Podcasts · Gardening with the RHS

At the Turning of the Year: From Great Dixter to Tomorrow’s Gardens

18 Dec 2025 · 26 min

This week, we honour the stillness of winter and the returning promise of light as we mark the winter solstice. At this turning of the year, we reflect on the people, plants and initiatives that this new light brings into focus.

We begin by stepping into the richly curious world of Christopher Lloyd, the influential gardener and visionary behind Great Dixter House and Gardens. His legacy is recalled by his former student and now Head Gardener at Great Dixter, Fergus Garrett.

Nick Turrell then returns with his top 10 countdown of plants that changed human history. This time, Nick delves into one species that helped ignite a vast global industry, asking whether its influence has ultimately made our lives better or worse.

Finally, a look to the future with Sara Redstone who shines a light on a pioneering initiative taken up by theRHS, focused on strengthening plant biosecurity, highlighting the vital work being done to protect our plants and ecosystems for generations to come.

Host: Gareth Richards

Contributors: Fergus Garrett, Nick Turrell, Sara Redstone

Links:

Great Dixter

Protect your garden health

Biosecurity at the RHS

Defra list of authorised distance plant sellers

Links in the notes 4

• https://www.greatdixter.co.uk/%E2%81%A0
• https://www.rhs.org.uk/science/plant-health-in-gardens/protect-your-garden%E2%81%A0
• https://www.rhs.org.uk/science/sustainability/biosecurity-neutral%E2%81%A0
• https://planthealthportal.defra.gov.uk/assets/Plant-Passport-updates/Plant-Passporting-Update-No53.pdf%E2%81%A0