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The Donkey Sanctuary: Drought, Biodiversity and Resilient Planting

Peter Gibbs and the panel answer questions about drought-tolerant planting, greening a concreted garden, and if changing weather means rethinking when to sow a wildflower meadow.

Peter Gibbs hosts GQT from The Donkey Sanctuary near Sidmouth in Devon.

Joining Peter are plantswoman Anne Swithinbank, pest and disease expert Pippa Greenwood and the Royal Parks’ Head of Horticulture Matthew Pottage.

Soundtracked by the braying of the sanctuary's donkey residents, the panel tackles questions on greening up a concreted-over garden, starting a new allotment during challenging drought conditions and improving the fruiting of a hardy kiwi.

They also discuss drought-tolerant planting for clay soil, the prospects for a transplanted hibiscus, and whether changing weather patterns mean it is time to rethink when wildflower meadows are sown.

Also, Matthew Pottage runs a special drought clinic, and the panel reveal which garden weed they would choose to champion.

Producer: Rahnee Prescod
Assistant Producer: William Norton

A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4

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

Tickets are available for the BBC Radio 4 Gardeners' Question Time Summer Party 2026 held at RHS Garden Wisley on Saturday 5th September.

Information and ticket details can be accessed via: https://www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/wisley/whats-on/gardeners-question-time-summer-garden-party

Available now

42 minutes

Last on

Sun 30 Aug 202614:00
BBC Radio 4

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Plant List

Q1 – “My garden is completely concreted over. What can I do to increase biodiversity?” (2’51”)

Matthew Pottage

  • Salvia rosmarinus (syn. Rosmarinus officinalis), rosemary

  • Erigeron karvinskianus, Mexican fleabane

  • Sempervivum spp., houseleek

  • Tradescantia pallida, purple heart

Pippa Greenwood

  • Ocimum basilicum, basil

  • Geranium robertianum, herb robert

  • Viola spp., wild violet

Q2 – “I've just taken on an allotment. How should I get it started during a drought?” (7’33”)

Pippa Greenwood

  • Raphanus sativus, radish

  • Brassica oleracea (Cauliflower Group), cauliflower

  • Overwintering cabbage (Brassica oleracea)

  • Allium sativum, garlic

  • Allium cepa, onion

  • Cichorium intybus (Radicchio Group), radicchio

Q3 – “My kiwi plant fruits heavily, but the fruits remain very small.” (12’12”)

Question Context

  • Actinidia deliciosa ‘Jenny’, kiwi fruit ‘Jenny’

Anne Swithinbank

  • Actinidia deliciosa, kiwi fruit

Pippa Greenwood

  • Prunus domestica, plum

  • Rubus fruticosus agg., blackberry

Matthew Pottage

  • Actinidia deliciosa, kiwi fruit

  • Rubus idaeus, raspberry

  • Malus domestica, apple

  • Prunus domestica, plum

  • Prunus domestica subsp. italica, greengage

Q4 – “My Magnolia grandiflora is dropping lots of leaves. Should I be worried?” (16’15”)

Pippa Greenwood

  • Azalea (Rhododendron cultivar)

Anne Swithinbank

  • Magnolia grandiflora, evergreen magnolia

Feature – GQT Drought Clinic with Matthew Pottage (19’58”)

Matthew Pottage

  • Cacti (various species)

  • Succulents (various species)

  • Olea europaea, olive

  • Rhododendron spp., rhododendron

  • Primula spp., primula

Q5 – “Should I switch to autumn sowing when establishing wildflower meadows?” (25’08”)

Anne Swithinbank

  • Hardy annuals (various species)

  • Cornfield annuals (various species)

  • Centaurea spp., knapweed

Q6 – “What drought-friendly plants would suit a dry clay front garden?” (30’58”)

Pippa Greenwood

  • Herbaceous geraniums (Geranium spp.)

  • Helleborus spp., hellebore

  • Epimedium spp., barrenwort

  • Spring-flowering bulbs (various species)

  • Penstemon spp., penstemon

  • Lupinus spp., lupin

Matthew Pottage

  • Perovskia atriplicifolia (syn. Salvia yangii), Russian sage

  • Romneya coulteri, Californian tree poppy

  • Yucca spp., yucca

  • Melianthus major, giant honey flower

  • Kniphofia spp., red-hot poker

  • Agapanthus spp., agapanthus

  • Salix exigua, coyote willow

Anne Swithinbank

  • Tree heath (Erica spp.)

Matthew Pottage

  • Erica lusitanica, Portuguese heath

Q7 – “I moved a mature hibiscus and now it is flowering poorly. Will it recover?” (35’13”)

Matthew Pottage

  • Hibiscus syriacus, rose of Sharon

Q8 – “If you had to do a PR campaign for a weed, what would it be and why?” (37’27”)

Anne Swithinbank

  • Urtica dioica, common nettle

  • Senecio vulgaris, groundsel

Pippa Greenwood

  • Taraxacum spp., dandelion

Matthew Pottage

  • Reynoutria japonica (syn. Fallopia japonica), Japanese knotweed

Broadcasts

  • Fri 28 Aug 202615:00
    BBC Radio 4
  • Sun 30 Aug 202614:00
    BBC Radio 4

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