Bangor’s dementia friendly garden, Narcissus ‘Gardeners Corner’ arrives and the mystery of the buried egg

Bangor’s dementia friendly garden, Narcissus ‘Gardeners Corner’ arrives and the mystery of the buried egg

Author: BBC Radio Ulster October 11, 2025 Duration: 56:34

This week, David visits the new sensory garden in Bangor’s Ward Park which as been designed with those living with dementia in mind. One listener gets in touch after finding fresh hens eggs (with a date stamp) buried in her garden pots – the team attempt to unravel the mystery. Adam Frost chooses Euonymus alatus as his shrub of the month for October. Garden designer and nursery owner Jamie Butterworth on his manic year that’s included designing a garden with Monty Don, getting married and writing a book! Also on the programme, with the arrival of the bulb of Narcissus ‘Gardeners’ Corner’, named to mark the 40th year of the programme, David Maxwell plants the first few bulbs in studio with Ann FitzSimons. Email the programme at gardenerscorner@bbc.co.uk


Tune into Gardeners' Corner from BBC Radio Ulster for a weekly dose of practical wisdom and quiet inspiration rooted in the soil of the province. Host David Maxwell guides each episode with the ease of a knowledgeable friend, sharing the latest horticultural advice and seasonal news you can actually use. This isn't just theory; the podcast actively explores, taking you on audio visits to thriving plots and personal havens, from expansive estates to modest backyards, revealing the unique stories they grow. You'll hear firsthand from those who tend them, gathering tips that work in real gardens. It’s a consistent resource for anyone with a trowel and a bit of earth, whether you're nurturing a windowsill herb box or planning a perennial border. The conversation is always grounded, focused on the tangible joys and challenges of growing things. Listen for a genuine connection to the gardening community and a deeper understanding of your own patch, all delivered with the trusted quality of BBC Radio Ulster. Each episode feels like a welcome break, a moment to think about what's possible just outside your door.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Gardeners' Corner
Podcast Episodes
Sunken gardens, city sanctuaries and sodden shoes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:24
On a very wet week, David visits Mount Stewart to see how storm-felled trees are given a new lease of life in the sunken garden. Urban spaces are reimagined with innovative native meadow cubes and Maurice Parkinson expla…
Must have maples, tulip time and making gardeners’ gold [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:07
Autumn is far from over, as David Maxwell discovers with Maurice Parkinson at Ballyrobert Cottage Garden. A fine collection of maples—perfect for a cold climate and heavy soil—thrives there, putting on quite the autumn s…
Gardeners' Corner special: The wonder of trees [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:08
In this autumn special, Gardeners’ Corner celebrates our relationship with trees. David Maxwell returns to his childhood home to revisit the trees he grew up with. Tree expert Tony Kirkham introduces some of the trees gr…
Jane Austen’s gardens: A Gardeners' Corner special [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:34
Where did the world-famous author Jane Austen find inspiration for her classic novels? Two hundred and fifty years after her birth, Gardeners’ Corner presenter David Maxwell explores the outdoor spaces closely linked to…