John’s Garden: subject of a new gardening series

Nursery owner John Massey with Carol Klein

John’s Garden at Ashwood Nurseries is to be the subject of a new TV Gardening Series ‘Great British Gardens Season by Season’ with Carol Klein.

This prestigious new series, due to be screened on Channel 5 in early Summer, takes us on ‘a guided tour, throughout the seasons, of four of the most beautiful and important gardens in Britain’.

Each episode puts the spotlight on a different garden: Great Dixter in Sussex; ‘John’s Garden’ at Ashwood Nurseries in South Staffordshire, Gravetye Manor in East Sussex and Gresgarth Hall, Lancashire.

Presenter Carol Klein visits each garden, looking at them in detail during Summer, Autumn, Winter and Spring, discovering the story behind them as well as meeting the people who care for them and learning the secrets of their success.

The four-part series starts on Channel 5 Tuesday June 4th at 9pm. John’s Garden is to be the subject of the second in the series on Tuesday June 11th at 9pm.

About John’s Garden

Filming in John’s Garden during Summer 2018

John’s Garden is regarded as one of the finest private gardens in the UK. It’s a three acre garden created by nursery owner and Chelsea Gold medallist John Massey VMH.

Informal borders, island beds, woodland dells and wildlife meadow are set against the beautiful backdrop of the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal.

This is a garden for all seasons with magnificent collections of trees, shrubs, conifers, herbaceous perennials, bulbs and grasses adding to the interest all year round. It is truly a ‘plantsman’s garden‘ that has an abundance of rare plants as well as many familiar favourites.

John (left) with Carol and head gardener Nigel Hopes

John said: ‘We were thrilled to welcome Carol and the film crew over the last 18 months. We feel so honoured to have been chosen and especially to be ranked alongside such esteemed gardens as Dixter, Gravetye and Gresgarth.

My garden is my passion but I couldn’t have achieved it without the help of my head gardener Nigel Hopes and his incredible team. My former head gardener, the late Adam Greathead, also played an inspirational and unforgettable part in its development.’

New developments

The garden is constantly evolving, with its most recent addition being a spectacular Autumn border brimming with nerines, hesperantha, colchicums and grasses.

John, Carol and the crew take a break during filming

An extensive new area called Adam’s Garden, in memory of Adam, is also undergoing a transformation with bold planting of trees, conifers and a fine collection of Cornus kousa.

A new greenhouse, home to seasonal displays of tender plants, succulents and a nerine collection, will provide a backdrop to a Mediterranean border that is currently under construction.

There are always exciting seasonal planting schemes being created (a border of Cape primroses created quite a stir last summer) as well as ever-changing and highly imaginative pot displays.

Visiting John’s Garden

John’s Garden opens for charity on selected dates throughout the year. Group visits can also be arranged.

A glimpse of Autumn colour in John’s Garden

Poppy and Willow enjoying a Summer pot display