Main content

Serge Hill Project

In a special programme to mark Mental Health Awareness Week, GQT visits the Serge Hill Project, a garden where working with nature can transform well-being.

In a special Gardeners鈥� Question Time episode to mark Mental Health Awareness Week, the programme is at the Serge Hill Project, an inspirational garden that promotes working with nature to radically transform people's health and well-being.

Renowned landscape architect Tom Stuart-Smith, and Tom鈥檚 partner, psychiatrist, and psychotherapist Sue Stuart-Smith, join regular panellists Pippa Greenwood, Christine Walkden, and Anne Swithinbank to answer listener questions.

The programme also features a generous and brave final appearance from GQT panellist Matt Biggs.

Matt has been a GQT panellist since 1994, and has been battling cancer for six years. Tragically, Matt鈥檚 cancer has now entered its end-stage. Matt wanted to record this programme, knowing it would be his last appearance on Gardeners鈥� Question Time, surrounded by his longtime friends and GQT colleagues.

Listeners will hear questions answered by the GQT panel of gardening experts, but they will also hear about Matt鈥檚 journey from initial diagnosis to his current mental and physical condition. At times Matt鈥檚 words are upsetting, raw, and honest, however it is Matt鈥檚 wish that his story is told partly as advice for other sufferers and also to serve as inspiration to all listeners.

Producers: Dan Cocker, Matt Smith and Rahnee Prescod
Assistant Producer: William Norton

A Somethin' Else production for 91福利社 Radio 4

* If listening on 91福利社 Sounds and you wish to view the plant list, please go to the Gardeners' Question Time website and open this week's episode page.

Available now

42 minutes

Last on

Sun 17 May 2026 14:00
91福利社 Radio 4

More episodes

Previous

Pulham Market

Next

Chelsea Flower Show 2026 - Postbag

See all episodes from Gardeners' Question Time

Plant List

Q1 鈥� I鈥檝e just created a raised vegetable bed in my garden, and the foxes are fixated with it鈥� they鈥檝e dug [the seedlings] all up again and again鈥� I鈥檓 despairing now. What can I do?鈥� (03鈥�52鈥�)

Q2 鈥� 鈥淚鈥檓 a keen cook and I am struggling to grow coriander鈥� they either refuse to grow or bolt almost immediately鈥� I鈥檝e tried everything鈥� any pointers?鈥� (05鈥�20鈥�)

Coriandrum sativum, coriander

Q3 鈥� My bulb lasagna has come up blind this year. It did really well previously, any idea why this has happened?鈥� (7鈥�56鈥�)

Q4 鈥� 鈥淲e have an apple tree in a small pot鈥� it gives plenty of fruit but it鈥檚 growing bent at about 45 degrees鈥� how can we correct the trunk?鈥� (11鈥�00鈥�)

Panel general

  • Malus domestica, apple (general)

FEATURE - Plant Library & Orchard context (Serge Hill Project) (13鈥�14鈥�)

Tom Stuart鈥慡mith

  • Pyrus spp., pear (orchard trees present on site)

(Large mixed perennial and bulb collections referenced but not itemised.)

Matthew Biggs speaks about his involvement and connection to the project (14鈥�16)

Q5 鈥� When can I transplant Iris reticulata after flowering? I鈥檇 like to move them from a pot into the ground to naturalise.鈥� 听(21鈥�23鈥�)

  • Iris reticulata, early bulbous iris

Q6 鈥� My decking is rotten鈥� I鈥檝e pulled it up鈥� underneath is builder鈥檚 rubble鈥� I鈥檇 prefer something eco鈥慺riendly, functional, safe, and cheap. What would you suggest?鈥� (23鈥�00鈥�)

Q7 鈥� 鈥淗as anyone had great tits stealing the young buds of wisteria?鈥� (26鈥�17鈥�)

  • Wisteria spp., wisteria

  • Ribes spp., currants (context: bird damage comparison)

FEATURE - Vegetable beds & therapeutic growing (28鈥�14鈥�)

Sue Stuart鈥慡mith (examples of crops used in sessions)

  • Daucus carota subsp. sativus, carrot

  • Lactuca sativa, lettuce

  • Cucurbita spp., pumpkin

Q8 鈥� 鈥淲e had to move a large Cotinus鈥� it seemed dead, but now it鈥檚 producing new buds from the trunk. Would a gentle prune help?鈥� (30鈥�01鈥�)

Anne Swithinbank

  • Cotinus spp., smoke bush

Q9 鈥� For five years I鈥檝e had a rose鈥� first it flowered beautifully, but for the last two years nothing whatsoever鈥� what might be going wrong?鈥� (32鈥�26鈥�)

Christine Walkden

  • Rosa spp., rose

Q10 鈥� 鈥娾�滻n Oscar Wilde's life-changing story The Selfish Giant, the giant finally realizes he doesn't own his garden but is the custodian for others who also love and live in his garden. My view of my once perfect regimented but ultimately lifeless garden has changed profoundly. Now the garden is home to birds, butterflies, bees, hedgehogs, field mice, and a family of foxes, and bats fly overhead at night鈥hey all have their entrances and their exits, and each in his time plays an important part in the pyramid.

Have the team's views changed over time on the way that they view their gardens and what the purposes of gardens are?鈥� (33鈥�54鈥�)

Panel discussion (ecological context)

Plants referenced:

  • Urtica dioica, stinging nettle (insect and wildlife support)

Matthew Biggs鈥檚 gardening reflections and indoor houseplants (37鈥�59鈥�)

  • Orchidaceae (general), orchids

  • Cactaceae (general), cacti

  • Succulent plants (various families)

听

Broadcasts

  • Fri 15 May 2026 15:00
    91福利社 Radio 4
  • Sun 17 May 2026 14:00
    91福利社 Radio 4

Join us at RHS Garden Wisley and be part of the show as we host the 91福利社 Radio 4 Gardeners鈥� Question Time Summer Garden Party

Find out more about how to get tickets to this event.

Six of GQT鈥檚 naughtiest gardening innuendos

When Gardeners' Question Time got mucky.

Podcast