Beechgrove Garden - TV programme in UK

[Maggi Young]

From the  most recent  issue  of  Caley News from the  Royal Caledonian Horticultural  Society :


"Last week it was good to finally see the return of the Beechgrove Garden to our screens [live or on catch up!]. The Caley is concerned that at a time when the benefits of growing plants, the activity of gardening and enjoying gardens, parks and wider greenspaces on so many different levels is now recognised as being extremely important for a healthy and balanced lifestyle, that the one Scottish authoritative gardening programme, where information on all these topics is covered in such an accessible manner, has moved channels and had its schedule considerably reduced. I have written to the BBC and Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary’s raising The Caley’s concerns however you can also do your bit by signing the petition.  We can only hope that the reduced schedule is not repeated next year!

Finally, at Saughton Park we are still behind schedule in moving into the buildings but hope the first moves will take place in early August.  However, if you have not yet visited to see the gardens, I would strongly recommend a visit. The Herbaceous Borders and Rose Gardens are looking particularly stunning, a credit to the designers and the planting team.
I hope you enjoy the rest of the summer either in your own garden or visiting some of the many fine parks and gardens we have here in Scotland.
Happy Gardening
David."

 David  Knott, President  RCHS


Petition:
https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/keep-beechgrove-garden-on-air

[Maggi Young]

Good news about the  Beechgrove  Garden  TV programme  for  next  year .....

BBC Scotland has announced today that Beechgrove is being restored to 26 episodes next year to cover spring, summer and autumn without a break. This is great news for the programme and for horticulture, particularly in Scotland.

"A big THANK YOU to everyone who supported Beechgrove this year, we are all delighted with this development. Please, feel free to share this news."

Susan Burgess
Assistant Producer

Tern Television Productions


https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2019/north-east-boost-from-bbc-scotland

[Matt T]

Hurrah! Common sense prevails

[ian mcdonald]

Good news at last. Maybe the BBC will go a bit further and put the programme out in England at a reasonable hour. Beechgrove shows a good selection of gardening issues.

[John85]

watched and appreciated even on the continent!!!

[Maggi Young]

From the  BBC website  on the  next year  for  Beechgrove :

"The Beechgrove gardening series will have a 26 week run in 2020, with a further eight packages of special highlights to be shown over the winter.

The boost in the run of the series, which is initially shown on the BBC Scotland channel on Thursdays with a further transmission across the UK on BBC Two on Sunday mornings, will return the series to be onscreen across the spring, summer and autumn.

Steve Carson, Head of Multi-Platform Commissioning, says: “We tried something different with Beechgrove this year with social media packages, more outings for the presenters on Radio Scotland’s Grow It and a shortened TV run, but the response from the public has been very clear.

“We have taken on board the feedback and for 2020 there will be a 26 week run of the programme on the BBC Scotland channel and on BBC Two across the UK.”

The aim for the new extended series in 2020 is a new reinvigorated Beechgrove, continuing with features on a range of stunning gardens and practical planting advice, but also highlighting gardening possibilities and benefits for a wide spectrum of people across urban and rural landscapes.

The further eight programmes of highlights from the series will focus on themes ranging from wildlife gardening to gardening’s health benefits - physical and mental - and art in gardening.

Gwyneth Hardy, Executive Producer at Tern TV in Aberdeen, says: “We are looking forward to Beechgrove ‘blooming large’ on the BBC Scotland channel next year and building stronger roots within this new televisual ‘home’.

“We are also delighted to be bringing Beechgrove cheer over the winter with the special packages of highlights from recent series.”   "

[ian mcdonald]

It,s good to see the BBC taking notice of their viewers. Wildlife gardening is not just important it also gives a lot of pleasure to people who can then see wildlife in their own patch. More Alpine gardening would also be interesting, especially to those with small gardens.

[Maggi Young]

Beechgrove  Garden programme  returns  for  new  series, 16th April 2020



Beechgrove "old Boy"  Jim McColl has  just  been awarded the  Victoria Medal of  Honour  from the  RHS , along  with Chris Bailes  of  Alpine Garden Society and  formerly  of  the  RHS  and  Jim Gardiner, Executive Vice President ,formerly Director of Horticulture of the RHS and Curator of RHS Garden Wisley.

[ian mcdonald]

I think it is a celebration of 40 years of the programme. A repeat?

[Maggi Young]

I believe  it  to be   the  new series, Ian - but  I  may be  wrong. A  repeat  of their  40 year  celebration programme would  be  a  good  excuse  to add  a  bit  about  Jim McColl being  given the  honour  of  VHM from the  RHS ....