Scotland Grows Show S11 E2: Box, Blight, and Beyond with Lewis Swales

"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, Lewis shares what makes these historic gardens so special, and the challenges of keeping them thriving in the face of changing climates and box blight.

Join M.T. O'Donnell as she explores with Lewis Swales how modern gardening practices are reshaping beloved Scottish gardens. You’ll learn how Lewis and his team are creating resilient, beautiful spaces by experimenting with plant choices, trialling new hedging techniques, and sometimes letting nature lead the way. Whether you garden on a grand estate or a city balcony, Lewis’s candid tips and lessons from success, and failure, are sure to inspire.

Tune in for a conversation filled with practical advice, fascinating history, and pure gardening passion. You’ll come away with fresh ideas for your own garden, and a new appreciation for the dedication and creativity that Scotland’s finest gardeners bring to their living masterpieces.

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The Scotland Grows Show is the podcast which celebrates everything that is good in Scottish gardening, as we join gardeners around the country to find out what grows well where they are, and pick up tips and stories along the way.

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And of course, you can always find your share of gardening goodness on our website at scotlandgrowsmagazine.com.

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This series of the Scotland Grows Show is sponsored by Dedicate a Tree, a special opportunity from the National Trust for Scotland to help breathe new life into Scotland’s woodlands.

You can dedicate a tree from £7.50 and choose from three planting projects happening across places in the care of the National Trust for Scotland. They’ll send you a certificate and information leaflet, as well as regular updates about the progress of your chosen woodland project, and your tree dedication can be shared on their virtual woodland.  

Whether you dedicate a tree for yourself or for a loved one, in celebration or in memory, you’ll help nurture and protect Scotland’s wonderful woodlands for generations to come. 

Dedicate a tree today at nts.org.uk/trees