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London Stadium: 2012 Olympics 10th anniversary

Kathy Clugston and team are at the London Stadium.

Kathy Clugston and team are at the London Stadium for the tenth anniversary of the 2012 Olympics. Fielding questions from a live audience are experts Matthew Wilson, Christine Walkden and James Wong.

This week, the panellists answer queries on biodiversity in playgrounds, improving soil quality, and how much neglect the resilient pelargonium can take.

Over in the Queen Elizabeth Park, Ashley Edwards chats to Design Principal Ruth Holmes about the special legacy held by the park's horticulture and, down on the pitch, Head Groundsman James Williams tells us how they keep the stadium turf in tip top shape.

Producer: Daniel Cocker
Assistant Producer: Bethany Hocken

A Somethin' Else production for Â鶹Éç Radio 4

Available now

42 minutes

Last on

Sun 24 Jul 2022 14:00

Plant List

Questions and timecodes are below. Where applicable, plant names have been provided.

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Q – What are the plants that will encourage the most biodiversity in our playground?

(3 minutes 33 seconds)Ìý

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Christine –

Radish

Carrot

Tomato

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Q – How many wild plants - sometimes called weeds - should you have in a garden?

(6 minutes 40 seconds)Ìý

Ìý

Christine –

Common nettle

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James –

Mimosa pudica

Dandelion

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Q – What would the panel recommend for improving soil quality with the aims of planting?

(9 minutes 46 seconds)

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Q – Can you identify what is attacking my eucalyptus?

(13 minutes 8 seconds)

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Feature – Ashley Edwards chats to Design Principal Ruth Holmes about the legacy held by the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

(15 Minutes 56 seconds)

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Q – Will the amount of cucumber I plant effect how much they grow?

(23 minutes 44 seconds)

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Q – Last year, I overwatered my pelargoniums and got no flowers. This year, I’ve barely watered them and they’re growing beautifully! I’m, now, too terrified to water them. How do I know when to water them? And should I feed them?

(25 minutes 48 seconds)

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Feature – Groundskeeper James Williams talks to us about how they care for the turf at the Olympic Stadium

(29 Minutes 32 seconds)

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Q – How would you turn a monoculture grass area into a haven for wildlife?

(32 minutes 27 seconds)

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Matthew –

Yellow rattle

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Q – My husband planted a wisteria about 30 years ago that has now reached to the top of the house but for the first time this year it hardly flowered at all. We’re worried it might have died.

(35 minutes 27 seconds)

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Q – My sister and I call ourselves pinball gardeners because we start in one area, try and stay focussed, but very quickly we end up all over the place. What sort of gardener would the panel describe themselves as?

(38 minutes)


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