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Gardeners' Corner

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Factual: Homes & Gardens

The weekly gardening programme for keen gardeners, with the latest advice and news.

The weekly gardening programme for keen gardeners, with the latest advice, news and visits to gardens large and small around the province. Presented by David Maxwell.

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Gardeners' Corner: Kilmacurragh and the Plant Hunters

Himalayan plants

Kilmacurragh and the Plant Hunters

BBC Radio Ulster - Gardeners' Corner, Kilmacurragh and the Plant Hunters

A visit to the National Botanic Gardens at Kilmacurragh in County Wicklow.

David Maxwell visits what some call 'Ireland's secret garden' - Kilmacurragh in County Wicklow. He's joined by Neil Porteous and head gardener Seamus O'Brien.

In this episode of Gardeners' Corner, David Maxwell visits what some call 'Ireland's secret garden' - Kilmacurragh in County Wicklow. The site became part of the National Botanic Gardens in 1996 and since then a restoration programme has been underway. Leading the tour of the gardens, which boast a vast plant collection, is head gardener Seamus O'Brien. 
From a 'Peter Pan' tree which thinks it's a child but is over 100 years old to a plant which traps animals so their decaying bodies give it food. 

Seamus is also continuing the work of the Victorian plant hunters. He has gathered plants from Chile, China and Tasmania on his own plant hunting expeditions. Also joining the tour of the gardens is Neil Porteous from Mount Stewart. The two gardens cooperate in the work of creating a 'Noah's Ark' of endangered southern hemisphere plants in the temperate Irish climate.


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