British BBC’s Discovering Gardens TV show

Episode 1: Tollymore Forest

Discovering Gardens takes viewers to the heart of Tollymore Forest Park, the oldest ornamental wood in Northern Ireland and the perfect backdrop for our first episode. We meet with John and Jane Henshaw, owners of the Tollymore Estate and the Forest Park, and discover how their passion for history and nature has established Tollymore as one of the most famous gardens in Northern Ireland. The owners take us inside their stunning Georgian House, a National Trust property that has been in the Henshaw family since the late 1960s and is a popular tourist attraction. We also explore the rich, cultural heritage of Tollymore Forest Park, Northern Irelands first County Wildlife Park. Watch as we take a tour of the park, discovering its iconic Oaks and fascinating areas of natural beauty. We also meet with the local gardener who works hard to maintain Tollymore’s rich green landscape.

Episode 2: Bloomfield – The Garden of Irish Romance

The grounds of Bloomfield House & Gardens are a stunning showcase of Victorian architecture, lush green gardens and tranquil waterways. This fascinating location is home to the only “sustainable” garden in Northern Ireland. Bloomfield is an Eco-Garden Trust property, a charity organization dedicated to protecting the environment through sustainable gardening practices. For the first episode of Discovering Gardens, we visit with the gardens’ owners and learn how the EGT has created a garden that is both beautiful and sustainable. Bloomfield is a special place for many reasons, but none more so than its history. The gardens are steeped in Irish Romance, with a rich collection of Victorian architecture and a spectacular Japanese garden. The Japanese garden came to be in the 1990s when Jim Leach, the then owner of Bloomfield, purchased a stack of materials during a trip to Japan.

Episode 3: Castle Ward

Castle Ward is a National Trust property that has been welcoming visitors since it was built during the 18th century. This magnificent estate has been open to the public since the 1940s and has gone on to become a Northern Ireland tourist hotspot. In the first episode of Discovering Gardens, we meet with the Castle Ward team to explore the history of this beautiful property and its gardens. We visit the gardens to see how they are being cultivated and discover the innovative features that are helping to sustain the natural beauty of this land. Castle Ward also holds a special place in history. During the Second World War, it served as a hub for the Special Operations Executive.

Episode 4: Roseberry Topping

For the first episode of Discovering Gardens, we visit Roseberry Topping, a National Trust property with a spectacular view. This unique location is home to a patchwork of gardens, including a Japanese rock garden and a tropical fruit orchard. Roseberry Topping is an area rich in history. The land has been cultivated since the 14th century, making it one of the oldest sites in the Northeastern region of England.

Episode 5: Bangor University School of Music and Drama Gardens

Discovering Gardens visits Bangor University School of Music and Drama Gardens, a stunning location that hosts the annual International Biodiversity Conference. The gardens are home to over 4,000 species of native and rare plants, making it one of the richest gardens in Northern Ireland. The gardens are designed to showcase biodiversity and are also home to a number of rare species. The botanical team also engages in research and conservation projects, using the gardens to grow rare plants and breed endangered species. We meet with the gardeners who work hard to maintain this stunning landscape and learn about their special conservation initiatives.

Episode 6: Cherryvan and Hillfoot Farms

Cherryvan and Hillfoot Farms, two neighboring properties in County Down, are home to award-winning gardens that are open to the public. Both gardens contain a variety of different plants and flowers, including many rare species. The owners of these properties have cultivated a love for gardening and continue to create new designs and layouts that keep their gardens fresh and exciting. Cherryvan and Hillfoot Farms also provides a habitat for wildlife, including Painted Lady butterflies, who are closely monitored and sustainably cultivated.

Episode 7: Drumhdru and Scrabo Tower

For the first episode of Discovering Gardens, we visit Drumhdru and Scrabo Tower, two historic properties that are located nearby to one another. Drumhdru is an 18th-century country home and Scrabo Tower, a 14th-century Norman-Irish tower, is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Northern Ireland. The gardens at Drumhdru are inspired by the rugged landscape of Northern Ireland. They have been designed to complement the architecture of the property and feature indigenous plants that thrive in temperate weather. The gardens at Scrabo Tower have been cultivated over many years and feature a variety of mainly native species, including many that are threatened in Northern Ireland.

Episode 8: Annandale

The final episode of Discovering Gardens takes us to Annandale, home to a stunning collection of rare and unusual plants and flowers. Annandale is a botanical garden, a space that is dedicated to the cultivation of rare species of plants and flowers. In this first episode, we visit the garden and discover how it is being cultivated and cultivated.

Conclusion

The British have long had a love affair with the garden. Throughout history, Britain’s gardens have been a place for inspiration, relaxation and a source of great pride. With an exciting mix of gardeners and gardening properties, Northern Ireland is the perfect location for this new series from BBC’s Discovering team. Each episode will bring you to another of our sensational gardens where you can witness first-hand how these beautiful landscapes are being cultivated by passionate owners, designers and advisors. Discovering Gardens presents viewers with a tantalizing glimpse into the hidden world of 18 private gardens throughout Northern Ireland, all available to the public once production has finished on each property. We take viewers on an exclusive tour through these exquisite places that reveal both the grandeur of times past and the innovation of present day. The programme delves into what makes each location so special and how their remarkable owners are safeguarding their future.