23 - 27 August	Spindle Cottage in Somerset is a fairytale cottage garden and is the brainchild of Alan and Alban Bunting. It isn’t the planting that sets this garden apart from the rest, but the three mini cottages that Alban has built for his grandchildren. There is a stone Gothic cottage, a thatched Elizabethan cottage and even a miniature Victorian Post Office In Gwent The Orchids – which belongs to Margaret Underwood, has a variety of different habitats and areas from courtyard to woodland. Incorporating a newly formed pond, sculptures and a variety of indigenous and exotic plants – all bordered by a 19th century canal. Alban and Angela have two problems – a lack of planting in the garden and a pond that has been allowed to get a little too wild and is a potential health and safety issue. Hopefully with Carol’s help these problems can be resolved Margaret’s garden is packed with interest but an area at the side of the house seems to have been forgotten and she needs Carol’s advice of what can be done to smarten it all and impress the County Organiser enough to get accepted into the Yellow Book.
30 August - 03 September	Moss Cottage in Somerset is a beautifully restored cottage garden that June Caine has worked on for a mere five years. June has recently struggled with allowing her recently retired husband Dennis to partake in the gardening. Within the ½ acre plot – June has created a structured cottage garden, herbaceous area with greenhouse, a vegetable plot, a secret garden and a tropical area where she hopes to have 2 ponds. In Glamorgan – Nash Manor is a grand historic house and garden dating back to 1500’s, belonging to Jennifer Williams and her husband Eric. Jennifer and Eric lost their son – Mark - 13 years ago in a tragic road accident and trying to get into the Yellow Book is proving to be good therapy. June at Moss Cottage has got husband Dennis to dig two large holes at the bottom of the garden for two ponds – but with so little time they won’t get them finished in time – what can Carol suggest to help them? At Nash Manor a Victorian Wall has fallen and one of Jennifer’s borders is rife with Ground Elder – Carol’s help is needed to make sure her dreams of being accepted into the Yellow Book aren’t shattered.
06 - 10 September	In Sussex retired couple Max and Lee Colton have spent years battling chronic arthritis and ill health to create their own sanctuary in the heart of Hastings. Despite their debilitating illnesses Max and Lee are both determined to get their garden open to the public, but will the gardens untidy appearance hamper their chances? Scutari Road garden belongs to fanatical gardener Sue Hillwood Harris and it’s a true hidden gem deep in South London. Sue opened her last garden to the national garden scheme and it is now her personal mission to get this one looking good enough to be in the Yellow Book. Max and Lee’s Sussex garden is a tricky sloping site but they have sub divided it into rooms and terraced some areas creating good level spaces. The planting has got lots of height and is very naturalistic but most importantly the gardens got lots of places to sit and relax. Joe offers tips on what to plant in heavy clay soil. Sue’s London garden has a real sense of maturity even though it is only 3 years old. It’s got an informal layout a real cottage feel, although Sue has a few exotics here and there.
13 - 17 September	Brian Day’s ¼ acre garden is multi themed with shrubbery, lawns, herbaceous borders, a large waterfall and pond. A Japanese area, and even a shady jungle area. He is hoping that he can become part of the Menheniot Village group of gardens in Cornwall. Brian is battling with bowel cancer and sees the garden and gardening as the perfect tonic. In Glamorgan - Ty Newydd is the labour of love of Glynn and Liz Gibson who have planted over 1400 trees in the fourteen years they have live there. The 3½ acres is brimming with interest including a pond packed with wildlife. Brian in Menheniot has a few empty beds and a portion of the hedge that has died and gone completely brown – he needs to find a solution to the unsightly brown part of the hedge – can Carol help Brian to get accepted by the NGS? At Ty Newydd – Glynn has a number of obstacles to overcome with his garden. The entrance to the garden is messy and uninspired and he has a large dumping ground at the bottom of the garden, which looks terrible. What can Carol do to help Glynn?
20 - 24 September	Little Common Gardens in East Sussex is a quirky town garden which owner Pat Crouch has used as haven away from the hurly burly of a hectic world. She really began gardening fifteen years ago after suffering the first of two nervous breakdowns. At Smithwood House Elizabeth has been working on her grand, formal Surrey garden for 16 years. There is a bit of musical theme with its three oversized water feature sculptures of a piano, a harp and a saxophone. Pat has a problem gravel area and a bed that is looking a bit empty – What suggestions can Joe come up with to steer Pat in the right direction to make sure she gets into the Yellow Book. Smithwood House’s problems are the lack of colour and a dry shady area under a Eucalyptus that Elizabeth has found difficult to plant. She is hoping that Joe will have the answers she needs to ensure her dreams of being accepted by the NGS aren’t shattered.
27 September - 01 October	Littlecourt Cottages situated in Sidmouth, Devon is a stunning coastal garden that takes full advantage of its temperate climate to include dozens of rare and exotic plants. Wishing to open for charity has taken on special significance for owner Geoffrey since his best friend was diagnosed with breast cancer. Hillcott House in Glamorgan is an exposed garden that suffers terribly from biting winds and soil that is rife with rocks and stones – which makes it all the more miraculous that three years ago there was nothing on the site at all. For principle gardener Andrea the garden has been incredibly therapeutic when getting over the death of her mother who died recently. Geoffrey in Sidmouth has hugely ambitious plans of putting in steps to a secret garden, moving a tree and putting in a summerhouse – what can Carol suggest to make sure these plans don’t scupper his chances of being accepted into the Yellow Book. A lack of colour and a severely exposed and wind burnt bed is the conundrum that faces Andrea – hopefully Carol can give her ideas that will solve all her horticultural problems.
04 - 08 October	In the heart of Somerset lies an idyllic garden belonging to 51 yr old Lucy Nelson. The garden has been developed over the past ten years and Lucy longs to be part of the National Garden Scheme so she can open her garden to the paying public in memory of her beloved sister who died of breast cancer, but an unsightly duck house and muddy woodland walk could spell disaster for her Yellow Book dreams. Whilst in Hertfordshire the remarkable country garden reflects 23 years of careful planning and design by 58yr old Sally Pool. Sally has sky-high ambitions when it comes to opening her garden, but the lack of height in the planting may leave her falling short of expectations. In Somerset the early 18th century hunting lodge has been extended into the 3 acres of landscape and looks over the fabulous views. Around the house it has been formally landscaped in a luchen style but the owners have really stamped their mark with a stainless steel rill and a glass obelisk. Joe offers tips and advice on how to create a “green roof” to camouflage a duck house.
11 - 15 October	The Coach House in Somerset is owned by Richard and James who are extremely proud of their 3 ½ acre parkland garden in the Mendips. With a number of rooms boarded by clipped beech hedges this garden has the feel of a mini Versailles. James is in charge of the more formal areas and Richard busies himself with the rest. In Cornwall – Primrose Farm is 3 ½ acres of mostly cottage garden, but there is also woodland area and wildlife pond. Barbara only started gardening 4 years ago when she moved to Cornwall. Richard and James’ problems at the Coach House are that the size of the garden means they’ve got a huge amount of work just keeping on top of things and they have a whole area, which is overgrown with weeds. What advice can Carol give to turn their weedery into a place of beauty. Barbara’s main problem is a lack of planting and possible health and safety issues with the woodland walk – Carol visits and helps out with planting up a new bed – hopefully this will help ensure Primrose Farm’s inclusion in the prestigious Yellow Book?
18 - 22 October	For the past 25 years Caxton Manor in Sussex has been the weekend getaway for busy Londoner Adele Speelman and her family, but since loosing her beloved mother last year to cancer she has been working hard to get her exquisite Japanese gardens looking good enough to open. In Kent the historical haven belongs to 37yr old Cathryn Draper. For the past 3 yrs Cathryn has spent much of her precious spare time working hard in the garden to restore it to its former Yellow Book glory, but an overgrown pond and health and safety hazards could be the gardens down fall. In Sussex Adele has designed her gardens to be the perfect fusion between east and west…a rare mix of Japanese gardens, pond and bridges combined with an Elizabethan Parterre by the Tudor House. Adele struggles to get the planting right in the parterre & Joe offers some tips and advice on plants to tolerate dry shade. Whilst in Kent Cathryn battles the elements to get her garden looking great. An old Anderson air raid shelter is transformed into a rockery complete with seating area & Joe looks at how to make the most of natural ponds in your garden.
25 - 29 October	Hookhouse Pottery in Gloucestershire is a stunning sunken cottage garden, a water garden with two ponds, an orchard and a vegetable garden – Lise is the principle gardener and husband Chris is the potter. The garden is a special place for Lise as it was where she recovered from a mystery illness that made her lose her voice completely. At Bowling Green Cottage Carol has a mixture of formal garden, woodland area, wetland and a wild area by the west coast of Cornwall. With her mining consultant husband, Stephen, they also have a number of Cornish mining implements dotted around. At Hookhouse there is the problem health and safety around the two ponds and the bank leading to the ponds is also a concern. Hopefully Carol’s advice on building steps will resolve any problems they have.
01 - 05 November	Lift the Latch is an impeccably kept 2-acre cottage garden in Somerset with all year round interest. The garden is filled predominantly with a variety of evergreens. There is a large wildlife pond with trout and ducks. Pauline has been lovingly working on this garden for 23 years and even the devastating news that she has cancer won’t stop her trying to open. Woody Park in Devon is a thirty-five acre parkland of which almost half is lakes and ponds. Colin and Enid Folds have created a real labour of love around their fish farm – and due to family losses through cancer they would both love to open for the NGS and make some money for the cancer charities. Pauline’s picture perfect cottage garden is ruined by the unsightly back garden that is supposed to be the responsibility of her husband David. With Carol’s help can they transform a wasteland of a garden and bring up to the same standard as the rest? Colin and Enid’s big problem is a number of fallen trees and a very boggy patch of grass next to the house – with Carol’s help they will hopefully overcome this hurdle and still be accepted into the Yellow Book.
08 - 12 November	Heather Cottage in the middle of Dartmoor National Park, Devon – is home to Chat and Nicky Chatterjee. Chat and Nicky have worked hard harnessing what their environment has to offer creating a piece of tailored nature. Most of this moorland garden is wild. There is a large area of lawn, a small lake with a path around it, bridges that cross the steams, a veg patch and an unruly paddock. In Worcestershire – Old Birmingham Road is an inspirational organic garden that husband and wife team Bruce Heideman and Sue James are proud is almost completely self-sufficient. This Developing organic garden has a mix of traditional and modern planting. A Winding path on a gentle slope leads you from the upper garden with its raised koi pond to the large fruit and vegetable garden. Chat and Nicky have left their vegetable garden go to rack and ruin and they have a very rickety bridge that could be dangerous – what can Carol suggest? Bruce and Sue in Worcestershire have recently created a secret garden which is incredibly immature and even with Carol’s help will it be ready in time?
16 - 20 November	The gardener’s cottage is set in the heart of Devon and is the pride and joy of plantsmen Andy Byfield and Simon Savage. The historical walled gardens feature 7 original Victorian glasshouses and 2 acres of unkept land that is in desperate need of restoration. But will the garden be too much of a work in progress for the prestigious National Garden Scheme? Whilst in Brighton horticultural lecturer Bridgette Saunders longs to open her unique city garden. Bridgette is a big fan of the Yellow Book and now feels it is time she tried to open. This urban oasis is set in half an acre of walled garden in the midst of the city. At Gardeners Cottage Andy is keen to create a meditterean meadow and Carol helps plant a young olive grove. Whilst at the Garden House Bridgette enlists the help of her class to build a new wall and Carol helps to plant. Carol offers tips on how to make the most of a wild and naturalistic veg patch.
23 - 27 November	The End House is set in ½ acre of woodland gardens and is the pride and joy of 52 yr old Sarah Marsh. The gardens feature an eclectic mix of Moroccan deck and old clinker boats moored in a sea of daffodils and Sarah longs to open her garden in memory of her sister who died of breast cancer. Whilst in leafy Surrey 65yr old Kay Price and her husband Jessop have taken on an enormous project later in life. They have built a huf house in the heart of some woodland & the concept is that this ultra modern home sits in the middle of their new 3 acres of garden. They are Yellow Book veterans and long to open this garden, but are struggling with its infancy, despite investing nearly £40K. At the End House Sarah is keen to create a tropical border in her shady woodland garden and battles the elements to get everything looking shipshape. Whilst at Fulvens Hanger Kay & Jessop are desperately trying to get her 3 acres of immature garden looking good enough to open. However landscaping such a large set starts to burn a hole in their pocket and Joe offers some tips and advice on how to be economical with your garden budget.
30 November - 04 December	Quarryside belongs to passionate plantswoman Sue Astles. Whose garden became a sanctuary for her after she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Having now recovered Sue feels she would like to try and open her garden under the scheme to raise money for the charities that once helped her. Whilst in London professional garden designer Emma Plunkett has taken on the project of a lifetime and is in a race against time to get her newly designed and built garden up to scratch for the exacting National Garden scheme, but will she make it? In Derbyshire Joe Swift helps Sue to inject some colour into an uninspiring front garden. Whilst in London Emma turns a blank canvas into a verdant retreat complete with a fantastic raised vegetable area. A show stopping city garden. Joe offers tips on how to create a strong year round backbone to a new garden.
07 - 11 December	Cherry Trees is in idyllic North Devon and belongs to 54 yr old Henry Butterfield. Henry’s love for gardening has grown since he found himself facing an unexpected early retirement. He’s passionate about all creatures’ great and small and despite the gardens diminutive dimensions he’s created place that’s teaming with wildlife. Although Henry has lots of grand plans for his tiny garden, will the national garden scheme simply think he has too much to do? Whilst in Tockington Green, South Gloucestershire retired couple John and Carol Phillpott have spent the past 8 yrs proving that even the smallest spaces can fulfil gardening aspirations, but at only 50 x 30 ft will the garden simply be too small to open? At Cherry Trees it is phenomenal how much is packed into this tiny town garden. There is a wildlife pond, a greenhouse, a vegetable patch and a wildflower meadow in the making. Borders are brimming with herbaceous plants and there’s even a chicken coup. Carol offers Henry some tips on how to create a green roof using some excess turf. Whilst in Tockington Green John Philpott decides to build himself a new entrance to reflect the style oozed by the rest of the garden. Which consists of Climbing roses and honeysuckle that adorn the walls, a fish pool, trees, shrubs and perennials.
14 - 18 December	Daggs Allotments, in Thornbury near Bristol, are quite possibly the oldest working allotments in the country dating back to 1546. With over 100 allotmenteers, the 100 or so plots are used to grow anything from vegetables to cut flowers. Using all different methods – including utilising the cycles of the moon In Cornwall, Judith and Phil Dunningham have grand plans of making Holly House into a wildlife garden like no other. The 2 ½ acre plot is a chaotic treasure trove of a garden – with attractive ponds, fruit and vegetable areas, cottage garden beds, an apple orchard and even an intimate secret garden In Bristol, the very fact that an allotment, rather than a traditional garden, is trying to gain entrance into the Yellow Book could be a problem in itself – will the fact that Daggs stands out from the crowd be viewed as a positive, or a negative. Judith and Phil in Cornwall have a host of potential problems, they have grand plans, which means a huge amount of work including – an untidy entrance, empty veg beds, fruit cages in of need help and a not so secret, secret garden. Could this be one of Carol’s most challenging gardens to date.
21 - 25 December	Doyle Gardens in Northwest London is professional gardener – James Mattoon’s slice of heaven. His 100% organic urban garden takes you on fantastic voyage through a veritable lexicon of over 350 different plants – including a Tropical oasis with banana plants, palms and even a frog pond. In East Sussex – Mike Falcon has been at Ewehurst House for 25 years, slowly expanding the original 1acre garden to the present 35 acres. Within his 35 acres of parkland there is a formal garden by the house, a newly planted magnolia glade, 2 large man made lakes and a wildflower meadow. Despite having over 350 plants James’ city garden does have a bare bed and although quite large for London – can it sustain the stipulated 45 minutes of interest. At Ewehurst House – Mike has a few problems, there is the immaturity of his Magnolia glade, the messy L shaped bed and the need for a lot of general tidying up. What magic can Joe conjure up to help Mike and his dream of getting into the Yellow Book.
28 December - 01 January	Hoath House is in the heart of the Kent countryside and belongs to gardening enthusiast Jane Streatfield. Jane is an ex county organiser for the Yellow Book and has spent year judging other peoples garden. She knows only too well how exacting the garden schemes standards are, but will her own garden be up to scratch? Digswell Road is the labour of love of 62-year-old Adrian Debaat. Together with his wife Clare he has spent the past 30 years creating these magnificent gardens complete with an exotic area in Hertfordshire. But there are areas of dubious planting and could these prevent him from getting into the Yellow Book? The 2 acres of manicured garden that surround ex county organiser Jane’s tremendous period house are in desperate need of restoration. They are a shadow of their former self. Jane plants a salvia border, a yew hedge and builds raised beds from railway sleepers to try and get her garden up to standard. Whilst Joe offers tips on the benefits of gardening in raised beds.