In this episode, spring colours and sounds galore... Tom Pattinson’s revelling in the spring bulbs and shrubs, and the exciting signs of new shoots in the flower borders and veg beds. Tom Cadwallander’s taking a look at auks and the early return of puffins and he’s celebrating the chirpy, chiff-chaff. Steve Lowe is at one of our finest museums in search of an answer to the question ‘Who is Eric?’ Plus gardening Jobs for the Week with Tom P. Support the show You can follow Tom Pattinson, Steve an...
Apr 11, 2026•41 min•Season 13Ep. 1
A homespun guide to some of the gifts our contributors are thinking about to make things merry and brighter. The ‘Two Toms’ and Steve Lowe with some wonderful ideas, that don’t have to cost a fortune, but may help to save the planet and ourselves. Support the show You can follow Tom Pattinson, Steve and Tom Cadwallender and our wonderful guests and featured flowers, birds and projects on X via: @gardenersradio @TheNatureGarden and on Facebook: The Nature Garden . And you can also tune in to our ...
Dec 08, 2025•43 min•Season 12Ep. 3
It's that time of the year known as ‘Nature’s planting time’ and Tom Pattinson’s here with lots of exciting options for reinvigorating your garden… Tom Cadwallender’s been observing the changes in his crab apple tree and its attractiveness to birds, and he’s been along the Aln estuary enjoying the sound of golden plovers. And, we’ve got some top tips for the garden from Tom Pattinson. Support the show You can follow Tom Pattinson, Steve and Tom Cadwallender and our wonderful guests and featured ...
Nov 21, 2025•33 min•Season 12Ep. 2
It's mid-autumn and Tom Pattinson’s making the most of the seasonal changes and preparing for Nature’s planting time. Tom Cadwallender’s spotted a fabulous kingfisher and he's enjoying the incoming Vs of honking geese Big Butterfly Conservation are here with an update on one of our most important nature counts… Plus some top tips for the garden from Tom P. Support the show You can follow Tom Pattinson, Steve and Tom Cadwallender and our wonderful guests and featured flowers, birds and projects o...
Oct 23, 2025•39 min•Season 12Ep. 1
It's peak summer and still wonderfully warm in Northumberland and Tom P’s ripening crops and harvesting potatoes and onions… Tom Cadwallender’s turning the calendar page to a new season of birds and checking the Aln estuary for avian ins and outs… Steve Lowe’s reflecting on the life of someone who inspired him to dive deep into conservation... we celebrate the work of Doctor Angus Lunn, a Northumberland Wildlife Trust stalwart and map maker extraordinaire. Plus some top tips for the garden from ...
Aug 19, 2025•40 min•Season 11Ep. 5
It's mid-summer and the temperature’s rising and so is Tom P’s excitement… we join him on a tour of his raised beds, and flowers and veg… Tom Cadwallender’s watching the summer skies for swifts and more….and listening to the classic sounds of summer… We’re at the ‘Love Northumberland’ awards at Alnwick Castle with Steve Lowe… The big butterfly count is underway and Dr Jamie Wildman is here to help us join in… it’s a wonderful way to help butterflies! Plus some top tips for the garden from Tom P....
Jul 27, 2025•39 min•Season 11Ep. 4
It’s time for some self-care and safety and we should all take our time to listen to Tom P... Tom Cadwallender’s out and about in the uplands of Northumberland and enjoying the collective nouns of bird, and the amazing ‘drumming’ of snipe. And we’re going medieval with Steve Lowe for a colourful re-enactment Plus some top tips for the garden from Tom P. Support the show You can follow Tom Pattinson, Steve and Tom Cadwallender and our wonderful guests and featured flowers, birds and projects on X...
Jul 02, 2025•47 min•Season 11Ep. 3
Frost and drought in the garden and Tom's buzzing after a visit to the Chelsea Flower Show… Tom Cadwallender’s taking a 'tern' at volunteering and listening songbirds… And sustainability is one of Steve Lowe’s missions: composting, wormeries and hot bins at the Cresswell Pele Tower… Plus we’ve got some top tips for the garden from Tom P… Support the show You can follow Tom Pattinson, Steve and Tom Cadwallender and our wonderful guests and featured flowers, birds and projects on X via: @gardeners...
May 28, 2025•44 min•Season 11Ep. 2
Hello spring! Tom Pattinson’s getting the pruning gear out but please do consider carefully before you chop… Tom’s here to give us a steer. Tom Cadwallender’s muckle glad to be back and he’s enjoying woodpeckers and fieldfares at dawn… And we have an exciting update from the latest dig at Lindisfarne and some amazing new finds… Plus some top tips for the garden from Tom P. Support the show You can follow Tom Pattinson, Steve and Tom Cadwallender and our wonderful guests and featured flowers, bir...
Apr 11, 2025•40 min•Season 11Ep. 1
We’re catching up with Tom Pattinson in the bleak mid-winter and he’s full of busy in and out of the garden… Tom Cadwallender’s reflecting on the good and the bad as we move into a New Year of birding. And we’ll be looking into the magical mystical world of moths, Dr Zoe Randall is here from Butterly Conservation to tell us how we can help them. And there’s a chance to hear another sinister ‘Tale from the Hovel’ from the Alnwick Poison Garden… Plus some top tips for the garden from Tom P… Suppor...
Jan 31, 2025•43 min•Season 10Ep. 4
Tom Pattinson’s delving into late season colour and singing the praises of indoor plants, and it’s national tree planting week And, Tom Cadwallender’s in search of a small Arctic seabird that’s as tough as they come, and he’s looking at the curlew and the pressures they’re facing... Plus some top tips for the garden from Tom P. Support the show You can follow Tom Pattinson, Steve and Tom Cadwallender and our wonderful guests and featured flowers, birds and projects on X via: @gardenersradio @The...
Dec 05, 2024•33 min
As October passes its magical baton on to November… Tom Pattinson’s taking a trip into the kaleidoscope of colours and toffee apple smells in the garden… and he’s also joining forces with Naturalist, David Mizejewski from the National Wildlife Federation, USA on why it’s so important to ‘ Leave the leaves’. And Tom Cadwallender’s looking at one of the wonders of the natural world… the staggering journeys of birds… and the importance of our urban gardens and green spaces as habitats. Plus some to...
Oct 29, 2024•42 min•Season 10Ep. 2
As we say farewell to September… Tom Pattinson’s reflecting on a patchy but canny spring summer of flowers and crops… and the joys of soft and top fruits… and growing tetties for Christmas! Tom Cadwallender’s full of good news about the breeding season… and he’s following migrations and keeping tabs on crossbills… And we’ll be looking at the results of this year’s Big Butterfly Count, Dr Zoe Randle from Butterfly Conservation is here to tell us more… And we’ve got some top tips for the garden fr...
Oct 04, 2024•41 min•Season 10Ep. 1
Tom Pattinson’s checking some of the more common specimens in our gardens and asking: how well do you know them? Tom Cadwallender is out with the waders and rising tides… and he’s looking back on the early years of his birding on the Northumberland coast… And we’ve got some top tips for the garden from Tom P… Support the show You can follow Tom Pattinson, Steve and Tom Cadwallender and our wonderful guests and featured flowers, birds and projects on X via: @gardenersradio @TheNatureGarden and on...
Aug 12, 2024•42 min•Season 9Ep. 5
Tom Pattinson’s getting creative and investing time to propagate plants, Tom Cadwallender’s up with the larks for the dawn chorus… and he’s super excited on Coquet Island… home of the roseate tern... Steve Lowe’s trying his hand at beekeeping at the Creswell Pele Tower garden… And… Dr Zoe Randall from Butterfly Conservation is here to inspire us all to take part in the Big Butterfly Count Plus some top tips for the garden from Tom P… Support the show You can follow Tom Pattinson, Steve and Tom C...
Jul 14, 2024•40 min•Season 9Ep. 4
Tom Pattinson is fresh back from the Chelsea Flower Show and full of inspired ideas for small garden spaces and containers… Tom Cadwallender’s reflecting on a very moist May and in awe at some amazing ‘first ever’ bird observations in the county Steve Lowe’s looking forward to a proper celebration for the opening of the Creswell Pele Tower garden… And… we hear from pupils from the Lowick and Holy Island First School who are taking part in an exciting national gardening initiative… Plus some top ...
Jun 07, 2024•45 min•Season 9Ep. 3
Tom Pattinson is looking at shrubs and options for gardens of all styles and sizes… Tom Cadwallender’s along the leafy lanes of Lesbury observing the comeback of a beautiful finch… And Steve Lowe’s out and about on the beach at Seaton Sluice… he’s got a canny life, that chep! Plus… Tulip bulbs and turmoil, and how silver plates could foil plotters… we welcome back, Tales from the Hovel, with John and Dean, Alnwick Poison Garden.…. And we’ve got some top tips for the garden from Tom P… Support th...
May 10, 2024•46 min•Season 9Ep. 2
Tom Pattinson… is up and at ‘em in the garden and taking care as he brings us a very important ‘gan canny’ message. There’s great excitement on the Aln estuary and coast where Tom Cadwallender is watching the spring gatherings of birds… And we’ll be hearing from Butterfly Conservation and their findings on how well or not so well different types of butterflies are doing across the UK… and they’ve got some great advice on how to help butterflies. Plus some top tips for the garden from Tom P… All ...
Apr 09, 2024•38 min•Season 9Ep. 1
In this episode… A little bit of wintertime reflection and a chance to look ahead as January begins… bringing time, hopefully, after the festive celebrations to think about adventures, plans and dreams…. We bring you some thoughts on the year ahead and the one gone from the two Toms: Tom Cadwallender and Tom Pattinson… Plus some top tips for the garden from Tom P… Support the show You can follow Tom Pattinson, Steve and Tom Cadwallender and our wonderful guests and featured flowers, birds and pr...
Jan 14, 2024•36 min•Season 8Ep. 4
It’s time to deck the halls with boughs of holly, to dress the tree and to celebrate... And in this December edition, our correspondents are here to spread some cheer so stand by for the two Toms on Christmas trees and some alternative Christmas birds... Steve Lowe on the giving gifts that can really help people across the world… And John and Dean return with mistletoe and ivy… something a little different from the Alnwick Poison Garden! Plus some top tips for the garden from Tom P… Support the ...
Dec 08, 2023•49 min•Season 8Ep. 3
Autumn’s well and truly arrived and Tom Pattinson’s enjoying the botanical fireworks and nature’s planting time… During these stormy times… Tom Cadwallender’s keeping track of the amazing arrivals of seasonal birds and there are some wonderful surprises to watch out for… Plus some top tips for the garden from Tom P… All coming up… on the Nature Garden Podcast…. Support the show You can follow Tom Pattinson, Steve and Tom Cadwallender and our wonderful guests and featured flowers, birds and proje...
Nov 16, 2023•35 min•Season 8Ep. 2
Autumn’s arrived and Tom Pattinson’s got heap lie on in the garden… and he’s enjoying the seasonal blooms and foliage. Leaves are falling and so are feathers… Tom Cadwallender’s here to tell us more about the great moult… and he’s keeping an eye on urban skies. And we’re going back in time on an archaeological dig with Steve Lowe and the Anglo-Saxons… Plus some top tips for the garden from Tom P. Support the show You can follow Tom Pattinson, Steve and Tom Cadwallender and our wonderful guests a...
Oct 12, 2023•45 min•Season 8Ep. 1
The Lindisfarne Gospels were created on the Holy Island of Lindisfarne around 1300 years ago. Professor Michelle Brown takes us on an amazing journey to the place where Eadfrith, Bishop of Lindisfarne, designed and produced this incredible book. Support the show You can follow Tom Pattinson, Steve and Tom Cadwallender and our wonderful guests and featured flowers, birds and projects on X via: @gardenersradio @TheNatureGarden and on Facebook: The Nature Garden . And you can also tune in to our mo...
Aug 24, 2023•42 min•Season 7Ep. 6
Hurrah for the flower shows… Tom Pattinson’s prepping his clipboard and getting ready for the competitions… Tom Cadwallender’s here with good news about the bird that’s the RSPB’s emblem… and he’s enjoying the wonders and diversity of our seabirds... The laburnum’s a beautiful tree but why did it have to be removed from schoolgrounds? John and Dean from the Alnwick Poison Garden will tell us more… and some tips on how not to gas yourself with cherry laurel... Steve Lowe’s down by the river where...
Aug 04, 2023•47 min•Season 7Ep. 5
Summer’s here and Tom Pattinson’s out smelling the roses and revelling in their colours, scents and fragrances… Tom Cadwallender’s off in search of the nocturnal Nightjar and migrating birds on the Aln Estuary… And Steve Lowe is out on in the hay fields around Allendale surrounded by the charismatic calls of curlews… Plus some top tips for the garden from Tom P… Support the show You can follow Tom Pattinson, Steve and Tom Cadwallender and our wonderful guests and featured flowers, birds and proj...
Jul 17, 2023•37 min•Season 7Ep. 4
Enjoying your gardening is the name of the game but Tom Pattinson’s got some wise advice that could really make a difference... Eiders are one of Northumberland’s joys and Tom Cawallender is down on the waterline checking out the ducks… We’re also joining a celebration of cherries with John and Dean from the Alnwick Garden. And we have an amazing story about a pied flycatcher. Plus some top tips for the garden from Tom P… All coming up… on the Nature Garden Podcast…. Support the show You can fol...
Jun 29, 2023•42 min•Season 7Ep. 3
Everything’s looking peachy in the garden with the promise of fragrance to come… and Tom Pattinson’s on a tomato flavoured journey of discovery… Oh…Tiptoe from the garden, by the garden of the willow tree and tip toe through the tulips… with care… really you should tiptoe and take care… join John and Dean for more cautionary tales from the Alnwick Poison Garden. Tom Cadwallender’s ‘fettling up’ on Coquet Island in rather cold weather to help puffins and terns… and there’s news of a very very rar...
Jun 04, 2023•40 min•Season 7Ep. 2
Spring has sprung and we’re celebrating the change of seasons… New shoots and the colours and scents of bulbs in the garden…Tom Pattinson’s here to tell us more… Our resident adventurer… Tom Cadwallender’s watching the early spring birds coming in and we’re joining him on his travels in Costa Rica. And we welcome two new guests to the Nature Garden… John Knox and Dean Smith from the Alnwick Poison Garden in a series of botanical features you really won’t want to miss! Plus some top tips for the ...
Apr 22, 2023•43 min•Season 7Ep. 1
In this episode… Colouring the winter months and creating shelter with hedging…Tom Pattinson’s here to tell us more… The rising of the sun and the running of the deer… and our Steve Lowe who’s saving trees from deer with lambswool… And Tom Cadwallender’s enjoying a performance of the seedcracker… a winter visitor to his garden with a mighty seed cracking beak, and did you know that the turkey isn’t from turkey? Tom’s tracking this festive superstar Plus some top tips for the garden from Tom P… A...
Dec 12, 2022•39 min•Season 6Ep. 3
In this episode… We’re enjoying Nature’s planting time and chi energy…with Tom Pattinson… Tall tales, gunge and fox poo remedies and history brought to life at the Cresswell Pele Tower… And Tom Cadwallender looks into the names of geese and their wonderful wanderlust… Plus some top tips for the garden from Tom P… All coming up on Nature Garden Podcast…. Support the show You can follow Tom Pattinson, Steve and Tom Cadwallender and our wonderful guests and featured flowers, birds and projects on X...
Nov 09, 2022•36 min•Season 6Ep. 2
