BBC double win for radio gardening shows

BBC Radio 4’s Gardeners’ Question Time and Radio Wiltshire’s The Saturday Show have taken the radio honours at this year’s Garden Media Guild Awards.

Gardeners’ Question Time was up against four other Radio 4 shows for the National Radio Broadcast of the Year prize, while gardening programmes from BBC local stations in Hereford and Worcester, Somerset, Ulster and Solent were finalists in the Local category.

The winning episode of the Radio 4 weekly gardening programme was one produced by Lucy Dichmont and based in Suffolk. Judges said it was “just as appealing to the green-fingered novice as the seasoned gardening expert and delivered with lashings of easy-to-understand expert advice.” They particularly noted Dawn Isaac’s special feature on the RSPB Flatford Garden, adding: “Her clear, confident presentation demonstrated genuine concern for wildlife issues and proved that gardeners who emerged into the media from the garden design and blogging worlds have what it takes to make it on national radio.”

Other finalists in the National category were:
Green Ears: Acoustic Gardening by Fiona Roberts (producer), Radio Science Unit for BBC Radio 4.
Mabey in the Wild: Snakeshead Fritillary by Susan Marling, Just Radio for BBC Radio 4.
Gardeners’ Question Time: The Archers Special by Howard Shannon & Lucy Dichmont for BBC Radio 4.
Mabey in the Wild: Wild Roses by Susan Marling, Just Radio for BBC Radio 4.

In the Local Radio Broadcast of the Year category, the prize was collected by Laura Rawlings, who presents and produces BBC Radio Wiltshire’s The Saturday Show. Judges said of the show: “The editorial content is just right – inviting and entertaining – but underpinned by a sound gardening offering.” They also praised the broadcast for its depth of topics: from ant control to making comfrey fertiliser, grow your own, apple tree care and pond tips to name a few. “Visiting listeners’ gardens gave the programme a real sense of ‘locality’ and ensured gardening issues discussed were timely, topical and relevant to the region,” added the citation.

Other finalists in the Local category were:
BBC Hereford & Worcester‘s The Sunday Gardening Show, Mike George & Reg Moule.
BBC Radio Somerset‘s What’s Growing On, Rebecca Pow & Emma Britton.
BBC Radio Ulster‘s Gardeners’ Corner, Cherrie McIlwaine.
BBC Radio Solent’s The Good Life, Georgina Windsor & Rebecca Parker.

The awards were presented at a lunch yesterday (Wednesday) held at The Brewery in London. Find out more about the awards on the Garden Media Guild website.