The Holly and the Ivy

It’s time to deck the halls with boughs of holly, to dress the tree and to celebrate... 

And in this December edition, our correspondents are here to spread some cheer so stand by for the two Toms on Christmas trees and some alternative Christmas birds... 

Steve Lowe on the giving gifts that can really help people across the world…

 And John and Dean return with mistletoe and ivy… something a little different from the Alnwick Poison Garden! 

Plus some top tips for the garden from Tom P…

Transcript

00:00:00: Intro and Theme tune: Princess of the Ocean by Carl Cape Band featuring Steve Deegan, Carl Cape and Jamie Robb (fiddle).

 Carl: Hello and welcome to the Weekending Show with me, Carl Stiansen, and the Weekending Team.  Come along with us as we take a bonny wee wander down the garden path and country lane… with the birds and the bees and the flowers and trees…  and it’s a chance to hear some great music and Northumbrian stories…   On today's show… 

It’s time to deck the halls with boughs of holly, to dress the tree and to celebrate 

And in this festive edition, our correspondents are here to spread some cheer so stand by for the two Toms on Christmas trees and some alternative Christmas birds.. 

Steve Lowe on giving gifts that can really help people across the world…

John and Dean return with mistletoe and ivy… something a little different from the Alnwick Poison Garden! 

Plus some top tips for the garden from Tom P… 

All coming up on the Nature Garden Podcast.

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00:01:40: Christmas trees.

Carl Stiansen: Nat King Cole there and yes… What a joy a Christmas tree can be although it can get a little bit confusing working out which one suits you best… so here’s Tom Pattinson with a festive guide: O Christmas tree… O Christmas tree… Through summer’s heat and winter’s chill… Your leaves are green and blooming still.  

Tom Pattinson: audio

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00:07:46: It's a waxwing winter.

Carl Stiansen: Some unexpected visitors have been brightening up our gardens and fields… and, according to Tom Cadwallender, from the British Trust for Ornithology, the waxwing excitement is growing… 

Tom Cadwallender: audio

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00:13:48: Mistletoe & Ivy... take care.

Carl Stiansen:  And now… we welcome back John Knox and Dean Smith…  from the Poison Garden at Alnwick Garden… with tales of mistletoe, and the holly and the Ivy…… followed by Tom Pattinson on how and where they grow best.

John Knox and Dean Smith: audio

Followed by:
00:19:30: The Holly & the Ivy:
Tom Pattinson: audio.

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00:25:05: The gift of giving:
Carl Stiansen: Steve Lowe is fresh back from the frazzen (frozen) cold outdoors at the Creswell Pele Tower where he’s been helping a project that’s turning discarded tools into things of real value for people in need…

Steve Lowe: audio

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00:29:46: Alternative Christmas birds: Carl:
We love to celebrate our Christmas birds in songs and on cards but maybe it’s time to think about some others? Tom Cadwallender’s casting his eye across the globe for some alternative Yuletide birds…

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00:40:09: Jobs for the week with Tom P
And…to the sound of wor blackbird… here’s Tom with some things to be getting on with in the garden…

Tom Pattinson: audio:

00:44:45: Outro: Carl & festive theme: the Carl Cape Band: It Must Be Christmas Time:
You’ve been listening to gardener, Tom Pattinson; birder, Tom Cadwallender from the British Trust for Ornithology; and John Knox and Dean Smith from the Alnwick Poison Garden… and Steve Lowe from the Cresswell Pele Tower. I’m Carl Stiansen and, don’t forget, you can listen back to all of our previous programmes via the Nature Garden Podcast… a very merry Christmas when you get there and enjoy your gardening and time outdoors with nature, bye for now.

Wishing you a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year,
from: 

Carl, Tom Pattinson, Steve Lowe and Tom Cadwallender.

Thank you for your support : )