compact gardens. They also weigh up the balance between encouraging wildlife and protecting prized plants, in a lively discussion sparked by a rose-munching garden visitor.
Along the way, head gardener Paula Murdoch reveals how The Hidden Gardens has evolved from a former tramworks site into a haven for people, plants and wildlife, with wildflower meadows, sensory planting and inventive habitat features woven through the garden.
Also, there's advice on designing a sensory school garden, creating a wildlife-friendly pond in the smallest of spaces, and why some plants refuse to behave as the gardening books suggest.
Producer: Alison Vernon-Smith
Assistant producer: William Norton
A Somethin' Else production for 麻豆社 Radio 4
* If listening on 麻豆社 Sounds and you wish to view the plant list, please go to the Gardeners' Question Time website and open this week's episode page.
Tickets are available for the 麻豆社 Radio 4 Gardeners' Question Time Summer Party 2026 held at RHS Garden Wisley on Saturday 5th September.
Information and ticket details can be accessed via: https://www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/wisley/whats-on/gardeners-question-time-summer-garden-party
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Plant List
Introduction and Garden Tour
鈥� Ginkgo biloba, maidenhair tree鈥� Lavandula spp., lavender鈥� Papaver spp., poppy鈥� Sorbus aucuparia, rowan鈥� Sorbus cashmiriana Hedl., Kashmir rowan听Q1 鈥� 鈥淲e have a small garden and want to make the most of every bit of it for plants and wildlife. We want to build a bin store with a living roof, what plants do you suggest?鈥�
Question context
鈥� Hibiscus spp., hibiscusJames Wong
鈥� Sedum spp., stonecrop鈥� Thymus spp. , thyme鈥� Salvia officinalis, sage鈥� Salvia rosmarinus, rosemary鈥� Lavandula spp., lavender鈥� Galanthus spp., snowdrop鈥� Hardy orchids (various species)Bethan Collerton
鈥� Sedum spp., stonecrop鈥� Sempervivum spp., houseleek鈥� Saxifraga spp., saxifragePaula Murdoch
鈥� Ferns鈥� Ajuga spp., bugleKirsty Wilson
鈥� Hibiscus spp., hibiscus听Wildflower Meadow Feature (06鈥�48鈥�)听
Plants mentioned by Paula Murdoch
鈥� Bellis perennis, daisy鈥� Prunella vulgaris, self-heal鈥� Filipendula ulmaria, meadowsweet鈥� Geranium pratense, meadow cranesbill鈥� Cirsium heterophyllum, melancholy thistle鈥� Leucanthemum vulgare, ox-eye daisy鈥� Ranunculus spp., buttercup鈥� Centaurea spp., knapweed听Q2 鈥� 鈥淲hat鈥檚 eating my roses like this?鈥�(08鈥�24鈥�)
Q3 鈥� 鈥淢y Strelitzia is self-dividing. Should I separate and repot it?鈥� (10鈥�57鈥�)
James Wong
鈥� Strelitzia reginae, bird of paradiseKirsty Wilson
鈥� Strelitzia reginae 'Mandela's Gold听Shady Meadow Feature (13鈥�29鈥�)
Original planting
鈥� Miscanthus spp., silver grass鈥� Stipa spp., feather grass鈥� Achillea spp., yarrow鈥� Kniphofia spp., red-hot pokerCurrent planting
鈥� Ligularia 'The Rocket' , leopard plant 'The Rocket'鈥� Dryopteris spp., wood fern鈥� Osmunda regalis, royal fern鈥� Osmanthus 脳 burkwoodii, Burkwood osmanthus听Q4 鈥� 鈥淲hat can we grow in a shady sensory courtyard for SEN students?鈥� (15鈥�47鈥�)
Paula Murdoch
鈥� Ginger mint鈥� Pineapple mint鈥� Mentha suaveolens, apple mint鈥� Mentha spicata, spearmint鈥� Chocolate mintKirsty Wilson
鈥� Mentha longifolia Buddleia Mint Group, horse mint buddleia mint group鈥� Petroselinum crispum, parsley鈥� Coriandrum sativum, corianderBethan Collerton
鈥� Melissa officinalis, lemon balmJames Wong
鈥� Hedera helix, ivy听Q5 鈥� 鈥淐an you recommend a slender tree for a small garden that will attract birds?鈥� (19鈥�32鈥�)
Question context
鈥� Eucalyptus spp., eucalyptusKirsty Wilson
鈥� Sorbus spp., rowan鈥� Sorbus 鈥極lympic Flame鈥�, rowan 鈥極lympic Flame鈥�Bethan Collerton
鈥� Betula spp., birch鈥� Silver birch cultivars and formsJames Wong
鈥� Pyracantha spp., firethornPaula Murdoch
鈥� Malus 'Evereste', crab apple 'Evereste'听Plants Mentioned Around the Shady Meadow and Garden Infrastructure (23鈥�57鈥�)
Paula Murdoch
鈥� Corylus avellana, hazel鈥� Betula spp., birch鈥� Salix spp., willow听Q6 鈥� 鈥淲hy do my hollyhocks come back year after year?鈥�
Bethan Collerton
鈥� Alcea rosea, hollyhock听Q7 鈥� 鈥淐an I top up compost around existing plants in a raised bed?鈥� (28鈥�46鈥�)
Question context
鈥� Clematis 鈥楳adame Julia Correvon鈥�, clematis 鈥楳adame Julia Correvon鈥欌�� Brunnera macrophylla 鈥楯ack Frost鈥�, Siberian bugloss 鈥楯ack Frost鈥櫶�Q8 鈥� 鈥淢y Daphne odora 鈥楳arginata鈥� is healthy but never flowers. Why?鈥� (33鈥�25鈥�)
Kirsty Wilson
鈥� Daphne odora 鈥楳arginata鈥�, winter daphne 鈥楳arginata鈥�James Wong
鈥� Daphne odora 鈥楳arginata鈥�, winter daphne 鈥楳arginata鈥欌�� Rhododendron spp., rhododendronBethan Collerton
鈥� Daphne mezereum, mezereon鈥� Daphne odora 鈥楳arginata鈥�, winter daphne 鈥楳arginata鈥櫶�Q9 鈥� 鈥淲hich plants would you recommend for a wildlife pond made from an old bath?鈥� (36鈥�11鈥�)
James Wong
鈥� Nymphaea alba, white water lily鈥� Nymphaea 鈥楬elvola鈥�, water lily 鈥楬elvola鈥欌�� Nymphaea 鈥楶erry's Baby Red鈥�, water lily 鈥楶erry's Baby Red鈥欌�� Nymphaea 鈥楬oney Cup鈥� (cultivar)Bethan Collerton
鈥� Iris pseudacorus, yellow flag iris鈥� Galium odoratum, sweet woodruffKirsty Wilson
鈥� Iris ensata cultivars, Japanese water iris鈥� Ceratophyllum demersum, hornwort鈥� Gunnera magellanica, dwarf gunnera鈥� Salix spp., willow听
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Gardeners' Question Time
Horticultural programme featuring a group of gardening experts
