The Happy Garden Podcast
Come and join our happy garden community. Features, interviews, competitions and a whole lot of laughter and positivity along the way. We are Mollie Green and Darren Rudge, come join us... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Episodes
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The Evolution garden at Gardener's world Live
Friday, 20 March 2026
Even with shingles, a herniated spinal disc and a nasty rash between them, Mollie and Darren still bring the giggles.... Mollie chats to professor David Stevens who is this year's designer of the headline show garden at GWL at the NEC. The Evolution garden encapsulates 4 billions years of history! We have 2 tickets to the GWL Spring show for a lucky listener too.Follow us on Instagram and Facebook. We'd love to hear from you too! If you have suggestions for topics or features you'd like to hear, or any garden related questions you have, drop us a line at thehappygardenpodcast@gmail.com. It ...
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Finding solace in your garden
Friday, 13 March 2026
We hear from Leigh who has found solace and comfort in her garden after a really tough few years.Follow us on Instagram and Facebook. We'd love to hear from you too! If you have suggestions for topics or features you'd like to hear, or any garden related questions you have, drop us a line at thehappygardenpodcast@gmail.com. It would be fab if you could rate us and leave a review too if you've got the time, many thanks! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Toad Patrol
Friday, 6 March 2026
Why did the toad cross the road? To get to its ancient breeding ground of course! Mollie chats to Froglife about Toad Patrol, your chance to help these beautiful creatures negotiate the tricky business of crossing roads.Follow us on Instagram and Facebook. We'd love to hear from you too! If you have suggestions for topics or features you'd like to hear, or any garden related questions you have, drop us a line at thehappygardenpodcast@gmail.com. It would be fab if you could rate us and leave a review too if you've got the time, many thanks! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more inf...
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Why NOT to tidy your garden at this time of year
Friday, 27 February 2026
Welcome, welcome! Darren has a very important slot this week explaining why we should NOT be tidying the beds and borders at the moment. For example 70% of our native bees overwinter in hollow stems, and leaves are full of larvae too. It's imperative that we leave dead stems and foliage alone for a few more weeks.Mollie chats to Garden Organic about their huge citizen science survey which reveals that we simply can't grow the same veg that our grandparents grew. Our exaggerated seasons mean we now have to change our growing crops and habits. The usual raucous laughter appears throughout :0)...
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The beautiful snowdrop
Friday, 20 February 2026
Welcome to a jolly episode! Did you know that aphids ride the thermals and come over from France at this time of year? Buglife Paul tells us more and we find out how the insects in the UK will be coping with this wet weather. Your gardening questions answered, lots of snowdrop chat...oh....and lots of Darren in the shower. You don't get this on any other gardening podcast. Buckle up and press play :-)Follow us on Instagram and Facebook. We'd love to hear from you too! If you have suggestions for topics or features you'd like to hear, or any garden related questions you have, drop us a line ...
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Garden Folklore - Don't trust the Fairies!
Friday, 13 February 2026
Liza Frank joins Mollie for a good old chinwag about garden folklore. Liza has written a fascinating book called Everyday Lore which explores the myths and legends surrounding your plants, your garden and those little visitors you may or may not encounter. If you think fairies are kind, gentle souls that flutter around your rose bushes saving butterflies from your bird bath, then you may be shocked. It's said they sacrifice a human every 7 year. Find out how to stop yourself becoming their next victim. This podcast might just save your life...Follow us on Instagram and Facebook. We'd love t...
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Happy Hour
Friday, 6 February 2026
An hour or so of gardening and giggles. Find out what happened to listener Rupert when he accidentally grew cannabis on his allotment (hint; the police arrived!) Lots of your questions answered and lots of other bits and pieces discussed. Press play and have a smile...Follow us on Instagram and Facebook. We'd love to hear from you too! If you have suggestions for topics or features you'd like to hear, or any garden related questions you have, drop us a line at thehappygardenpodcast@gmail.com. It would be fab if you could rate us and leave a review too if you've got the time, many thanks! Ho...
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You won't hear this on any other gardening podcast...
Friday, 30 January 2026
We find out about the biggest Potato Day in the Midlands, put on by Shropshire organic gardeners. We also hear about the Bedworth seed swap event this weekend. But one of the highlights on the pod this week has to be a new slot which is still in developmental stages, where Darren performs like you never heard him perform before. Never...Follow us on Instagram and Facebook. We'd love to hear from you too! If you have suggestions for topics or features you'd like to hear, or any garden related questions you have, drop us a line at thehappygardenpodcast@gmail.com. It would be fab if you could ...
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The Big Garden Birdwatch
Friday, 23 January 2026
With the Big Garden Birdwatching upon us this weekend, the lovely Morwenna from the RSPB joins us for a chat to find out why it is so vital for us all to get involved. Morwenna and Mollie also bond over tales of helping disabled pigeons :-) Darren gives us a masterclass on seed sowing at this time of year and plenty of questions from you get answered too. Batten down the hatches, get cosy and press play...Follow us on Instagram and Facebook. We'd love to hear from you too! If you have suggestions for topics or features you'd like to hear, or any garden related questions you have, drop us a ...
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Let's go wassailing!
Friday, 16 January 2026
It's that time! Let's throw toast at the trees and then drink a toast to the trees. It's all about the toast :0) Find out why and how you can join in. Lots of your January gardening questions answered too. Press play for some gardening giggles.Follow us on Instagram and Facebook. We'd love to hear from you too! If you have suggestions for topics or features you'd like to hear, or any garden related questions you have, drop us a line at thehappygardenpodcast@gmail.com. It would be fab if you could rate us and leave a review too if you've got the time, many thanks! Hosted on Acast. See acast....
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Eating your Christmas tree?
Friday, 9 January 2026
A jolly podcast this week! We head down Darren's larder and get tips on cooking with your Christmas tree. It's a bit dank down there and the ceiling is still leaking but we make the best of a bad situation. Jobs for the week ahead, a couple your gardening questions answered, a few money saving tips....and all rounded off with a sing song. Hay nonny noo! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook. We'd love to hear from you too! If you have suggestions for topics or features you'd like to hear, or any garden related questions you have, drop us a line at thehappygardenpodcast@gmail.com. It would be ...
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Happy New Year!
Friday, 2 January 2026
Mollie and Darren are back for a brand new year and a very warm New Year welcome! Mollie chats with weatherman and author Jim Dale about the weather that gardeners have had to endure during 2025 and has a look ahead to the snow on the forecast. Always lovely to chat to Jim. Darren gives us top tips on disposing of your Christmas tree in an environmental way. As always, there are plenty of laughs and a bit of singing to welcome in the New Year.Follow us on Instagram and Facebook. We'd love to hear from you too! If you have suggestions for topics or features you'd like to hear, or any garden ...
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A brief Christmas get together at Corley services
Friday, 26 December 2025
Well we couldn't not say a quick hello at Christmas! We hope you had a gorgeous day. Darren and I met up to exchange gifts and have a coffee on Christmas Eve. The only place we were both passing was Corley Services on the M6. Yes, there was a sing song! Merry Christmas. Mollie xFollow us on Instagram and Facebook. We'd love to hear from you too! If you have suggestions for topics or features you'd like to hear, or any garden related questions you have, drop us a line at thehappygardenpodcast@gmail.com. It would be fab if you could rate us and leave a review too if you've got the time, many ...
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A festive hour with Mollie and Darren
Friday, 19 December 2025
An hour of merriment! Mollie meets Dani from Bunches.co.uk and talks about festive flowers and the ethos of the business. We also find out why some roundabouts are called "A Titchmarsh". Darren teaches us how to propagate mistletoe, and we have a jolly good Christmas sing song and plenty of smiles along the way. Come and join us...xFollow us on Instagram and Facebook. We'd love to hear from you too! If you have suggestions for topics or features you'd like to hear, or any garden related questions you have, drop us a line at thehappygardenpodcast@gmail.com. It would be fab if you could rate ...
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Convincing Pete Waterman to do a Chelsea garden...
Friday, 12 December 2025
A festive catch up with Pete Waterman. Lots of tips for keeping poinsettia and a guide to extending the life of your Christmas tree once it's in your house too. Beer and vodka are both involved! Festival giggles and a sing song are a given.Follow us on Instagram and Facebook. We'd love to hear from you too! If you have suggestions for topics or features you'd like to hear, or any garden related questions you have, drop us a line at thehappygardenpodcast@gmail.com. It would be fab if you could rate us and leave a review too if you've got the time, many thanks! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/...
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Is Tony Hadley a gardener?
Friday, 5 December 2025
The fabulous Tony Hadley joins Mollie for a pre Christmas chat. Find out about his Christmas tree, his favourite flower and how much he loves his garden lights! What do you think about Tesco removing the work Christmas from some of their trees? Darren gives us his view. Darren also has his gardener's gift guide, which this week will leave you speechless...Follow us on Instagram and Facebook. We'd love to hear from you too! If you have suggestions for topics or features you'd like to hear, or any garden related questions you have, drop us a line at thehappygardenpodcast@gmail.com. It would b...
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Winterbourne House and Gardens
Friday, 28 November 2025
Back in the summer, lovely listener Coral won "An experience with Darren Rudge" on the podcast! Join us as Darren takes Coral, Leslie and Mollie on a guided tour of the fabulous Winterbourne gardens in Birmingham.Originally designed as a small country estate with rustic outbuildings and large gardens, Winterbourne followed the style of the Arts and Crafts movement with examples of local craftsmanship throughout the house. Margaret Nettlefold designed the garden, inspired by the books and garden designs of Gertrude Jekyll. After a period of restoration, the garden was Grade II listed by Engl...
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James May and his shed
Friday, 21 November 2025
James May joins Mollie for a chat about his new TV series 'James May's shed load of ideas'. Darren explains the world of elecroculture and why some people interestingly think it's nonsense. Also, it's that time of year! We have the first instalment of Darrens crap Christmas present gift guide...Follow us on Instagram and Facebook. We'd love to hear from you too! If you have suggestions for topics or features you'd like to hear, or any garden related questions you have, drop us a line at thehappygardenpodcast@gmail.com. It would be fab if you could rate us and leave a review too if you've go...
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A mixed garden bag!
Friday, 14 November 2025
An all sorted bag of topics on today's podcast! Are cyclamen indoor or outdoor? Can you use human ashes in the garden? Why did Darren get in from the Collegiate social club gardening evening at 2.30am? So many things to discuss!Follow us on Instagram and Facebook. We'd love to hear from you too! If you have suggestions for topics or features you'd like to hear, or any garden related questions you have, drop us a line at thehappygardenpodcast@gmail.com. It would be fab if you could rate us and leave a review too if you've got the time, many thanks! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for ...
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A bumper year for mushrooms!
Friday, 7 November 2025
Lovely Fergus the forager joins Mollie for a cosy Autumn chat. Who would have thought acorn ASMR was a thing?! Paul from Buglife gives us our final chat of the year, looking at a bit of entomological news. Lots of advice from Darren about planning for spring and getting the garden ready for a winter nap. Oh, and of course, a ridiculous amount of laughter...Follow us on Instagram and Facebook. We'd love to hear from you too! If you have suggestions for topics or features you'd like to hear, or any garden related questions you have, drop us a line at thehappygardenpodcast@gmail.com. It would ...
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A scream of a podcast!
Friday, 31 October 2025
Join us for Halloween garden giggles. Darren has lots of advice on putting the garden to bed for the Autumn and winter, along with making preparations for the Spring to come. Reality royalty Gemma Collins joins Mollie for a chat. She loves her garden! An inordinate amount of laughter comes as standard. Press play...if you dare...Follow us on Instagram and Facebook. We'd love to hear from you too! If you have suggestions for topics or features you'd like to hear, or any garden related questions you have, drop us a line at thehappygardenpodcast@gmail.com. It would be fab if you could rate us ...
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A guide to composting those leaves!
Friday, 24 October 2025
Join us for a cosy Autumn podcast. If you have leaves everywhere, Darren gives us his composting guide as well as talking us through saving seed for next year. Mollie meets Eco Crops, an award winning company that offer a range of woodland management and perennial SRC Willow wood crop services & products throughout the UK.Laughing and singing is a given...Follow us on Instagram and Facebook. We'd love to hear from you too! If you have suggestions for topics or features you'd like to hear, or any garden related questions you have, drop us a line at thehappygardenpodcast@gmail.com. It would b...
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Green fingered Kevin McCloud!
Friday, 17 October 2025
We speak to the fabulous Kevin McCloud as Grand Designs Live came to Birmingham and this year there was a giant garden hub. Kevin himself loves his garden and he's a dab hand at jam making!Mollie went to both the National Hedge laying and the National Ploughing Championships, showcasing the best in vital country skills. Hear about both this week. As always there's a few giggles and a sing song along the way...Follow us on Instagram and Facebook. We'd love to hear from you too! If you have suggestions for topics or features you'd like to hear, or any garden related questions you have, drop u...
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Plants for arthritis, robot mowers and reviewing Genus gardening clothes...
Friday, 10 October 2025
So much to cover this week! Darren reviews Genus gardening wear and Mollie talks to Sue O'Neil, founder of the company. Sue couldn't find decent gardening wear but instead of moaning, she started her own business! Buglife Paul joins us to talk about the insects we'll see in October both in the house and out in the garden. Darren looks at the pros and cons of robot lawn mowers and we have a jolly good giggle along the way. Come and join us...Follow us on Instagram and Facebook. We'd love to hear from you too! If you have suggestions for topics or features you'd like to hear, or any garden re...
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Is it a mast year for oak trees?
Friday, 3 October 2025
It's a mast podcast! A super abundance of fascinating people. Our good friend Paul Woods AKA The Street Tree joins Mollie for a chat about 2025 being a mast year, especially for our oak trees. If you don't know why trees do it, listen in, you will be blown away by Mother Nature. Darren answers a bumper crop of your gardening questions and Mollie has lots of results from last week's giant veg shed at Malvern. We meet more giant veg growers too. Get that kettle on...Follow us on Instagram and Facebook. We'd love to hear from you too! If you have suggestions for topics or features you'd like t...
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Meet Neil Hands, a giant vegetable grower
Friday, 26 September 2025
Mollie has the pleasure of chatting to Neil Hands, a world champion giant vegetable grower. We get some tips and tricks should you want to have a go at it yourself! Jane Edwards from the three counties show ground also joins us as we look ahead to the Malvern Autumn Show.Follow us on Instagram and Facebook. We'd love to hear from you too! If you have suggestions for topics or features you'd like to hear, or any garden related questions you have, drop us a line at thehappygardenpodcast@gmail.com. It would be fab if you could rate us and leave a review too if you've got the time, many thanks!...
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Would you buy artificial grass?
Friday, 19 September 2025
A really interesting episode this week - as always! We meet Adam who sells artificial grass. Many people hate the stuff, many people love it. We talk through some of the pros and cons. Darren brings us a bulb special, it's a great time to be planting them for spring colour. Mollie meets Leigh from the Bedworth seed swap. Oh and there's a great get together idea brewing...Follow us on Instagram and Facebook. We'd love to hear from you too! If you have suggestions for topics or features you'd like to hear, or any garden related questions you have, drop us a line at thehappygardenpodcast@gmail...
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The terrible 2's!
Friday, 12 September 2025
We forgot to celebrate last week, so here is to another year of hilarious horticultural podcasting! Buglife Paul joins us to talk about the abundance of wasps this year and the onward march of the Asian hornet. Another chat with Pickling Paul, this time about his cucumbers. Listener Dave asks about mood lifters and Darren talks us through how plants can help through sight, smell, touch and taste. Come and join us!Follow us on Instagram and Facebook. We'd love to hear from you too! If you have suggestions for topics or features you'd like to hear, or any garden related questions you have, dr...
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Picking the harvest in a heritage plum orchard
Friday, 5 September 2025
Join Mollie in the fruit basket of England. We head to Pershore to pick plums in a heritage fruit orchard with fabulous farmer Steve. Find out how independent fruit farmers cope in an ever changing world and hear about some of the old varieties and how they were used. The Shit Smock plum caused a few giggles!Follow us on Instagram and Facebook. We'd love to hear from you too! If you have suggestions for topics or features you'd like to hear, or any garden related questions you have, drop us a line at thehappygardenpodcast@gmail.com. It would be fab if you could rate us and leave a review to...
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A chat with Frances Tophill
Friday, 29 August 2025
Gardener's World presenter Frances Tophill chats to Mollie about how the garden has coped with the weather so far this year and also looks ahead to the fabulous GWL event at Kew Gardens on the 6th September. Darren profiles 5 things to do with basil, should you have a glut on your hands. We also meet the lovely Anna who is head gardener at Weston Park in Staffordshire. What a passionate lady! Your chance to win tickets to Weston Park and gardens too. Listen in to find out how!Follow us on Instagram and Facebook. We'd love to hear from you too! If you have suggestions for topics or features ...
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