Bunny in the Garden with...

Today Bunny Guinness is in the garden with Jimmy and Michaela Doherty, who set up Jimmy’s Farm & Wildlife Park, some 20 years ago.  Jimmy and Michaela took on an almost derelict farm that had laid empty for 50 years, and it is now a humming, go to place with an ever increasing range of animals from Polar bears (in the worlds largest polar bear enclosure), to wolves, and rare breed pigs, cattle and sheep.  Michaela’s grandmother was one of the first female students at Wisley. Her father was in the Ghurkas, and made beautiful gardens where ever he was sent. These influences are entrenched in Michaela’s DNA. She has created gorgeous gardens, and a beautiful natural looking landscape that surround and shelter the old Suffolk farm, bedding in the animals and buildings to the countryside in an idyllic fashion. Bunny took Michaela and Jimmy a huge decorative outdoor thermometer - from The Worm that Turned - that is a thoroughly useful guide for any gardener.  https://www.worm.co.uk

In this episode Bunny Guinness is chatting to Nicky Haslam, the celebrated interior designer, in his garden. Nicky has led a rich life from breeding and showing Arabian horses in Arizona,  to being a photographer, gossip columnist, author and a contributor to Tatler and working on British Vogue. He also ran his Nicholas Haslam shop in London. The ‘Nicky Haslam Tea towel’, which he regularly produces lists things Nicky finds ‘common’ and always causes a stir!  Nicky has also collaborated on many garden designs and describes his approach to garden design and where he sources items and how he adores making things for his designs. 

Julia is a well known psychotherapist, author of the best seller ‘Grief Works’, and she has a podcast ‘Therapy Works’.  She is Godmother to Prince George, and was a close friend of the Late Princess Diana. Julia discusses her upbringing and how she got into psychotherapy via Interior Design. In this episode Julia discusses her upbringing and how she got into psychotherapy via Interior Design.  She talks about her garden, which was originally laid out by Lutyens and Jekyll, and how she enjoys it at every season of the year. Additionally, she explains the importance of outside spaces especially when you are affected by trauma and grief.  Bunny took Julia a gift box of beautiful products from Bertioli by Thyme, containing their hand & body lotion, hand & body wash, their 3-in-1 shampoo bar, a large double wick candle, and best of all their breathing balm. All of which are in their comforting Water Meadow fragrance, inspired by their water meadows at home in Southrop. Bertioli.co.uk.

Robert Pavlis is a chemist and biochemist by training but in his ‘semi-retirement’ he has researched many garden topics approaching them from a scientific point of view and as a result has written two books on ‘Garden Myths’ where he debunks common misconceptions that gardeners adopt.   He lives in Guelph, Ontario, and gardens at his six-acre home called Aspen Grove Gardens.  He has published a handful of books and maintains two websites, gardenmyths.com and gardenfundamentals.com.  His latest book comes out in Autumn (Fall) 2024 ‘Food science for Gardeners - Grow Harvest and Prepare Nutrient Dense Food’, the first book on this subject. Bunny chats to Robert about his garden, how he researches for his books and the exciting new information he has found for his new book.  Robert is an award winning author of several books, Building Natural Ponds, Soil Science for Gardeners, Plant Science for Gardeners, Compost Science for Gardeners, Microbe Science for Gardeners and Garden Myths and publishes the popular gardening blog; GardenMyths.com and a YouTube Channel; Garden Fundamentals. 

n this episode Bunny is in the garden with Chris Baines.  Chris made the first wildlife garden at Chelsea in 1985 and was one of the first Countryfile presenters. His best seller, ‘How to Make a Wildlife Garden’ came out in 1985, and has been in print continually since then. Bunny first met Chris when he interviewed her for the Landscape Architecture post grad diploma, and he made a big impression on her.  Chris explains his environmental work which includes consulting on many huge projects such as being chair of the independent advisory group for National Grid New Electricity Infrastructure program and he is on Thames Tideway Tunnel ecological advisory panel plus numerous other roles.  Chris was one of the first Landscape Architects to highlight the importance of creating areas in domestic gardens as habitats for wildlife. #wildlife #squirrel

Listen to Bunny’s chat to Clare Bailey, wife of Dr Michael Mosley, who has just got back from doing a theatre tour with her husband called Eat (well), Sleep (well), Live (Longer). It was such a success they are now planning one in Australia where their influence has really gathered momentum. They are used to travel, Clare was two weeks down the Amazon working in a remote spot when Michael surprised her by tracking her down and proposed to her. Clare gives great tips for healthy eating, and explains why fast diets and loosing weight quickly is -  contra to popular belief - a great way to shed excess rapidly AND keep it off. The faster you loose way the more likely you are to keep it off. Clare explains how game changing fasting can be to help cure over weight patients to cure diseases such as Type 2 diabetes, inflammation, fatty liver, protect joints and other chronic diseases which were thought to be incurable. Clare explains why Ultra processed food leaves people hungry and so we eat more and why high protein diets are good to make you feel full for longer. Bunny and Clare chat about the lesser known benefits of gardening. Gardening makes you produce a hormone, BDNF,  which makes your neurons function more efficiently and also a chemical called VEGF, boosts the blood supply to brain cells. Clare is a keen gardener, she loves mixing veg in her borders and grows lots of herbs too. She is just about to launch a new book including recipes for family favourites such as brownies, cheesecakes and crumbles to healthy cupcakes, scones and bite-size muffins, The Fast 800 Treats Recipe Book includes sweet treats and savoury snacks that won't send your blood sugars soaring. #clarebailey #fastdiet 

In this episode Bunny chats to top florist Shane Connolly.  Shane is a top international florist and has a clutch of Royal Warrants having done the flowers for The King and Queen’s wedding, The (current) Prince and Princess of Wales’s wedding, and King Charles’s coronation.  Shane shares his views on his approach to arranging, choosing and conditioning flowers, how he is anti trends, how possibly his psychology degree helps him deal with over anxious brides as well as his love of gardens and plants.  See Shane's studio and adjacent small growing space and get more hints on Bunny's YouTube video. #shaneconnolly #flowers 

In this episode Bunny chats to Jacqueline Knox in her studio, Jackie is a top physiotherapist and Pilates instructor who runs her clinic in Tallington, England.  Jackie served as a physiotherapist to the British Rowing Squad, who won a gold at the Athens Olympics. She also co authored ‘The Official Body Control Pilates Manual’. Jackie is a keen gardener and co authored ‘Garden Your Way to Health and Fitness’ with Bunny.  Gardening has huge potential to keep you fit and healthy, but if you over do it you can become unstuck!  In this podcast Jackie explains the importance of various exercises, how you can garden to prevent injury, how to stimulate your Vagus nerve and what her perfect garden would include. #motionislotion #olympics 

In this episode Bunny chats to Sophie Conran, in her garden, which she has created lovingly over the last 10 years Sophie.    Like her Conran design dynasty family, Sophie is also a designer, retailer, author and cook.  Having cut her teeth with Stephen Jones, Jasper Conran and the Conran shop to name but a few, Sophie then went on to launch her own store Wong Singh Jones and now she has her hugely successful Sophie Conran shop online where you can buy fantastic things for your home. From sofas to porcelain to bedding and more … Listen to the podcast to hear how she created her range for Portmeirion, and how she mediated her parents divorce.  #sophieconran  #china 

In this episode Bunny chats to Cath Kidston Padgham in her garden, and magnificent greenhouse.  Most famous for her home furnishing company, Cath Kidston, that she set up in the 1990s, that produced wall papers, fabrics, clothes and bags all featuring her iconic prints. Cath has since gone on to set up 2 more brands, Joy of Print, a creative design studio, and C.Atherley, a natural body care brand inspired by rubbing geranium leaves.  Listen and learn from Cath about setting up her businesses, how to grow geraniums, how to make spaces work from you, and hear about the iconic drum beat in ’In The Air Tonight’ by Phil Collins.  

In this episode Bunny chats to Craig Sams and Jo Fairley in their town garden.  Craig and Jo have set up several successful businesses both together and separately, including The Beauty Bible, Whole Earth Foods, Green & Black’s, Carbon Gold and The Perfume Society. Craig has been chairman and held other positions for the Soil Association too.  Both are keen organic gardeners and foodies. They have an old walled garden in Hastings that looks out to the sea. Jo successfully uses strong contrasting colours – reminiscent of their Green & Black’s packaging, in their house and garden. They have a huge lemon verbena ( Aloysia citrodora) tree, around 3m high and wide with a mature woody trunk, a stunning olive tree which Jo used to woo Sam, and which moved house with them from London. There are also Echiums, Pittosporums and other more tender plants. 

In this episode Bunny chats to Dr Olivia Chapple MRCGP, the co – founder of the Horatio’s Garden Charity. It was Olivia’s son Horatio that had the initial idea to create a garden for the spinal unit at Salisbury hospital. At the age of 16 he had started the fund raising, got permission from the hospital and earmarked the space having carried out a survey with the patients on how their lives, post a life changing injury, could be improved.  Tragically Horatio was killed by a polar bear aged 17. Olivia took on the challenge and now seven of the gardens are established and they are aiming to create gardens for the remaining 4 spinal units too.  See the YouTube video ‘Bunny Chats to Olivia Chapple of Horatio’s Garden’, on Bunny's YouTube channel.  

In this episode Bunny is in the garden with Angus Thirlwell. Angus, a real life Willy Wonka, is one of the 2 founding partners behind the much loved Hotel Chocolat.  Listen to how ‘Mr Whippy’ played a part in Angus’s childhood, how cocoa beans are grown and traded, mentally transport yourself to The Rabot Hotel - the Hotel Chocolat hotel in St Lucia, and hear what is in store for Hotel Chocolat in the coming years. 

In this episode Bunny is in the garden with the renowned broadcaster John Humphrys. John has had many notable jobs including being a foreign correspondent and a  diplomatic correspondent for the BBC, presenting the Nine O’Clock News, The Today Programme and Mastermind to name but a few. At present you can find him hosting the Sunday evening Classical Music Show (4-7pm GMT) on Classic FM.  Hear how his garden is chockablock with plants from friends, how the places that he has lived have shaped the way he lives and gardens, hear him eulogise about his homemade compost, and  how he ‘stole’ fallen leaves bagged up by the local council. 

In this episode Bunny is in the garden with Mary Berry. Having been famous for her cookbooks for many years Mary shot to new heights of fame when she appeared as one of the judges during the first 7 series of The Great British Bake Off, and subsequently The Great American Baking Show.  Hear how she enjoys her garden with the help of Kevin, her trusty gardener, and how she has developed her career since leaving Bath High School with few prospects. 

In this episode Bunny is in the garden with the famous illustrator Matthew Rice, who previously ran Emma Bridgewater with his ex wife (Emma Bridgewater) and whose iconic illustrations adorn many of the mugs, plates, teapots and more. Matthews illustrations come to life in his garden (on the site of a medieval castle) which he has developed over the last ten years from scratch.  Hear how he gardens, pick up some tips and hear how he developed his career since leaving Chelsea Central Schools of Art and setting up a furniture company, David Linley Furniture, with his old school friend.

In this episode Bunny is in the garden with Jim Carter. For Downtown Abbey fans, Jim is instantly recognisable as the butler Carson. Aside from being Carson he has starred in many tv series and films including ‘Shakespeare in Love’, ‘The Golden Compass’, ‘Transformers: The Last Knight’,  and ‘The Good Liar’.  Most recently he starred as Abacus Crunch, in the 2023 film Wonka.  Hear about how gardening is a brilliant hobby for actors to have, as it fits in well with down time between acting commitments, so much so that it united the actors on the set of Downton Abbey. Listen how Jim exploits his front garden, sitting in it and enjoy it, as well as this back garden. In England this is rare, as most front gardens have a street frontage and are lacking in the all important privacy. Hear Bunny’s envy on seeing Jim’s man cave, the most beautiful arranged shed, the envy of any gardener. And discover how Jim is trying to get gardening on the curriculum. 

In this episode Bunny is in the Garden with Eric Dier.  Hear about his the avenue of trees that lines up with his kitchen sink, his addiction to his sauna, that helps ease aches and pains from football (and gardening), and much more… For those that don’t know, Eric is a professional footballer who has 49 caps for England, and who at the time of writing/uploading plays for the Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur, having come through the youth ranks at Sporting CP (aka Sporting Lisbon). Aside from football, Eric also co founded tech app Spotlas, with his younger brother Patrick, and friend Zoe Connick. Think of it as instagram meets TripAdvisor.