Template:Courier-OCT-25-20

GARDENERS' QUESTION TIME COMES TO CLAYGATE

Two episodes of BBC Radio 4's "Gardeners Question Time" were recorded at Holy Trinity Church in July, following an invitation from Claygate Gardening Society. And it proved incredibly popular all 350 tickets were sold in 36 hours, ensuring a full church and a lively and enthusiastic crowd.

Claygate's keen gardeners, supplemented by audience members from as far away as Twickenham, put questions to panellists Bob Flowerdew, Pippa Greenwood and Juliet Sargeant, via Kathy Clugston in the chair.

Questions included a mature olive tree shedding its discoloured leaves, trouble with growing hollyhocks, best vegetables for a small garden and the sometimes impractical nature of professional garden designs.

The evening was interesting not just for its coverage of numerous plant and gardening topics but also as an example of how an outside broadcast radio show is put together, with various real-time edits and re-recordings to change emphasis or to avoid date-specific references.

It was a great example of the village coming together to support an event. The Society thanks Patrick Bateman, Vicar of Holy Trinity, for making the church available, and is grateful to both of Claygate's WI groups, who provided teas and coffees.

The first programme was broadcast on Friday August 29 as being from "Claygate", the second, nominally from "Elmbridge", was broadcast on Friday September 19. Both can be heard again on BBC Sounds, which can also be accessed via www.Claygate-gardening.org and following the link to the BBC.