SPEAKER_01 0:00

BBC Gardeners World Autumn Fair will be back at the stunning setting of Audley End House and Gardens near Saffron Walden from Friday the 11th to Sunday the 13th of September. Isn't it funny how the seasons seem to slide to the right and September is now in the autumn. Adam Frost, you're going to be there.

SPEAKER_00 0:19

Apparently I am, sir. Yes, I am. Yeah, September still feels slightly like it's summer, really, isn't it? But yes, in a way.

SPEAKER_01 0:28

This isn't it funny though how the how the seasons seem to be shifting a little bit.

SPEAKER_00 0:33

I think the reality is we don't really know. We you know, you think about, I'm gonna make this sound not really old, but as kids we we seem to have a you know a spring, a summer, an autumn, a winter. Whereas now you're just not 100% sure, which has changed gardening, to be fair, you know, whereas you knew as a you know as a young man on a parks department, I knew what to do in October, November, February, March. Whereas now you've just got to be more reactive and and be aware of your own space and then and then say react to what's going on in it.

SPEAKER_01 1:07

Yeah absolutely. Now let's just touch on the location because there were people who have not been before. Um Audleyand House is a stunning setting, isn't it? What can people expect, Adam?

SPEAKER_00 1:19

Well, point one, yeah, it is it's a beautiful old house, obviously in Essex, so a lovely part of the country, he says, because that's where I'm from. Um but I think obviously it's the extras, so you don't just get access to the show, which has got all the things that you know are on offer, but uh but the gardens as well, and it's got this beautiful sort of old walled garden, which is fantastic. Um yeah, I mean it's in that sense it's just a fantastic day out, isn't it? Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:51

And and there's so much to see, the show gardens, the borders, and and you're gonna be doing your taste table again, aren't you?

SPEAKER_00 1:58

Um if I'm really honest, mate, they haven't told me yet. Okay. So um so I don't know. I'm I'm a sort of a bit like a mushroom. They sort of, you know, they keep me in the dark until um until the last the last moment, you know. They'll tell me off for saying this, and but we always tell you, but they don't always tell me. Um I I know I will be there, you'll probably tell me which day I'm gonna be there. Um but yeah, like you said, there's I think what I've started to do at quite a few of the shows is is this connection between you know the cooking and and the growing, which is which has been lovely for me because it means that I'm the bit that I I suppose I do professionally against the bit that I do domestically and as my hobby. So for me, um growing cooking, talking about it is absolutely amazing.

SPEAKER_01 2:49

Absolutely. Um another busy show uh in prospect with plenty to see and do as well. Um autumn is an interesting time for gardeners, isn't it? Because it's sort of you're seeing yourself out of the summer and it's taking you into that that winter period as well. What what I mean, what would be people be doing? Coming going to the show and looking for inspiration, but what would they be doing when they go back home?

SPEAKER_00 3:11

Honestly, it is it's a great time of year to to have a look at your garden, you know, and seeing what's gone well, not so well, but also it's a great time to start planting again if you think about you know, especially sort of the wooded material, um, so things like trees, shrubs, um also it's a great time of year maybe to get a little bargain with the herbaceous plants because a lot of them are um some of them are coming to the end of their season. But I think you know, going into sort of late September, October, November, you know, about it's about not disengaging, you know, that there's some moisture in the air, there's still some warmth in the ground. Um so it's a great time to to plant your garden. It means that they get their roots in, they deal with the winter before the following spring. So, you know, so you've got that side of it, you've always got, you know, if you've if you care about your lawn, it's a it's a good time to think about your lawn and and concentrate on the root system of your lawn and and getting that in a good place for the following year. Um to be fair, it's just a great time of year. Um I think sometimes we we disengage too early with our gardens, you know. The the the kids go back to school and and people start to think about the winter rather than those couple of months before we go into the winter can be some of the best months of the year. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_01 4:41

I winter seasons come and go, yeah, but the gardening world, a percentage of it stays the same and is is what's to be expected. But there are always new things coming around, there are always new topics of discussion, uh, nitrogen in the soil, soil's carbon capture, no dig, organic. What's been coming through this year that's gonna be keeping you interested in that autumn period?

SPEAKER_00 5:04

It's really it's you say that, but I'm gonna say now, do you know what? I am so in 26, yeah, uh August of 26, I've already done a film for it. Um August of 26, Jeff Hamilton would have been 90 years old. And I um I went there, he'd passed away 30 years ago, so obviously he used to host the program, you know, and he was he was a massive figure um for for the garden as well viewers, um, if you're of a certain age, you know. Um, but what I was talking about on camera, interestingly, was what Jeff was talking about 35 years ago. He was peat-free, he was organic, he was talking about destruction we were doing to our countryside, he was talking about our soils, you know, and he was even talking about farming and what we were spraying. So for me, I went there as a 21-year-old. Um, stopped using peat, you know, no spraying, grew organically. Um, it feels a little bit like we're playing catch-up with Jeff Hamilton. Um, but but interestingly, you know, so much of what you've just said has has become mainstream now. And I think I think the bit that's fascinating me at the moment is is all the research that's going on about our our soils. Um we're learning more and more and more all the time, and and that whole communication thing that goes on the ground, which I think some people still think, what really plants talk to each other, you know, but that that power um of the of the green or you know what you ever you want to call it, that world around us is incredible. And I think as a gardener, um that's the bit really that sort of keeps me sucked in, if that makes sense, you know. Yeah, yeah. But it's yeah, yeah, it's mad, isn't it? Really?

SPEAKER_01 7:03

Mad. BBC Gardeners World Autumn Fair is on from Friday the 11th to Sunday the 13th of September. Get the dates in your diary. It's at Audley End House and Gardens, a stunning setting near Saffron Walden. Lots of information on the website, BBC Gardenersworld Live.com, and just search for Autumn. Importantly, you can find out who's going to be there, including the brilliant Adam Frost, uh, and how you can get tickets. Um What's new on the horizon, Adam? What what what has surprised you uh of late that uh uh you know the things that people are going to be talking about come this autumn? I mean, there are new things every year because the plant growers and the beaters come up with new things.

SPEAKER_00 7:44

I think it's uh yeah, I think I think it's just yeah, I suppose I'm slightly odd, and I because I it's not necessarily like the the new things, it's it's yeah, there's always a plant appears, or or you know, plant designers have started to use certain plants and then they're coming to the market. So there's always plant or there might be a new tool or something like that. But I think in reality it's the especially things like the show. What I I love more than than actually looking for something new. Every show you go to, especially the uh like those later ones in the year, they feel like they're a celebration, they're a celebration of gardening. So I I think I go there and I just want to enjoy the day.

SPEAKER_01 8:36

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 8:36

I'm not sure that's the answer you wanted, mate, is it? But that's the one you've got. But it's a good one.

SPEAKER_01 8:40

Well, in which case I'll have to settle for that. But just finally, I mean, uh we've spoken over over the years, and and we talked about your your training with Jeff Hamilton, who you've you've already mentioned, and how things have have progressed, and obviously on our regular television programme and appearing. Do you still enjoy, or do you enjoy that that part of the limelight? And can do you still separate your your garden at home, the hobby that you love, and and what you do in front of the cameras? Do you know what, mate?

SPEAKER_00 9:09

I think um I feel very um quite humble and quite lucky, really. Yeah, I mean, you know about my background where I come from, sort of, you know, naughty boy that somehow ended up on a tally on a Friday night. But I, you know, don't get me wrong, I've grafted and done all the bits that I needed to do. But I go to shows and um it's lovely. I go to shows and I feel like I get a cuddle. So um, and interestingly, because we've moved, you know, and I'm starting a new garden, which I am sharing on Gardeners World programme, um, but yeah, that's the only place I want to be at the moment. Um so yeah, it I suppose the short answer is yes, I absolutely love. I think what it is, is if you love gardening and you love talking about gardening, in my head, all I'm really doing is sharing the creation of my garden with with other people. And and if somebody thinks, oh actually I quite I quite enjoy Frosty doing his garden, then that's alright, that's good. It's not bad, is it? No, that's lovely, mate. It's lovely. Happy days, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 10:18

Really good to uh to see you, Adam. Uh Autumn Fair at Audley End House is going to be another tremendous show, isn't it? It certainly will. Cheers, Pat. Good to see you.