Scotland Grows Show

"Every town has a derelict space that... is kind of in limbo."

In this inspiring episode of the Scotland Grows Show, garden designer Ryan McMahon returns to share the transformative story behind Falkirk’s Meanwhile Garden — a vibrant, community-led project turning a demolition site into a thriving oasis for people and nature. Discover how a simple, temporary garden concept became a bold statement for creativity, resilie...

"People come in and say 'I don't want a conifer,' then point to one and say, 'I really like that,' not realizing it is a conifer."

We dive deep into the rich history and horticultural expertise of the Mill Garden Centre with Colin and Katherine McIndoe, whose family has been growing plants on the same Scottish site for over 125 years. Whether you’re a conifer enthusiast or a skeptic, prepare to see these versatile and strikin...

"It feels like you've stepped into another world once you come through."

Step through the gates of the Explorers Garden at Pitlochry Festival Theatre with Caroline Bavey, whose passion for this unique seven-acre oasis brings its stories vividly to life. In this episode, discover how the garden’s design takes you on a whirlwind journey across continents from South America to the Himalayas and Japan, following in the footsteps ...

"You can teach skill, but you can't teach passion."

M.T O'Donnell chats to Sarah Forbes in this episode, winner of the ALBAS Horticulture Learner of the Year, who traded the corporate world for muddy boots and the historic gardens at Stirling Castle. Discover how a chance apprenticeship changed her life, leading her to literally ground herself every day by connecting with nature and Scottish history at one of Scotland’s most ...

"Hellebores cope with the Scottish weather really, really well. Scottish gardening is different, particularly with the late frosts, but hellebores are robust.”

Step into the enchanting world of Kirklands with passionate gardeners Peter and Gill Hart for ‘A Celebration of Hellebores’ as we discover what makes these jewel-like winter blooms a Scottish garden essential. From their incredible resilience to the dazzlin...

Join us on the Scotland Grows Show as M.T. O'Donnell sits down with Úna Treanor, Head Gardener at the historic Dunvegan Castle on the Isle of Skye. From battling relentless rain and storm-force winds to cultivating resilient gardens in one of Scotland’s most dramatic climates, Úna shares her honest insights and hard-won gardening wisdom.

Discover the real challenges — and unexpected joys — of gardening on Skye, fr...

"There’s no point in having a patio in somewhere that’s damp and shady because who’s going to sit there?"

arden designer and Scotland Grows columnist Joanne Evans joins M.T. O'Donnell to reveal the secrets of successful garden planning. Whether you're dreaming of a brand new space this year or eager to revamp your existing patch, this episode unwraps the why, when, and how of creating outdoor areas that truly work...

"It’s like magic. I just don’t understand how anybody can’t just love gardening because honestly, it’s like magic."

In this episode of the Scotland Grows Show, Lewis Swales, head gardener of not one but two stunning National Trust gardens in Aberdeenshire, welcomes us behind the scenes to discover the secrets of Pitmedden Garden and Haddo House.

From the intricate parterres and miles of hedging to trim, Lewi...

“It’s quite humbling actually... the realisation when I made my first hybrid, then it bloomed for the first time... it was the culmination of decades of effort and knowledge.”

In this fascinating episode of the Scotland Grows Show, M.T. O'Donnell welcomes Luke Callaghan, expert orchid grower and passionate plant enthusiast, for a conversation that travels from a childhood sparked by the breathtaking World Orchid ...

"Manufacturers and the government have a duty to us as the amateur gardener, to really try and help us with this transition to peat-free." 

Horticulturist Scott Smith returns to the Scotland Grows Show to share the results of his hands-on trial comparing three peat-free composts with a traditional peat-based mix.

Conducted in real-world home conditions in the northeast of Scotland, Scott’s project demystifies the chall...

In this episode of the Scotland Grows Show, host M.T. O'Donnell welcomes Dr. Anna Florence from the National Trust for Scotland to unravel the massive PLANTS Project, a three-year botanical deep dive that’s reshaping how Scotland’s most treasured gardens are protected, understood, and shared.

Discover how an ambitious team travelled Scotland’s length and breadth to record 86,000 living plants, revealing treasures...

“Getting your hands dirty in a compost heap - there’s not a lot that’s better than that in my mind.”

Head Gardener Callum Halstead shares the secrets from Cambo Gardens’ Festival of Compost, practical advice for composting at home, and lessons learned from a challenging Scottish summer to inspire resilient, beautiful gardens all year round.

Callum’s expert advice will make you to look at soil, ...

It is high time we spoke more on the Scotland Grows Show about the legacy the great Scottish plant hunters left on our shores, through the most intrepid and life-threatening plant-hunting expeditions.

Acclaimed writer Ann Lindsay has uncovered the stories of the Scottish plant hunters who shaped the nation's gardens and in this episode, we’ll look at the legacies of famous explorers like David Douglas, Francis Masson, and Ro...

“Crathes is a garden of real change. It’s got everything from early hedges from 1702 right up to contemporary new gardens. It’s a real kaleidoscope of colours.”

Step behind the historic garden walls of Crathes Castle in Aberdeenshire in this episode with head gardener James Hannaford, as he reveals what it’s really like to care for a living tapestry that stretches back to 1609.

From resilient plant c...

“There’s nothing beats actually being outside and seeing how plants grow.”     Get ready in this episode to be inspired by one of Scotland’s most influential gardening voices!     RHS Judge, former garden centre owner at New Hopetoun Gardens, and Beechgrove Garden legend, Lesley Watson joins us for a personal deep-dive.     From her pivot as chemistry teaching to horticul...

M.T. O'Donnell is joined by gardener and Scotland Grows writer Andy Peasgood to discuss the journey of transforming a typical new-build garden into a thriving green space. Andy shares his experience of creating a garden from scratch, tackling compacted clay soil, drainage challenges, and maximising every inch of his 8x6 metre plot.

Key Topics Covered:

• Starting from Scratch: Andy recalls the early days of moving into his new-b...

As the Estate Factor at Teasses Estate, Craig Cameron is dedicated to cultivating beautiful, sustainable landscapes while celebrating the traditions and heritage of this stunning historic estate. 

The gardens at Teasses have been created and developed on the Estate since the present owners came to the Estate in the mid-1990s. 

The sixty-acre gardens comprise of formal gardens, decorative woodlands, and a very unique resto...

There is something special about Branklyn Garden - a 2-acre garden, set on the side of Kinnoull Hill, overlooking Perth, created from 1922 onwards by beginner gardeners John and Dorothy Renton, using amongst other things seeds and plants collected by plant hunters.

The garden was left to the National Trust for Scotland in the late 1960s by the couple, and today attracts 18,000 visitors a year to its enchanting space, and infamous t...

For the first time in the RHS Chelsea Flower Show’s history, seagrass the ocean’s only flowering plant, will take centre stage in a garden designed by Ryan McMahon of Falkirk based MUSA Landscape Architecture, for marine restoration charity Seawilding, supported by Project Giving Back.  

The Seawilding Garden’s design is inspired by the landscape found at Loch Craignish on the west coast of Scotland and home ...