The Nature Garden: gardening, wildlife and nature notes

The Weekending Show

A trip down the garden path and country lane with nature enthusiasts and gardeners chatting about the flowers and trees, and the birds and the bees and more.

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20 episodes
Updated July 21

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Episodes20

Newest first

July 21 · 42 min
Golden days & olden ways
Send us Fan Mail In this episode… What’s in a name? Tom Cadwallender’s delving into the wonderful world of local bird names, throssels, howlets and all. Steve Lowe brings us news of exciting Anglo-Saxon discoveries at an archaeology dig. And, we’re out and about with Tom Pattinson in the summertime garden. 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 @TheNatureGarden and on Facebook: The Nature Garden. And you can also tune in to our monthly live radio show on Saturdays at 11am on www.lionheartradio.com Or email us: gardenersradio@outlook.com Thank you for your support! Music link: Gaia by Carl Cape Band on Amazon Music - Amazon.co.uk
June 20 · 29 min
Shakespeare & Cuthbert
Send us Fan Mail Shakespearian inspiration, cuddy ducks and saints, and the beautiful sound of sedge warblers. 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 @TheNatureGarden and on Facebook: The Nature Garden. And you can also tune in to our monthly live radio show on Saturdays at 11am on www.lionheartradio.com Or email us: gardenersradio@outlook.com Thank you for your support! Music link: Gaia by Carl Cape Band on Amazon Music - Amazon.co.uk
May 21 · 37 min
Scarborough Fair
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, sunshine and frost, and Herbidacious highlights in the garden beds and pots. Tom Pattinson’s spending time in the herb garden in search of parley, sage, rosemary and thyme. We’re off to the sunshine with Tom Cadwallander who’s looking at Corsican finches and nuthatches. Steve Lowe’s chatting to an awesome organisation that’s bringing the wonders of wildlife to us all… And some gardening Jobs for the Week with 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 Facebook: The Nature Garden. And you can also tune in to our monthly live radio show on Saturdays at 11am on www.lionheartradio.com Or email us: gardenersradio@outlook.com Thank you for your support! Music link: Gaia by Carl Cape Band on Amazon Music - Amazon.co.uk
April 11 · 40 min
Birds sing and pair again
Send us Fan Mail 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 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 monthly live radio show on Saturdays at 11am on www.lionheartradio.com Or email us: gardenersradio@outlook.com Thank you for your support! Music link: Gaia by Carl Cape Band on Amazon Music - Amazon.co.uk
Dec 8, 2025 · 42 min
Gifting
Send us Fan Mail 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 monthly live radio show on Saturdays at 11am on www.lionheartradio.com Or email us: gardenersradio@outlook.com Thank you for your support! Music link: Gaia by Carl Cape Band on Amazon Music - Amazon.co.uk
Nov 21, 2025 · 32 min
Crab apples & plover
Send us Fan Mail 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 flowers, birds and projects on X via: @gardenersradio @TheNatureGarden and on Facebook: The Nature Garden. And you can also tune in to our monthly live radio show on Saturdays at 11am on www.lionheartradio.com Or email us: gardenersradio@outlook.com Thank you for your support! Music link: Gaia by Carl Cape Band on Amazon Music - Amazon.co.uk
Oct 23, 2025 · 39 min
Roots & kingfishers
Send us Fan Mail 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 on X via: @gardenersradio @TheNatureGarden and on Facebook: The Nature Garden. And you can also tune in to our monthly live radio show on Saturdays at 11am on www.lionheartradio.com Or email us: gardenersradio@outlook.com Thank you for your support! Music link: Gaia by Carl Cape Band on Amazon Music - Amazon.co.uk
Aug 19, 2025 · 40 min
Ripening
Send us Fan Mail 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 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 Facebook: The Nature Garden. And you can also tune in to our monthly live radio show on Saturdays at 11am on www.lionheartradio.com Or email us: gardenersradio@outlook.com Thank you for your support! Music link: Gaia by Carl Cape Band on Amazon Music - Amazon.co.uk
Jul 27, 2025 · 39 min
Summertime
Send us Fan Mail 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. 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 monthly live radio show on Saturdays at 11am on www.lionheartradio.com Or email us: gardenersradio@outlook.com Thank you for your support! Music link: Gaia by Carl Cape Band on Amazon Music - Amazon.co.uk
Jul 2, 2025 · 47 min
Uplands
Send us Fan Mail 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 via: @gardenersradio @TheNatureGarden and on Facebook: The Nature Garden. And you can also tune in to our monthly live radio show on Saturdays at 11am on www.lionheartradio.com Or email us: gardenersradio@outlook.com Thank you for your support! Music link: Gaia by Carl Cape Band on Amazon Music - Amazon.co.uk
May 28, 2025 · 44 min
Chelsea and songbirds
Send us Fan Mail 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: @gardenersradio @TheNatureGarden and on Facebook: The Nature Garden. And you can also tune in to our monthly live radio show on Saturdays at 11am on www.lionheartradio.com Or email us: gardenersradio@outlook.com Thank you for your support! Music link: Gaia by Carl Cape Band on Amazon Music - Amazon.co.uk
Apr 11, 2025 · 39 min
Springtime
Send us Fan Mail 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, birds and projects on X via: @gardenersradio @TheNatureGarden and on Facebook: The Nature Garden. And you can also tune in to our monthly live radio show on Saturdays at 11am on www.lionheartradio.com Or email us: gardenersradio@outlook.com Thank you for your support! Music link: Gaia by Carl Cape Band on Amazon Music - Amazon.co.uk
Jan 31, 2025 · 42 min
Frost & moths
Send us Fan Mail 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… 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 monthly live radio show on Saturdays at 11am on www.lionheartradio.com Or email us: gardenersradio@outlook.com Thank you for your support! Music link: Gaia by Carl Cape Band on Amazon Music - Amazon.co.uk
Dec 5, 2024 · 33 min
Oaks & auks
Send us Fan Mail 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 @TheNatureGarden and on Facebook: The Nature Garden. And you can also tune in to our monthly live radio show on Saturdays at 11am on www.lionheartradio.com Or email us: gardenersradio@outlook.com Thank you for your support! Music link: Gaia by Carl Cape Band on Amazon Music - Amazon.co.uk
Oct 29, 2024 · 41 min
Leave the leaves
Send us Fan Mail 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 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 Facebook: The Nature Garden. And you can also tune in to our monthly live radio show on Saturdays at 11am on www.lionheartradio.com Or email us: gardenersradio@outlook.com Thank you for your support! Music link: Gaia by Carl Cape Band on Amazon Music - Amazon.co.uk
Oct 4, 2024 · 41 min
Autumn's arrival
Send us Fan Mail 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 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 Facebook: The Nature Garden. And you can also tune in to our monthly live radio show on Saturdays at 11am on www.lionheartradio.com Or email us: gardenersradio@outlook.com Thank you for your support! Music link: Gaia by Carl Cape Band on Amazon Music - Amazon.co.uk
Aug 12, 2024 · 41 min
Wise words & wading birds
Send us Fan Mail 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 Facebook: The Nature Garden. And you can also tune in to our monthly live radio show on Saturdays at 11am on www.lionheartradio.com Or email us: gardenersradio@outlook.com Thank you for your support! Music link: Gaia by Carl Cape Band on Amazon Music - Amazon.co.uk
Jul 14, 2024 · 40 min
Up with the larks
Send us Fan Mail 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 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 monthly live radio show on Saturdays at 11am on www.lionheartradio.com Or email us: gardenersradio@outlook.com Thank you for your support! Music link: Gaia by Carl Cape Band on Amazon Music - Amazon.co.uk
Jun 7, 2024 · 45 min
As big as the sky
Send us Fan Mail 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 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 Facebook: The Nature Garden. And you can also tune in to our monthly live radio show on Saturdays at 11am on www.lionheartradio.com Or email us: gardenersradio@outlook.com Thank you for your support! Music link: Gaia by Carl Cape Band on Amazon Music - Amazon.co.uk
May 10, 2024 · 45 min
Shrubs & finches
Send us Fan Mail 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 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 monthly live radio show on Saturdays at 11am on www.lionheartradio.com Or email us: gardenersradio@outlook.com Thank you for your support! Music link: Gaia by Carl Cape Band on Amazon Music - Amazon.co.uk